Valuetainment - October 04, 2018


Episode 181： U.S Open Champion Andy Roddick Gives Advice on Books, Tennis & Staying Focused


Episode Stats

Length

3 minutes

Words per Minute

233.69957

Word Count

865

Sentence Count

74


Summary

Andy Roddick, one of the most beloved tennis players in the history of America, breaks down advice on books, on tennis, and how parents can help their kids advance in life. In this episode, Andy talks about the importance of having access to the best brains on earth, how to keep your kid focused on the task at hand, and why it s important to be a good parent.


Transcript

00:00:00.000 30 seconds, one time for the underdog, ignition sequence start, let me see you put em up, reach the sky, touch the stars up above, cause it's one time for the underdog, one time for the underdog.
00:00:17.320 U.S. champion Andy Roddick, one of the most liked tennis players in the history of America, breaks down advice on books, on tennis, and how parents can help their kids advance in life.
00:00:28.920 You know, as an athlete, I think, you know, whether it's in your space or whether it's outside of your space, you have access to the best brains on earth.
00:00:36.760 You know, so the best piece of advice I ever got was surround yourself with smart people and ask a lot of questions.
00:00:40.880 You can apply that to me having access to Andre Agassi at a young age and literally I can ask him anything I want.
00:00:45.780 Take advantage of that. Or, you know, something as simple as you're doing a corporate suite visit at the U.S. Open and you run across amazing, amazing business minds.
00:00:54.620 You know, they're there, they want to see you and take advantage of it.
00:00:58.300 You know, ask them a couple questions, always know what you're going to say and leverage those contacts, follow up.
00:01:02.720 With athletes, it's weird because everyone's coming at you.
00:01:04.520 So you almost, you see a lot of athletes develop this one-way traffic thing where, okay, they'll come to me.
00:01:08.520 I'm the most important person in the room.
00:01:09.840 Let that go and kind of pursue knowledge that you don't have.
00:01:14.480 That's interesting you say that because literally when he came here, he started asking us questions.
00:01:18.460 You didn't even wait for us to ask you questions.
00:01:20.180 You're asking us.
00:01:20.780 So tell me, how was it here?
00:01:22.160 How was the flight here?
00:01:22.940 Tell me about your background.
00:01:24.040 You said you were big on studying whatever that was out and you were reading.
00:01:28.740 Were you a big reader of books yourself?
00:01:31.460 Anything.
00:01:32.380 Books, podcasts, basically.
00:01:34.900 While you were playing.
00:01:35.820 So you were reading a lot while you were playing.
00:01:37.700 Tennis, you have to realize that you're either on a flight for nine hours or if you play it.
00:01:41.860 That's a good point.
00:01:42.520 If you play at 10 o'clock at night, you wake up and you have to find something to do all day.
00:01:45.720 I feel like if you're working your brain, it stays kind of sharp.
00:01:47.820 So there's so much dead time.
00:01:49.880 The thing I've missed the least about retirement is waiting.
00:01:53.440 Someone else's schedule.
00:01:54.600 You know, you would play at 10 at night.
00:01:56.460 You're waiting all day long and your nerves and everything else.
00:01:58.940 So if you distract your mind and, you know, I just I'm a bit of an information junkie.
00:02:03.840 If you could say one book, what would it be?
00:02:05.280 Any book that really stood out?
00:02:06.580 All the Gladwell stuff.
00:02:07.580 I'm reading a book called Originals right now.
00:02:10.580 I was a big Tony Robbins guy.
00:02:12.540 Some of it I like, some of it I don't.
00:02:14.320 But, you know, it's kind of take it for what it's worth.
00:02:17.000 I like reading a bunch of different news sites.
00:02:18.960 So you're not only getting one voice.
00:02:20.180 I'll pretty much read anything.
00:02:21.480 Parents always ask me the wrong questions.
00:02:22.720 How long should my kid be playing every day if he wants to be a pro?
00:02:26.200 He's playing four hours right now.
00:02:27.540 I go, if he's not engaged for two of those hours, cut it.
00:02:30.420 Make sure if two and a half hours is his attention span and he's in it and focused,
00:02:33.740 then I think that's probably what you should be doing.
00:02:35.640 And try to focus.
00:02:36.520 Tennis is tough.
00:02:37.280 You show up and it's cold one day.
00:02:39.100 That affects the way the ball travels.
00:02:40.880 You wake up.
00:02:41.720 Your body's not feeling right.
00:02:43.180 Match gets moved.
00:02:44.120 Something happens.
00:02:44.820 Your draw stinks.
00:02:45.580 There's so much that's out of your control.
00:02:47.740 I think if you can really figure out a way to compartmentalize and focus on what you actually
00:02:51.620 have control over, which is basically the day in, day out monotony of practice and showing
00:02:55.540 up and eating two hours before you do it, you know, the little things that kind of maybe
00:03:01.440 don't show kind of the results right away, but it's like long term.
00:03:04.680 We're six years down the road.
00:03:05.580 Your body's in better shape because you've been eating well for six years.
00:03:08.220 I think those are the things that are probably important.
00:03:11.040 Very cool.
00:03:11.760 Well, Andy, appreciate you taking the time and truly it's really been a pleasure sitting
00:03:16.240 and talking to you.
00:03:16.680 I appreciate you.
00:03:17.240 Thank you.
00:03:17.680 Thanks everybody for listening.
00:03:18.820 And by the way, if you haven't already subscribed to Valuetainment on iTunes, please do so.
00:03:23.300 Give us a five star, write a review if you haven't already.
00:03:26.460 And if you have any questions for me that you may have, you can always find me on Snapchat,
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00:03:39.380 With that being said, have a great day today.
00:03:41.120 Take care, everybody.
00:03:41.840 Bye-bye.