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Mental Performance, Work-Life Balance, and the Rise to the Top – Maria Sharapova (#261)

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“No matter what rock is in the way, no matter what storm is on the way, the water’s ultimately going to go down the river.”

– Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) is one of the best tennis players in the world. She is the winner of five Grand Slam titles (two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) and an Olympic silver medalist.

Forbes named Maria the highest-paid female athlete of all-time in 2005 — a title she’s held for 12 years. Off the court, she’s an ambassador for many of the world’s top luxury brands and a number of Fortune 500 companies including Porsche, Nike, Evian, and Head. In 2007, she became a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and has made significant contributions to Chernobyl-related projects. Her first and brand-new book, Unstoppable: My Life So Far, is on sale now.

In this conversation, we went deep into the tactics of training, mental performance, mental toughness, and much more. I hope you enjoy it all as much as I did!

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

#261: Mental Performance, Work-Life Balance, and the Rise to the Top – Maria Sharapova

Want to hear another podcast about higher performance? Listen to this episode with Michael Gervais, where we discuss how to win the war against anxiety, some of the more effective (and less effective) ways to self-talk, understanding mastery, and much more. (stream below or right-click here to download):

#256: How to Overcome Anxiety and Stress – with Adviser to Olympians, Michael Gervais

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Selected Links from the Episode

  • Connect with Maria Sharapova:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Show Notes

  • Tea for two — and Maria’s unorthodox addition. [09:47]
  • From Chernobyl to Siberia to Sochi. [11:00]
  • Maria’s travel tips: what to hit (and miss) in Russia. [12:43]
  • How Maria first got bitten by the tennis bug at age five — and what Martina Navratilova recognized in her even then. [15:12]
  • How Maria’s parents instilled discipline in her from two very different places. [22:53]
  • Two “very strong, tough, emotional” memoirs that inspire Maria. [30:27]
  • On dealing with “equality questions” in interviews. [31:04]
  • How Maria wound up training in the United States at Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. [32:46]
  • Adjusting to American life at age seven with the help of her “mission.” [41:53]
  • Did Maria’s upbringing put unhealthy pressure on her at an early age to succeed? [47:36]
  • How does Maria feel about the word “rejection?” [49:27]
  • Does Maria consider herself an introvert or an extrovert? [52:01]
  • The importance of surrounding yourself with quality people who inspire rather than drain when in the limelight — and how to tell them apart. [54:34]
  • A recent experience that allowed Maria to step out of her comfort zone, make new connections, and grow in unfamiliar territory. [59:18]
  • Does Maria’s self-talk in competitive situations follow a particular pattern? What kind of self-talk has been most effective? [1:04:27]
  • Maria’s tips for beginning tennis players trying to improve their serve. [1:09:39]
  • If teaching tennis to an absolute beginner, what would Maria want to ensure they get right within the first four weeks? [1:14:52]
  • Maria explains the origin story of her new book, and how the brilliant Rich Cohen got involved in the project. [1:16:54]
  • Best exercises and practices for injury prevention. [1:25:27]
  • Favorite core exercises. [1:30:24]
  • Candles, incense, and essential oils aren’t just for 14-year-olds. [1:32:29]
  • The problem with the phrase “work-life balance.” [1:35:38]
  • Morning routines. [1:38:19]
  • Favorite podcasts. [1:41:39]
  • With such a high threshold for repetition, does Maria practice any type of meditation? [1:42:05]
  • What’s for breakfast? [1:46:56]
  • A new belief or habit that has changed Maria’s life. [1:48:50]
  • How has Maria managed to keep her ego in check since getting her first sponsorship at age 11? [1:52:06]
  • An unusual habit or an absurd thing Maria loves. [2:02:12]
  • When Maria wins a big tournament, does she celebrate with any favorite cheat foods? [2:03:54]
  • What Maria learned by narrating her own audiobook and other parting words. [2:05:34]

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