4 | How To Be A “Not-So-Tall” 2x Olympian Who Couldn’t Even Walk with Suzana Ćebić

Ep 4 How To Be A “Not-So-Tall” 2x Olympian Who Couldn’t Even Walk with Suzana CEBIC

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:25s)

About three months ago Mira Golubovic mentioned two young athletes she was so impressed by OFF and on the court. The last episode was Branka (Brankica) Mihajlovic from Bosnia & Hercegovina… The second one is the lovely Suzana Cebic.

It’s seems to be a common thing that the champion’s I have started out with all believe you should NEVER GIVE UP... Why? (Team Serbia national sports teams are actually all-around, one of the most winningest countries in the world speaking generally) I don’t want to spoil it but you find out in this episode.

We sat down just days before the World Championships were starting and chatted about how she got here from being unable to walk with a disease in Spain to present day....

Get the details by listening!

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Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:25s)

About Suzana CEBIC

Has one older sister and grew up with both parents.

Started playing at 13 with 3 trainings per week...

Finished high school while playing in a different city…

Played in 2008 & 2012 Olympics…

Has earned over 13 medals in intl competition (9 are GOLD’s) & has been name Best Libero/Receiver” 3x international while playing major competitions with team Serbia.

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:25s)

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her family like and her story?
• How she seeks big challenges?
• How playing a sport in Serbia while attending high-school?
• What are her plans after sports?
• Would she benefit from a program like Elite Sport Students?
• What’s her biggest obstacle in life?
• What was her most defining moment so far?
• What does she do to mentally prepare for competition?

Key Lessons:

• Why Going to College is still a big goal!

"I think education is really important because after university you got a lot of opportunities"

• Why she should start planning for her life after sports...

“I’m not thinking about my future, yet. Maybe I need to start because I’m almost 30!”

• The meaning of mentors and great people close to you

"Yeah. It is good idea. It is good to have someone who will trust and who will give you advice."

"Now, Usually I receive advice from my sister."

• How facing her obstacle of never being able to walk again fueled her to fight!

"Learned to be a lot more patient, you have to be determined, learned to be informed about the situation."

• What she’s doing to become better mentally prepared even after 2 Olympics!
• Why having friends outside of her sport helped her with many challenges…
• How having a best friend (Jovana Brakocevic) on the court though has also helped her a ton

“Most of my friends are outside of (sports).”

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to: None

Business/Work: None

Current/Past Teams:

Team SERBIA
OK Jedinstvo Uzice (SRB)
Tenerife Voleibol (ESP)
CSU Galati (ROM)
VfB 91 Sühl (GER)
Rabita Baku (AZE)
Lokomotiv Baku (AZE)
CSM Trgovište (ROM)

Past Schools:

Recommended Guest: Jovana BRAKOCEVIC

3 | How To Achieve Something Great & Be Respected with Brankica Mihajlović

Ep 3 How To Achieve Something Great & Be Respected with Brankica Mihajlović

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:32s)

About three months ago Mira Golubovic mentioned two young athletes she was so impressed by OFF and on the court. One was Branka (Brankica) Mihajlovic from Bosnia & Hercegovina.

How is she from Bosnia yet playing women’s indoor volleyball for one of the best national team programs in the world.. Team Serbia? (Team Serbia national sports teams are actually all-around, one of the most winningest countries in the world speaking generally) I don’t want to spoil it but you find out in this episode.

We sat down just days before the World Championships were starting and talked about how she stay positive and fights for everything she believes in. We had a special guest appear, one of the best players for men’s volleyball in the world…. Find out who by listening!

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Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:32s)

About Brankica MIHAJLOVIC

Started volleyball at age 12 and International pro at 18 years old.

Changed national teams for a challenge. Olympian by the age of 21!

Played in Switzerland, France, Brazil and now Japan.

All Star player from Grand Prix 2013 & as 4 medals of all three colors (Gold, Silver & Bronze).
 

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her family like and her story?
• How she started in sports?
• How did she adjust to life abroad at such a young age?
• How does she approach challenges?
• How it feels to play at the highest levels?
• What are her habits for playing well?
• What are her daily habits?

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:32s)

Key Lessons:

• Why it’s important to have a plan for 10-15 years into the future…

“You need to know what you want in your life and to be with a strong mind & character and to really wish for this (thing) and never give up.”

• Why having people close to you is so important...

“As a kid, 18/19, I think you don’t know how to resolve (problems)… You need to have support also from your close ones but in general you have to be the one to decide.”

• How to thrive on a high level team by becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable
• How she transitioned from pro to national team at 21 years old..

"You also need to respect yourself & respect others. If you are on the team it means that you are equally as good as them."

• How she keeps her goals in mind and written down…

“When you have some issues, some problems they will remind you that you KEEP pushing yourself.”

• How she controls her mind in pressure situations and why the mental game is so important
• Why we must respect other people to earn their respect
• Why mistakes must be accepted and are important to success

“It’s not normal if you are (not making) mistakes. You have to accept this and go for the next point. You cannot return something that has happened”

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to: NONE

Business/Work: NONE

Past Teams:
Team SERBIA
Unilever Volei (BRA)
Volero Zurich (SUI)
RC Cannes (FRA)
VC Omichka (RUS)
Hyundai Capital Skywalkers (KOR)
Hisamitsu Springs (JAP)

Past Schools: 

Recommended Guest: 

6 | How To Go From A ‘Fat’ Kid To An Olympian with Carlos Eduardo Schwanke

Ep 6 How To Go From A ‘Fat’ Kid To An Olympian with Carlos Eduardo SCHWANKE

Hear the Interview NOW: (48m:58s)

Rewind back to 2005. I joined the 18 man roster after being on a tryout a month and a half earlier. Before that USA Volleyball had no idea who, Ryan Jay Owens, was as a volleyball player. I didn’t even exist to them… Well, it doesn’t matter, I made the decision to follow my heart which was dreaming of the Olympics and I made it on the team with current and former Olympians under the direction of Hugh McCutcheon.

Well Hugh and Ron Larson decided I was a good fit only in a different position and that promised to teach me everything I needed to know to become the player I dreamt of becoming… at the end of that first summer Hugh came to me with a deal in Puerto Rico and after playing there for a couple weeks he recommended I take a deal down in one of the best leagues in the World, Brazil (BRASIL).

I am not a crazy person. I accepted. First day on the job I was meeting and greeting my teammates at the court in San Leopoldo, Brazil in the south which is cowboy territory. Well like they say cowboys are friendly and sure enough after all the guys were met Carlos Schwanke asked me to go with him and another guy, Kid Teixeira for food. These are two Olympians from the Atlanta Olympics!

I said as cool and calmly as possible, “sure,” while grinning like a school kid with a box of candies.

Over the next months I would spend time with him and his family at their summer home and just get to know this amazing volleyball player, athlete, husband, father and future (now) coach. Listen for the his story and some fun stuff about us both.

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Hear the Interview NOW: (48m:58s)

About Carlos Eduardo SCHWANKE

Born in 1974 in Santa Catalina, Brazil.

Grew up in small city near Santa Catalina with his German father & Italian mother.

Started with volleyball because of health at age 12.

He played in 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and is a World League medalist.  

(Brazil is the MOST WINNINGEST national team for volleyball in history)

He had a decorated pro career entirely in Brazil.

He now is a head coach and when he started as an assistant he immediately won three Super League (Top pro) in Brazil with a men’s team.

Hear the Interview NOW: (48m:58s)

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s his story?
• What his inspirational quote?
• What was his biggest obstacle?
• Who influenced him the most?
• what separates elite players from rest of the pack?
• How does he control his mind while playing?
• What is he most proud of?
• What has his life so far taught him?
• Who he would interview and why?
• Why adding value is important?

Key Lessons:

• How mentors play an extremely important role in our lives…
• How being rejected is not a bad thing…

“I was big and a little bit fat… So i had to start playing something.”

"When i went to tryout for one team when i was kid, I was rejected. I was disappointed and i wanted to do something other.”

• Why being injured and not having options to recover is false…

“Doctors told me that i will not be able to play volleyball again,but with believe and faith i recovered."

• Some people are important to keep close throughout life…
• What could make him the best player possible…

“..Trying to find something outside from sport: religion, faith, your goals… If you surround yourself with positive things and keep being better & better then you are in front of your opponents."

• What to do to make his mind his tool during sports & life…
• What’s most important in life to be successful…

"Most important thing is to have __(listen to find out…)___ in your life."

• How what you are most proud of can turn out not to be a goal…
• That accomplishing goals can be incredible…

“... and I said ‘We did it!’ and I turned to the stage and I saw __(listen to find out… It’s a HUGE name!)__ with the Olympic torch & I started crying…All the moments… All the preparations...All the hard days of trainings...In that moment all of those things were (listen to find out…)!”

• The reason why adding value to other people is so important...

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to: None

Business/Work: Head Coach Volleyball

Past Teams:

Past Schools:

Recommended Guest:

5 | From Working At McDonalds to Russian Superleague Champion with Justin DUFF

From Working At McDonalds to Russian Superleague Champion with Justin Duff

Hear the Interview NOW: (51m:29s)

I met Justin this year after my team in Indonesia was looking for a replacement for our team. His agent, Steve Welch of SIM GRATTON in Canada sent me his info. Long story short he got the job and I was so relieved that when we ran into each other the first time he was:

1. Tall as hell. I FELT NORMAL!

2. He spoke perfect English. LIFE SAVER.

3. He was obviously mixed ethnically. BONUS.

Well Justin turned out to be more than just a few specs. This guy is truly one of the kindest hearted, competitive, focused and hungry to succeed in life athletes that I have EVER met.

We hit it off instantly… (Disclaimer: Longest run-on thought/sentence EVER!) From 'inhaling' (AKA eating so fast you cannot breath) designer hamburgers from street vendors to becoming Asian archery competitors to coaching our own team to learning much more Indonesian than I wanted to learn because of his nerdiness to beating down Indonesian pro teams together except in the final (my bad Duff)... to business start-up planning to psycho-like mirror scribbling to geeking out over robotics/RC’s to inhaling mango sticky rice, downing liters of beer in an hour in a while river boat taxi hopping & then sneaking into the private pool of the tallest building in Singapore to alternating in an ice bath while eating the biggest pizza in Indonesia…

We had some good times.

Whew. Yes, that was a lot. It was a tiny bit of our 2 months playing for a team in Indonesia while we stayed in shape for real volleyball elsewhere around the world.

I’ve got tremendous respect for this guy who realizes his athletic prowess cannot get him everywhere in life but it can get him far enough to make leaps to other things during and after sport to be a great son, brother, friend and someday father. Total respect!

Where’s Justin now? Well in one of the best leagues in the world. Get the details by listening…

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Hear the Interview NOW: (51m:29s)

About Justin DUFF

24 yr old pro and Canadian national team indoor volleyball player.

Strong & a huge vertical leap… but only a few more centimeters than me ;P

Son to a single mom.

Got cut from volleyball team initially during tryouts.

2004 started playing volleyball. National team in 2009 & senior national team in 2010. Pro in 2011.  

5th Place in World League 2013. 7th in World Championships 2014. Champion of Russian Superleague 2013.

Hear the Interview NOW: (51m:29s)

Key Discussion Points:
 

• What’s his story?
• What are his goals in sport & life?
• What does he think of getting a high education?
• What mistakes/obstacles has he faced in volleyball?
• What lessons did he learn from those?
• What was a defining moment in his life?

Key Lessons:

• How being cut & denied at first is no reason to give up.

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Because you need to, you need that to grow. Things aren’t always going to go your way… and that’s ok... You should expect that and you should try and use it as a way to make yourself better. To rebuild.”

• Where he keeps his goals to stay on track.
• Why he worked through high school…
• Why he is not keen on focusing on sports long term…

“I am not so keen on making it the focus of my life. Although we are becoming experts in it, since we put a lot of time in it, there are other things that I want to do.”

• How starting a business & writing a book are big options…
• Why others/adults can be inspirational…

“Just to be told I was talented in some way that other ppl weren’t kind of made me say, ‘alright well now I want to try and use this!’”

• His biggest AHA moment that came to him in college…
• How he responds to psychological challenges in sports…

“In the really tight moments you need to be really focused on ‘what is happening right now?’…”

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:

Business/Work: Had a job @ 15Yrs Old... Current pro volleyballer

Past Teams:
Team CANADA
Transfer Bydgoszcz (POL)
Izmir Spor Klubu (TUR)
VC Belogorie Belgorod (RUS)

Past Schools:
University of Winnipeg

Recommended Guest: