In this episode of Michael Ceely's High Performance Podcast, high performance coach Michael Ceely sits down with professional soccer player and entrepreneur Sebastian Avanzini to explore the mental game behind elite athletic performance.

Sebastian's journey defies conventional wisdom: told he'd "never be more than average" at age 22, he transformed himself into a professional player, competing across Europe and Southeast Asia.

What You'll Learn:

• How to transform anger and frustration into competitive fuel
• The critical role of mentorship in breaking through mental barriers
• The playmaker mindset and how to focus on team success over individual glory
• Channeling athletic discipline into entrepreneurial success

Sebastian shares candid insights about anger management and the psychological blocks that almost derailed his career. He reveals how two key mentors helped him develop the skills needed to perform under pressure, including the coach who caught him lying during a tryout, but signed him anyway.

This conversation goes beyond typical sports psychology and explores how elite athletes can leverage their mindset for success in business. Sebastian discusses his transition from soccer player to entrepreneur, founding Eduvo, an education platform that connects high performers with world-class mentors.

This episode is for athletes, coaches, sport psychologists, and anyone interested in peak performance. If you're seeking to maximize your potential, this episode provides actionable strategies from someone who's conquered challenges in sports and in business.

Guest: Sebastian Avanzini - Professional Soccer Player & Co-Founder of Eduvo
Host: Michael Ceely - High Performance Coach

Episode Highlights:
[01:55] Early mentors in Sebastian's life
[10:58] Channeling anger into athletic performance
[16:17] Ego management in team settings
[21:01] Transitioning from athlete to entrepreneur

Connect:
Website: michaelceely.com
Guest: sebastianavanzini.com | eduvo.io

Frustrated with business networking? Annoyed by LinkedIn solicitors? Tired of happy hours where you end up with a stack of business cards and no connections? There’s a better way. The future of business networking is Gildre, a curated connection platform where members are vetted and matched. The result is a high-quality community of founders and entrepreneurs who support each other's endeavors.

In this video, networking expert and Gildre founder Brian Lee talks about why he and his cofounders started Gildre, and how traditional networking platforms and communities fall short of delivering a quality networking experience.

Whether you're a long-time business owner, startup entrepreneur, or venture capitalist, you’ll enjoy this episode of Michael Ceely’s High-Performance Podcast.

About Gildre: https://www.gildre.com
Apply to Gildre: https://www.gildre.com/membership

About Roamli: https://www.roamli.com

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About Michael Ceely: https://www.michaelceely.com

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Diving deep into the psychology behind conflict avoidance, this episode explores two fundamental causes: environmental factors where leadership fails to create safe spaces for open discussion, and intrapersonal habits rooted in people-pleasing tendencies and fear of rejection. By understanding these underlying mechanisms, you'll recognize how avoiding necessary conversations actually builds resentment and diminishes your professional presence.

The heart of this episode offers three powerful, actionable strategies to transform how you approach workplace disagreements:

1. Learn to speak up without attachment to outcomes—breaking the connection between voicing opinions and fear of rejection.
2. Discover how simply reframing "conflict" as "solution-seeking opportunities" can rewire your brain's response to disagreement.
3. Implement weekly behavioral experiments that build your confidence through deliberate practice in low-stakes situations.

Ready to transform how you handle workplace differences? Subscribe for more insights on professional development, leadership strategies, and communication techniques.

👉 Get the Leader's Guide to Resolving Conflict Avoidance: https://www.michaelceely.com/resource...

More about Michael Ceely: https://www.michaelceely.com

Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.