11 | Don't Be Afraid To Change Your Life Before Going Pro with Milica KUBURA (Part 2)

Listen NOW to the FULL EPISODE! (30m:26s)

How many 14 years old leave their country to study abroad? Well Milica KUBURA is one of them…

She contact me through my sports agency Elite Volley Agency & non-profit Elite Sport Students project.

She asked for help getting to a US college. I told her she shouldn’t have to pay an agent OR ANYONE for doing any of this because her education is MOST important. We put together a CV with her transcripts & all other documents. I sent it off to my network in the USA of over 1400 coaches and she received in the next weeks a TON of interest. JACKPOT! 

Well what made her decide to go to the US? Why did she live alone in Italy as a Serbian girl at the age of 14? Find out in this episode. 

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Listen NOW to the FULL EPISODE! (30m:26s)

About Milica KUBURA

This is the 2nd part of episode 7 with Milica KUBURA of Florida State University Seminole women's sand & indoor teams.

She is a 19 year old from Serbia who lived in Italy alone at 14 years old for school... and now again in the USA.

She is a former Serbian Junior National Team player.

Talks about her reasons for leaving Serbia for her education and more opportunities than Serbia can provide for her.Give tips and advice about how to do what she did, what makes her successful and daily routines.

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Listen NOW to the FULL EPISODE! (30m:26s)

Key Discussion Points:

Part 1: 

Part 2:

  • What were your fears/worries before going to the USA?
  • What was a lightbulb moment that changed your life?
  • What's a typical day & week @ school in the USA?
  • What level is Division 1 NCAA school volleyball in the USA?
  • What's your advice for student-athletes?
  • How do you add value to people?
  • What's your next goal?

Key Lessons:

Part 1:


Part 2:

  • America offered more than she ever imagined.

"I had no idea of the US... where I would go... how things work... will i fit in the team?"

  • The best opportunity is always recognized publicly by others.

"When I decided to come to America...it completely changed my life!"

  • Routines are important to her success.
  • Watching video of herself playing is "extremely helpful."
  • The level of play in US D1 NCAA volleyball is much higher than expected

"Lots of people (in Serbia) think school (in America) is a joke but that's NOT it at all... It's just BETTER ORGANIZED... So things seem easier"

  • Many players go from US schools into top professional clubs
  • Make changes if you want to live a great life that you want

"I think everybody should believe in ourselves... and follow our minds & hearts. I know that lots of people are afraid to make changes in their lives BUT THEY SHOULDN'T. "

"Don't be afraid to change your life!"

  • Find people that do what you're interested in and talk with them about it.

"I encourage people to talk to people that are already (in the US) because that helps a lot!"

Listen NOW to the FULL EPISODE! (30m:26s)


ATHLETE's TIPJAR

One personal habit to contributes to athlete's health:
Drinking a glass of hot water every morning.

Overcomes fear of failure by:
Taking "centering breaths" 

  • 6-7 second breath in thru your nose & 8-10 seconds out through your mouth.
    "I tried it and it REALLY helps!" - Milica Kubura
  • Smiling
  • Singing in her head

Athlete's advice:
Not To Stress about anything. "Everything happens for a reason... & since I started thinking of that everything is much easier."

Best Advice ever received:
"If you work hard nobody can stop you & there are people who are gonna hate you because you're successful.. or people are gonna talk bad about you BUT at the end of the day the MOST important thing is YOUR opinion of about yourself & what YOU are doing... How much effort are you putting in your work... and EVERY SINGLE THING IS GOING TO PAY OFF!"

Athlete's Learning Resource:
http://www.andrijageric.com (Mental Training & More by Former Olympic Serbian)

Most grateful for:
Support from her family.

How athlete add's value to others:
Community Service
Talking to people everyday & getting to know them

Athlete's favorite hobby:
Singing


INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:
Schools & Children's Hospitals by visiting and talking to young children

Business/Work:
None. Student-Athlete

Past/Current Teams: 
Red Star (Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia), Serbian JR National Team & Florida State University (Indoor & Sand Teams)

Past Schools:
 

Recommended Guest:


Follow Athlete Here:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Florida State University Profile

 

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9 | From Swimming in High School to Olympic Medalist in Volleyball with Heather BOWN (part 1)

Ep 9 | From Swimming in High School to Olympic Medalist in Volleyball with Heather BOWN (part 1)

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE... (44m36s)

I can remember being in the cafeteria in Colorado Springs, Colorado USA.

This is where the Olympic Training Center for many sports is located including men’s & women’s indoor  volleyball.

This was exciting for me because I really didn’t many female players ever after playing four years in Junior and NAIA colleges in America & 3 years professionally in Belgium, German and Czech Republic. Sad day for a single guy.

So while I am eating the guys start to chatter about some girls. I look up and see, like a stampede, a group of about 20+ players and coaches hurdling into the cafeteria for food after training.

I’ve never seen such amazonian and athletically framed women in my life. I WAS DAYDREAMING!.

No! This was reality and after that initial shock settled a few stood out. I asked about a few and amongst them was one of the tallest, a blond woman who was smiling, laughing and chatting and looked to be closer to my age than many of young new college level girls.

It was Heather Bown. My teammates told me how she was one of the best players in NCAA volley and had been playing in Italy, my favorite country, for the past few years. They said she was one of the best players preparing at that time for Beijing.

Yeah, that’s all fine and dandy but what I wanted to know was more like who’s single and is she one of them? Turns out no one knew since I was dealing with some guys a bit younger than my 24 yr old self.

The moment came while on my way to training when I passed Heather who was coming from training and it was time to say our hello’s as fellow comrades let’s say.

NOPE.

She refused to make eye contact and the shy guy in me looked down and away. She was cold! How could this be? Well it happened time and time again until one day we were finally introduced 4 years later. I finally realized why...

Find out why one of America’s sweethearts is not unlike myself is (when I used to be out of my element… ) SHY! Which came be misunderstood as: annoyed, evil, arrogant, self-absorbed, almighty, etc. ;P

THIS IS PART 1 of 2

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LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE... (44m36s)

About Heather Bown

Bown was born in Orange, California and has an older sister.

Played a lot of recreational sports like gymnastics, tennis, diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, etc.

Started swimming in high school & volleyball at 15 as a junior.

Went to college at U of Hawaii & UC Santa Barbara for volleyball.

Was a 2x 1st team D1 All American and WAC Player of the Year in her final years.

Joined the USA indoor national team in 2000 until 2012.

Olympic Silver medalist. 4x Grand Prix champion. 3x Olympian… and on and on…. :)

Currently in Graduate school and helping out Classroom Champions as a mentor.

Find out about her story and more like what her medals have to do with “six fingered cats in the Key West!” by listening now...

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE... (44m36s)

Key Discussion Points:

Part 1

  • What drives her?
  • What’s her story?
  • When did she stumble/fail?
  • What lessons she learned?
  • What was her light bulb moment?

Part 2

  • What was a defining moment in her career?
  • What’s her current future plans?
  • What her daily/morning rituals are?
  • What is a personal habit that contributes to her success?
  • The best advice she’s ever gotten?
  • What she likes to do to add value to others?
  • What’s her definition of an athlete being Beyond Athletic?

Key Lessons:

  • Why not accomplishing one goal can lead to new options…

"I was always told I'm not good."

  • Following in your older siblings footsteps for some time can help you grow as a person…
  • Why getting up early contributes to her success…

“I’m in bed by 8 or 9 o’clock at night… whereas in Europe that’s the time they go to dinner”

  • What sports is all about…

"it's not about focusing on winning or losing… You never really lose. You can always learn something..."

  • Learned how to make decisions…

“When you are kid and everything is taken care of for you, you never really think past next weekend"

  • How to overcome personal and team issues…
  • Why losing out on a medal in the Olympics shouldn’t stop her...

“You learn how to play w/ people and trust the person next to you…”

  • The universe has it’s plan for you…

“Man plans. God laughs.”
 

BOWN's Inspirational QUOTE:

“You win, you learn but you NEVER lose.”

 

Elite Sport Students is looking for help! We want to change the lives of a million athletes for the better! How can you #AddValue to our cause? :)


Follow Guest here:

Instagram | Twitter | Classroom Champions | Fanpage
 

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!

Leave a Review & Subscribe to #BeyondAthletic in iTunes so other can find us too! Share this with one person you think could benefit the most...

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: