Steven Rados | Bettering Yourself Today, Maintaining a Single Focus, & the Importance of Training for Life

“If you can think your way into a bad situation, you can think your way into a good one." ~ Steven Rados

Guest Bio: Steven Rados is formerly a professional boxer who has transitioned into a boxing and mindset coach. Born and raised in Australia, Steven had a troubled childhood but managed to grow into the world of professional boxing. One big surprise along his story of discipline and hard work was he found a bigger love in coaching others than fighting himself. Steven story shines light on the importance of personal responsibility and looking forward instead of dwelling in the past.

SHOW NOTES: 

• Website: instagram.com/stevenrados
  nstagram.com/bondiboxingclub
  
  

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• REMARKABLE OFFER 2: Try Steve’s Mindset Program or if you’re looking to enter the ring you can reach out to Steven Here

CORE THEMES, KEYWORDS, & MENTIONS:

• Boxing, Australia, jail, professional boxer, boxing coach, boxing trainer, friends, network, Don King, single focus, focused life, priorities, training, mindset, discipline, drinking, drugs, reading, taking back power over you, mindset, rationalize,  paradigm switch, positive impact, stay active, personal defense, confidence, boxing

For more Remarkable Episodes, Inspiration, and Motivation, please visit https://davidpasqualone.com/remarkable-people-podcast/. Enjoy!

Transcript

Steven Rados | Bettering Yourself Today, Maintaining a Single Focus, & the Importance of Training for Life

David Pasqualone: Hello friend welcome to this week's episode of the remarkable people podcast the steven rados story this week We're going to talk about steven's journey from a troubled childhood To becoming a professional boxer a father and how he learned he loved coaching and training Even more than boxing himself.

He talks about personal discipline How we can all be steadfast and grow the importance of growth and training for life You don't have to be a fighting enthusiast to see the value of this episode, not just in Steven exciting story, but how it can apply to your and my life too. So stay tuned for the Stephen Rado story.

Epic Voice Guy: The remarkable people podcast. Check it out.

The remarkable people podcast. [00:01:00] Listen, do repeat for life. The remarkable people podcast.

David Pasqualone: Hey, Steven, how are you today? 

Steven Rados: Good yourself, 

David Pasqualone: man. I'm fantastic. So I just told our listeners a little bit about you, but right out of your mouth, if listeners around the world, hang with your episode, what can they a hundred percent expect that they can take from your life, apply to theirs?

Grow with 

Steven Rados: basically how to get better no matter what situation you're in, no matter what level you're at. A way to better yourself today. 

Awesome. We all need that, right? Always sharpening ourselves and each other and growing. So ladies and gentlemen, that's it. Yeah. We're gonna take a quick 30 92nd affiliate commercial.

You're going to get a special offer and then [00:02:00] we're going to come back with our remarkable friend steven You're going to hear his story and you're going to hear how to grow in your life and be even better tomorrow   

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Steven Rados: All right steven. So let's do this Your story, you are passionate about growing and getting to the next level and becoming a little bit better each day.

How did that happen? Right? Everything that happened in your life, my life, our listeners lives makes us the people we are, but where did your life start? And we'll walk through to today. 

So I was born in Sydney, Australia in Auburn, which is, I guess you could call it like, you know, a bit of a rough area.

When I was in primary school, my school got shot [00:04:00] at, uh, during a Christmas concert. So it's, uh, like not super safe, but it also wasn't like super bad. And like, it wasn't like a regular occurrence. Um, so that's a bit about where I kind of grew up and my parents were, I would say, On and off together, kind of, you know, dad was in and out of the house.

Same thing with mom. I have four sisters and one brother. My, uh, older sister basically raised us. And then from there I ended up going through high school. I eventually got into boxing at about 15, 16. I moved in with some friends at around that time. I was in between. Living with my dad, living with my friend and then at around I would say year 11 I started moving with my sister.

I got more into boxing but also started hanging out with the wrong kind of people and Getting a bit more in trouble, stuff like that, a bit more in trouble with the police and stuff. Fast forward a few years I spent about eight months in jail And [00:05:00] then kind of got out, got my first kind of full time job.

Apart from that, started to get my life a little bit back on track. Still had a few court things I was dealing with. And then eventually I, um, basically realized I'm like, I need to live a little bit of a better life here. So I turned professional. I also had a daughter, turned professional boxing, and then had a daughter that was in 2018.

And still, I didn't really have a, like, proper direction yet. I was still a bit, like, in limbo with what I was doing in my life. I also started coaching around that time that I turned professional in boxing. Everyone was just kind of asking about it, stuff like that. And I feel like I had enough life experience and also I was good enough as a boxer to teach people about, you know, boxing and just how to better themselves in different areas.

And then I would say about two years ago, I just really got serious about what I wanted to do with my life and where I wanted to go and really started to, [00:06:00] yeah, focus on my future, the person I wanted to become. And yeah, basically. I started really focusing on the skills that I needed to live a much better life.

David Pasqualone: And while all this is going on, we just blew past your life story. There's things that happened to us. Like you said, you spent some time in jail and then you said how, you know, your mom and dad was around, but your sister kind of raised you when you're boxing. It seems like some of the best boxers coming out of the hardest backgrounds.

And that's just consistently through time, every country, every era, right? It's like the fighters. Yeah. I like 

Steven Rados: that. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, it's because they go through struggle and they, they're growing and don't quit. So when you're looking back, before we go further into your story to today, what were some of the lessons that you can look back that like, you know, good and bad, my sister raised us.

And that taught me, you know, maybe whatever it taught you, right? Family structure. But then at the [00:07:00] same time, the absence of your mom and dad might've hurt your relationships in the future. So what was kind of dragging through those, pulling you down, keeping you in that troubled state where you went to jail?

Steven Rados: I think it was just the fact that the people that I started hanging out with because they didn't have a solid family structure They felt really close like, you know You just clicked and you just kind of become they become essentially almost like your family So then it's just like oh cool. This is like my first like, you know, although my sisters were amazing You know what I mean?

Like, I didn't, I have a brother too, he was 10 years younger than me. And then he went and lived with my mum in that, in another state. So there was no real relationship there. So they've kind of become like my brothers. And then, you know what I mean? Just, you know, by them getting in trouble, you get in trouble.

David Pasqualone: Yeah, yeah, and then if you don't me asking you talk as much or little what kind of troll did you get into that sent you? I 

Steven Rados: would charge me possession of firearms drugs [00:08:00] stuff like that 

David Pasqualone: Okay, and then now when you're doing it were you like I'm wrong or were you like innocent? Like what was your attitude at that point?

Steven Rados: It's just, like, just what we do. It's just normal life. It's just the life that you live. You're just normalized by it because that's what every day is. It's just, it's not a big deal. Like, you kind of know what's wrong, but at the same time, it's just, it's just the life that I'm living currently. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah.

Alright, so bring us through there. Now you have a daughter. Are you still boxing at this point? Are you focused on training and coaching? Where are you at in life around 2018? 

Steven Rados: So around that I still I started boxing I turned professional and my daughter was born in Canada So I turned professional and about three days later.

I flew over to Canada for my daughter's birth. 

David Pasqualone: Oh nice Okay, and then are you in Canada now you in Australia? 

Steven Rados: That's now I'm gonna show you my daughter also lives here in Australia and her mom lives here in Australia and we share custody 

David Pasqualone: Okay. Okay. And then where, [00:09:00] so you're in 2018, you become pro take us through your, are you still boxing actively?

Did you focus on coaching and growth? Where are you at now? 

Steven Rados: So 2018 I'm still focused on boxing actively and then I'm coaching as well, but boxing is my main kind of focus. I really want to give it a crack professional and then I think I just kind of, yeah, I didn't lose passion for it, but I just had other things going on, other focuses.

So I would still box, and I had six more fights after that as a pro. One was only last year, but it was, yeah. Mainly started to turn more into coaching. I really started to enjoy the process, because I realized the feeling that I get when I'm in the ring, and the feeling of how I get better. I can give that to so many other people like every day when I want to fight like, you know what I mean?

You wait months and months until you fight whereas like I can give this feeling to everybody I can make their life better today 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, and then going [00:10:00] into boxing. Um, I know there's different organizations within each country And then there's global organizations. So when you were boxing professionally, what fight card were you on?

Steven Rados: So he would just work same thing. We kind of different promoters and stuff like that. And then you're all for under the same like global rankings and then you can, yeah. In that, you know, obviously we have like Australian things and stuff like that, that you guys wouldn't have you guys have American things, but yeah, it's all basically the same international thing that we all fall under.

David Pasqualone: Okay. And then would you say, is it because in America for a while, like boxing got ruined by Don King and his crew where, I mean, unless you were on the take, you weren't getting a good fight. Were you, is it a place today where you can legitimately just fight your way to the top or is it still political?

Steven Rados: Uh, it's yeah, it's still political with it. Like you can do it. Like if you just that undeniably great, like, you know what I mean? But it's still yeah still [00:11:00] very political. I think it always kind of will will be 

David Pasqualone: okay So bring us through so now you're coaching Where are we at on the timeline and then bring us through to today?

Steven Rados: so coaching kind of became my main focus and then like I said, I just really realized that like I was still kind of like, making an impact on people in life, and I was still doing good things in my life, but I wasn't really serious about anything, I would say, like, it was no, like, a real, like, 100 percent focused on fighting, 100 percent focused on coaching, it was kind of like, I was doing both, I was still going out with friends, partying, stuff like that, I was still living a relatively, like, I guess you could call a normal life, what most people do, Work, you know, I worked hard, but I also went out stuff like that And I realized I was like i'm just actually not solely focused on anything and like if I want to be successful It's not going to happen by accident and it's not going to happen by living the life that i'm currently living So then I [00:12:00] really decided to really just do it Switch my life into like an actual cure and get focused on what I wanted focused more about my future, the person I need to be to attain the things I wanted.

And then, yeah, I really focused on coaching a lot and my own personal growth. 

David Pasqualone: And how did you do that? Cause going from the quote unquote, normal life, you know, if it's easy, everybody does it, but to have the discipline and the focus and to maintain that focus, what were some of the things that you implement in your life, Stephen, that our listeners can too.

To help them not only get the focus, but then to stay the course. 

Steven Rados: So what I did, I started training, like training had always been a big thing in my life. And then someone offered me a training program and diet program. And I was like, I don't really need that to be honest. I was like, I train, I was like, I can diet.

I was like, this is not that. And then I was also joined this mindset thing. Um, so I started focusing more on like my mind rather [00:13:00] than everything that I do with my body because I was like, I already can do that. So I started reading a lot more and just focusing more on, I would say, the future things that I wanted, the outcome of the situation, the outcome of the life that I wanted to live and the skills that I needed rather than just the discipline of showing up.

I needed skills in other areas of my life, like staying focused, focusing on my future, putting good things out there into the world, putting good things out there into my body.

David Pasqualone: Okay. And then when all this is happening, you know, I'm sure everything takes a choice and everything takes a level of sacrifice. So instead of going out with your friends, you're making different decisions. What were some of the change decisions you made? To alter the course of your life. 

Steven Rados: So I stopped drinking, I wasn't taking drugs, and I was really, the only things that I was doing was things that were benefiting my future.

So I was spending time with like, either very close friends and family, or I was working. [00:14:00] I was working, I was reading, I was doing things, like I was training, and I was like, Focused on my food, like I said, everything basically that was good for me. Now, dieting and everything like that does not sound that important, nor does it.

Honestly, I don't make my own food or anything like that, and I know a lot of people hate it. But the real thing that I focused on was solid training. Family, friends, and then future skills that I needed. So, if there was something that I wanted to teach my clients or I thought they would benefit from, I made sure that I did it first before I was telling them about it.

Like, okay, I really think you guys should read. You should stop getting mad at little things in life. So I just stopped doing all those little, like, triggering things that can set off your mood throughout the day. 

David Pasqualone: What were some of those things? 

Steven Rados: So for example, like when you have an argument with someone in traffic, so many people do that all, all the time.

I'm driving a lot, so there's always people that are gonna piss you off. And then I'm like, I realize, I'm like, I need to stop [00:15:00] wasting so much energy on this 'cause it sets off my moods. I'll notice clients are coming in, they're like, oh, I just had an argument with this person. I'm like. Why? And then I'm like, you can't let someone that you don't, I was like, you don't even know their name.

I bet you don't remember what car they drive. Like, you're letting them set off your mood throughout the day. They're changing the tempo of your day. Why are you giving someone that power? So it's basically just taking back power over your own life and realizing you're in control of so many more things than you think.

If only you just stay focused. 

David Pasqualone: So it's more of a mindset switch when so if you have like it's a real practical steps You get cut off in traffic. Some guy cusses you out flips you the bird and You're instantly ah, how do you bring yourself down back to a good 

Steven Rados: mindset? Here's the thing. It's not that big of a deal.

And honestly, I was something I realized it is They're really not trying to mess up your day. They're probably just trying to get to where they're going in a rush Like, I [00:16:00] guarantee, they're not trying to fuck with you, they're not trying to ruin your day. They're just probably in a rush to get to where they're going.

It's never really about you, they're just doing whatever they gotta do. They may be in a rush, they may be on their way to the hospital, I don't know. I don't really care, until they get out of their car and come up to mine, it's not a big deal for me. 

David Pasqualone: So you kind of rationalize what's happening and just put it in perspective, is that correct?

Yep. 

Steven Rados: 100%. I don't know their story. I don't know why they're in a rush. And to be honest, it doesn't bother me. I'm not in that big of a rush and I'll get to where I'm going regardless. 

David Pasqualone: All right. So now you're changing your mindset, your feet in your brain, your feet in your body, you're learning. Now, are you actively still boxing or are you just coaching at this point?

Steven Rados: I was still boxing, but I'm not actively fighting. So I still train every single day. Gotcha. 

David Pasqualone: Now it's interesting because usually the best coaches aren't the best fighters and, you know, cause it's different mindset. So you were [00:17:00] kind of fighting and you're doing well. And now you're bridging yourself into the coaching realm.

Was that a hard switch for you or did it come pretty naturally? 

Steven Rados: Um, I think it come pretty naturally. Honestly, my passion for coaching kind of really got overtaken by passion for fighting. So yeah, like I really wanted to be a good fighter and passionate about that. And that was my main focus. And then coaching just kind of, yeah, really took over.

I just fell in love with like the process of making other people better. I realized I was actually like really good at it. 

David Pasqualone: Awesome. So now you're coaching, you're helping yourself grow. You're helping others grow. Bring us from there to today, Steven. 

Steven Rados: So to today, I am looking at opening my own gym now. I am pretty busy with clients.

I make good money. I have a positive impact on all the people I'm around and I'm also writing a book. So there are a few things that I'm up to today. 

David Pasqualone: All right. [00:18:00] What's the book on? What kind of book are you writing? 

Steven Rados: So I'm writing a book. It's basically 12 lessons that I think people should know for life from my perspective.

David Pasqualone: Okay. And what, I don't want to ruin the whole book, but what some of the lessons that you're teaching. It's 

Steven Rados: basically 12 chapters and we've got, if you can think your way into a bad situation, you can think your way into a good one. You're literally in control. Not everyone will clap for you, believe in you.

You can lose so much time being unfocused. Learn to think all the way ahead. It's your fault. Competition should bring out the best in you. Take your own advice. Make friends. Balance is bullshit. You're never too busy and trauma will be useful. 

David Pasqualone: That's awesome. I mean, those are right there. So those are the 12 chapters to expect.

Awesome. Now, when do you expect that book out? Sometimes books take three years. Sometimes they take three months. Where do you look at for timeline? 

Steven Rados: Um, I've basically finished the first draft of it. I've got a little bit more editing to do, and then I'm [00:19:00] hoping. Awesome. 

David Pasqualone: So what I'll do is ladies and gentlemen, when Steven's books launch, we'll add that to the show notes.

You can just click and go and get it. Um, all right. So now today we're here. It is February 2025. We might have listeners having it when it's released back probably in March, or we might have people listening to it two years from now, between your birth and today. Is there any lessons or areas of your life that you want to talk about before we transition to how people can reach you and what's coming on in the future?

Steven Rados: Yeah, I would say the best thing that I've adopted throughout those years is realizing that something that I wrote in my book is that everything is your own fault. That's something that I would take honestly, is one of the best outlooks that I've taken on my life is although things may not be You know, completely you're not always to blame, [00:20:00] but if you adopt the thinking that everything is your own fault, you have the power over the outcome of the next situation rather than blaming someone else for how you are and then waiting for them to fix it.

You could realize that, okay, you weren't smart enough to see that person for what they were. You weren't old enough to see that situation and now you can change that because you are. So you always have outcome over the next situation now because you're better and you've been through what you've been through.

David Pasqualone: Yeah, that's very true. 100 percent true. So if someone was like, gonna reach you, what's the best way to reach you, Steven? 

Steven Rados: Uh, Instagram is just Steven, S T E V E N and then rados, R A D O S. 

David Pasqualone: Okay. Now, do you do coaching and training virtually or is it hands on only in Australia? 

Steven Rados: I do both. I do online and I do in person.

I realized my online person [00:21:00] basically just pushed my in person way more because everyone that can get to me is like, I'd rather just come in person, but I do both. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, I mean, but we have, we have listeners all over the world. So they're, uh, not all in Australia and that's probably one of our top five countries, but people in the U S people in Indonesia, 

Steven Rados: I do it online as well.

It's the same thing. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. And how long is the session last? 

Steven Rados: Um, depends. I have different programs for different people, but yeah, you normally a month, three months, a year. 

David Pasqualone: Okay. And then do you, um, do you have a website for them to check out some literature or do you have just get ahold of you via? Just 

Steven Rados: basically using Instagram and then I'm building a website currently, but that's going to be for the gym.

David Pasqualone: Okay. Awesome. My friend. So. You know, we talked about the beginning people learning to get better and to sharpen themselves and just the chapter titles of your book, and we can get in for a lot of what we need to do. But is there any other wisdom that you're [00:22:00] like, you know, if I could go back and tell myself this at 15 or I'm teaching my daughter this today, what are these important life lessons like two or three of them that we can impart to the audience so they can be a better person starting today?

Steven Rados: It's funny because I know that like, whatever I tell myself at that age, I wouldn't listen. But something that I would say is, learn to focus more on the future. Don't do anything too stupid that it's going to affect you for years to come. Because you may do something now that's just, you know, part of the life that you're living or whatever it is.

But those things can stay with you forever. For example, my criminal record will stay with me forever. And it may not be a big deal to a lot of people, I definitely didn't think it was. But I also didn't think, hey, I might want to travel, hey, I might want to apply for this job, I might want to do this. Like, yes, these things can also help you, like, you know, now have a lot of life experience, but I'm sure there was other ways to get that, get that life experience that I just didn't do.

David Pasqualone: I tell my [00:23:00] kids growing up, I said, you are gonna learn your lesson no matter what. You are gonna learn it the easy way. You're gonna learn it the hard way, but you will learn. And uh, then you have like what you're saying, God loves us all and he forgives us for anything we've done when we ask them to. But there's still consequences to our decisions.

And we gotta face a hundred percent. Yeah. We gotta face And they can laugh. 

Steven Rados: Yeah. Yeah. And that's another thing I would say is. Learn to fight or do some sort of martial arts or be fit. Stay active in some area. Build some real confidence through that. Not for the simple fact to be violent, but to look after those that you're around.

And you'll be able to take care of certain situations in life. I think we need people that are more confident and are willing to look after those who can't, aren't capable of looking after themselves. 

David Pasqualone: I agree. Now I'm kind of biased. I grew up in America. We had wrestling. There wasn't MMA back then. Right.

But now you have jujitsu and so many different, uh, disciplines, [00:24:00] but for a 45 year old guy like me, or even lady or a 60 year old, what are the disciplines that you think are good? Cause like, to me, I'm super biased. I love jujitsu. So I think it's great for your mind and your body at any age, but what are the ones you're seeing, Steven, that can really help benefit people?

Steven Rados: Personally, I like boxing because it's just the simplest form of what you're going to do. It's basically, if you're ever going to get into a fight, someone's going to throw punches. So I would say learn how to do those. I wouldn't say go out fighting. I think once you learn to fight, you want to fight way less than everybody else.

But I also think that's why you should learn because the more people that know how to fight, the less people that want to fight. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, 100%. 100%. I agree with that. And if anybody hasn't actually been punched in the face, they're going to lose their game plan when they take their first part, right? 

Steven Rados: 100%. Yeah.

That's what I'm like. Don't worry. Cause I've got arcs before that I, Oh, like I'm scared of like confrontation. I go, don't worry. Most people do not want to [00:25:00] fight. I go. And those that do have never been hit. So once you hit them, It's not a big deal. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. And I think I've heard so many stat, I've heard so many stats, but normally in real life, not the movies, the first person that gets in the face loses 90% of the time.

Steven Rados: Yeah. 'cause they have never been hit before. So, yeah. Yeah. And that's I love box. Yeah. And I think, I think people fight and it's like their fight or flight response kicks in their first sparring session and you see them like have all this like fake confidence beforehand or they're like real quiet beforehand and they go out and they just, they do their thing.

David Pasqualone: Yeah, 

Steven Rados: fighting. 

David Pasqualone: And I get, I think Steven, you speak for yourself. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I think we're both on the same page where we're not advocating violence, but we're advocating preparation. And we're advocating defending and standing our ground. And that's not toxic. That's not, you know, a misogynist that's being a man.

To take care of mankind. That's it [00:26:00] 

Steven Rados: a hundred percent. Because there are bad people in the world, no matter what way you wanna look at it. And there are people that we need to look after. There are older, you know, more fragile males. There are also women that also need to be looked after and they can't.

That's just not, that's just me having four sisters. And I hope that if I'm not around one day and suddenly goes down some, my other guy who knows how to fight is there to look after my sisters. That's just, yeah. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah, a hundred percent. And when people tell you otherwise, they're the liars trying to take control.

So, I mean, I agree completely. So, all right, Steven, man, it's been a great time hanging out with you. Is there anything past, present, or future that you want to cover before we wrap this up or any closing thoughts for our audience? 

Steven Rados: I think that's basically it. Just, yeah, again, focus on the future that you want, the life you want to live, and then adopt those skills needed.

David Pasqualone: Excellent. So ladies and gentlemen, take the information that Steven shared with you. Think about it, pray about it, but more than anything, do it. Like our [00:27:00] slogan says, listen, do repeat for life. Listen to what he's sharing. Do the good repeated each day, those habits he talked about. And. You'll have a great life in this world, but most importantly, an attorney to come.

So Steven, thank you again for being here, my friend. 

Steven Rados: Thank you very much. 

David Pasqualone: Yeah. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, we love you. We'll see you in the next episode. 

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