E61 | Tennis Pro to Entrepreneur: The Uncommon Journey with Stephan Muller

In this compelling episode of The Kirk Miller Podcast, I sit down with Stefan Muller, an entrepreneur and ex-professional tennis player. Stefan's unique journey spans from his early life in Holland, his move to Dubai, to his career in the US, encapsulating his tennis journey and beyond.

We delve into Stefan's early decision to dedicate himself to tennis at the tender age of 12. This focus led him to participate in professional-level tournaments and play college tennis, ultimately shaping his strong work ethic and ability to make significant sacrifices.

Transitioning from professional sports to corporate life, Stefan started working at Nike in marketing and brand management. This exposed him to various areas of business, helped him clarify his focus, and ignited his passion for entrepreneurship and creativity. Despite initial struggles and a vibrant party life, a turning point arrived at the age of 27 when Stefan found himself juggling work at Nike, a startup, and an executive MBA.

You will learn:

• How Stefan Muller's journey from a professional tennis player to a notable entrepreneur took shape
• The impact of his time at Nike, leading to clarity of focus and a passion for entrepreneurship
• The significance of focus, work ethic, and making sacrifices, as ingrained through his years in tennis
• His challenging transition from sports to corporate life, and how he managed to stay fit in the process
• The key lessons from Stefan's turning point at age 27, where he balanced a startup, work at Nike, and an executive MBA
• How a 10-day silence retreat changed Stefan's perspective on resilience, the value of silence, and prioritizing different aspects of life
• Stefan's evolution in reducing partying, focusing on fitness, spirituality, excelling in business, and his eventual move from Nike to Porsche Middle East before becoming an entrepreneur
• The formation of Stefan's own business providing commercial opportunities for football players and clubs, and his belief in embracing discomfort
• Stefan's preparation and completion of a 100-kilometer run in Chianti, Italy, illustrating a correlation between training and business success
• The development of a mindset of keeping promises to oneself, leading to discipline, focus, and building confidence
• The importance of setting high standards, reducing expectations from others, controlling the controllables, and the impact of attachment
• The role of time management in achieving long-term goals, and the influence of a coach on Stefan's decision to run 100 kilometers
• The creation and purpose of Stefan's business, "Uncommon," which helps other businesses create communities around their brands, and the significance of his tattoo "Uncommon"

For more information on what was discussed in this episode head to https://kirkmiller.co.uk/programme/

The Kirk Miller Podcast is the show for business leaders and peak performers to get into the best physical and mental shape of their lives and unleash from within confidence they never thought possible.

This show is about giving you the unfiltered truth, telling you exactly what it takes to get - and more importantly stay - in unbelievable shape. Not just physically but emotionally and mentally too.