In this episode two-time Olympic gold-medalist Caryn Davies shares how she stays motivated after each setback, the strategy she uses to ensure continuous improvement and why embracing boredom is necessary to become a champion.
Caryn is a three-time Olympic medalist in rowing, having taken home gold medals in 2012 and 2008 and the silver in Athens in 2004. Today Caryn is a lawyer at Goodwin Proctor with degrees from Columbia, Oxford and Harvard, where she is the most decorated Olympian in any sport ever.
Caryn Davies Episode Highlights
• 1:49 – On the hardest part of becoming an Olympian
• 2:10 – How a clear goal and 100% commitment makes the necessary sacrifices doable
• 3:55 – The surprising secret to staying motivated and becoming world class: “beat your average”
• 5:10 – How Caryn navigated the comedown of “What’s next?” after the Olympics
• 6:10 – How clear goals can help mitigate emotional turbulence
• 6:45 – Why sports teams have more fun and what they can teach us about measuring success and playing as a team
• 12:00 – Why enduring boredom is a necessary skill on the road to excellence
•14:15 – Caryn shares her struggles with being a six foot tall woman and how owning being different earned her more respect
• 16:30 – Caryn’s advice on how to deal with haters and what to do when mean people try to bring you down
•19:45 – How finding purpose in rowing helped Caryn overcome adolescent fears and body consciousness
•21:52 – Caryn shares thoughts on love and being 30+ and single
• Related: Get my free 22-page e-book: Natural Attraction: 9 Rules to Attract the Right Man by Being Yourself with No Games or Gimmicks
1. Favorite book for women?
- Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
- Best quote from book – “The heroine of a modern novel is always divinely tall and she is ever drawing herself up to her full height”
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Coffee in bed and listening to “The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor”
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- Whitney Post, the coach that taught her the importance of self-compassion
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
- Hillary Clinton (for her experiences and ability to recover from hers, and her husband’s, missteps)
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- “Enjoy being single”
Resources and People Mentioned
• Caryn’s Facebook & LinkedIn
• Brene Brown
• Whitney Post
