Maya Raichoora's Recent LinkedIn Posts

It’s taken me 20+ years to realise that the things I thought would make me perform at my best actually held me back. For example: Thought: More hours = more results Actual: Strategic hours + deep focus = real results Thought: I need to be constantly “on” Actual: Recovery, reflection, and downtime are performance multipliers Thought: High performers don’t get tired Actual: High performers manage energy, not just time Thought: I have to sacrifice relationships to win Actual: Relationships sustain performance - they’re not optional Thought: I must always appear confident and in control Actual: Vulnerability and asking for help accelerate growth Thought: If I let people see my struggles, they’ll lose respect Actual: When I share honestly, people relate more - and respect me more. Thought: I have to be motivated all the time Actual: Systems, habits, and discipline carry me when motivation dips Thought: Burnout is inevitable Actual: It’s not. I’ve learned that High perfomance works in rhythms of push and recovery, not constant output. (And not balance) Thought: I need external validation to know I’m performing well Actual: I rely on internal benchmarks and self-reflection Thought: High performance means doing everything, all the time Actual: High performance means knowing what to focus on - and saying no to the rest Thought: Multitasking makes me efficient Actual: Single-minded focus produces results that matter Thought: Success is measured by results alone Actual: Success is about the process, growth, sustainability, and the person I’m becoming - not just the finish line. Thought: I must control every variable Actual: I must adapt, experiment, and trust the process Thought: If youre having fun, you’re slacking Actual: joy is a perfomance advantage and fuels it. Would love to hear your thoughts. Have you realised something about your own high perfomance?

Im currently on my way to Silverstone to deliver a keynote for DHL. This is what I do to prepare my mind and body to perform the best I can: (it takes 5 mins) It’s a combination of process and negative visualisation. 1. I close my eyes and breathe. -I let go of the noise and shift into calm focus. 2. I imagine myself in the exact environment. - I visualise the space: the temperature, lighting, colours, the stage, and the audience in front of me. - I locate myself in the room - where I’ll stand, how it feels to be there. - I see what I’m wearing, how I’m holding myself. I make it real for my brain. 3. I rehearse how I want to perform. - How I walk onto the stage with intention and ease. - How I plant my feet, open my body language, and hold eye contact. - I rehearse my gestures, my pacing, my tone of voice. - I visualise the energy I want to bring - powerful/dominant yet warm 4. I visualise potential challenges and overcoming them. - I imagine what I’ll do if I go blank, if tech fails, if there’s a curveball. - I play through these scenarios calmly, seeing myself handle them with clarity and poise. This step makes me resilient and ready for anything. 5. I finish with a moment of gratitude. - I feel grateful for the opportunity to speak. - I bring that trust and energy into my presence. I have repeated this 4 times before I will actually step on stage. I will do it once more in the car. This is exactly how champion athletes train before matches or race days. The brain struggles to know the difference between what is real and imagined, so you can improve your performance first without physically doing it. It’s why I have seen such a change in how I perform, show up and the results I get. It’s also why my clients Jake, Ella and Sana have transformed their public speaking skills in 3 months. Give it a go! P.s if you are in a position of leadership/C-suite and know you need to level up your public speaking to captivate audiences, DM me ‘MIND’ for 1-1 coaching.

One of the biggest signs of a strong mind is that You do it anyway. Yes there’s doubt, but you do it anyway Yes there’s fear but you do it anyway Yes you’re scared, but you do it anyway Yes you could lose, but you do it anyway. Yes people could judge you, but you do it anyway And the best part… this is a skill. A skill that the best athletes, entrepreneurs and leaders have mastered. P.s If you’re a female founder/entrepreneur then I have an event for you! I’m hosting mental fitness live with Female Founders Rise next week on Tuesday. We will be working on this skill there! Tickets: https://luma.com/bh75dbaf

Giannis Antetokounmpo got asked 'Do you view this season as a failure?' His response is a 53 second masterclass on failure. It’s made me reflect on 3 things: 1. Losing is not the same as failing - Life is like sport. You win some points. You lose some points. It's part of it. - However 'Failure' and 'Success' is a personal perspective that you choose. 2. He doesn’t seem to have much fear of failure.  - Instead he views it as a necessary part of success.  - This framing is so powerful because he can bounce back quicker.  Reminds me of the quote: 'Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.' - Zig Ziglar. 3. Just because you can’t see it yet, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.  - success requires both urgency and patience  - be urgent about putting in effort/training and patient about seeing results. Did you like his response? ♻️ repost to to help someone else with failure P.s I bet Eric won’t dare to ask this question next year 😂

At 16, Alysa Liu quit ice skating. She was traumatised by the sport. The joy was gone. She couldn’t even step on the ice. Yesterday (4 years later): She just won Olympic gold. Here’s what happened: As a 13-year-old, she became the youngest U.S. champion. Everyone celebrated her talent and potential, but inside, she was miserable. The pressure, the expectations, the grind - it all crushed the love for what she once loved. So she decided to walk away. She lived. She went to college. She travelled. She died her hair. She skied. She rediscovered joy, freedom, and who she was outside of the sport. Then she returned. But this time, it was on her terms. She was choosing to be there. Choosing her own destiny. And that choice made all the difference. Elite performance isn't just about more control, more discipline, more sacrifice. It's about agency*. Having ownership. Freedom to be your full self. When you give people that, extraordinary things happen. (both in sport and business) Yesterday she scored an incredible 226.79 - making it a career best. She is also the first American woman to win an Olympic gold in figure skating in 24 years!!! It was just incredible to watch. Did anyone else see it? My biggest takeaway from this is: Never underestimate the power of being yourself. Too much discipline and control can take out the deep fire we have in our souls that make us who we are. Let it burn!!! 🔥 Where in your life could you take more ownership? No matter how small?

2 years ago: Georgia Hunter Bell was working in tech sales. Yesterday, she won gold at the World Athletics for 1500m. That contrast is wild. As a kid, she loved running. Wanted to make it professionally. But then she quit. She stepped away and went down the path of a corporate career. Then during COVID, she started running again. Nothing major at first - just getting out, moving, enjoying it. Then it started to matter more. She trained harder. Took it seriously. And instead of overthinking it, she just gave it a proper go. She competed in the British indoor championships unsponsored and still working in cyber security. She made her first team at 30. And then signed with Nike. Since then she has won multiple medals at Championships and the Olympics. I sometimes speak to athletes who are 21 and already worried they’re too late, that they’ve missed their chance or fallen behind. But just look at Georgia Hunter Bell. Timelines aren't as fixed as we think they are - especially when it comes to age! Her story has taught me a few lessons: 1. It's never too late to go for it. 2. It doesn't always go your way the first time. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. If you believe in yourself and trust the process- anything can happen. P.s If you are in tech sales- see you at the next Olympics ;)

What an incredible moment to witness. The coach said ‘I Believe in you but you have got to want this moment’ In this clip, Brenda Frese is coaching Oluchi Okananwa. Here are my takeaways: 1. These moments aren’t easy. Emotions are high. Athletes are tired. But sometimes all an athlete or anyone for that matter needs to hear is someone saying ‘I believe in you’. Never underestimate those 3 words. 2. The coach also reminds her that she has to want it too. She has to conjure up the courage and the belief to make it happen. No one else will do it for her. She has to WANT IT. 3. Oluchi is willing to learn. She’s willing to take it. She embraces the fire and toughness of the coaching. Now not every athlete will respond to that type of coaching. But it works for her and she knows that. SHE IS COACHABLE. and that is crucial if you want to be a winner. What an incredible coaching moment to witness. Video credit: ESPN

You will struggle to be a great leader it you don’t know how to lead yourself. By that I mean mastering these 5 key aspects of self-leadership: 1. Power Over Your Thoughts - The story you tell yourself becomes the standard you live by. - Challenge negative thoughts and replace them with empowering ones. - Become very good at talking to yourself like you talk to your best friend (kinder, more motivating) 2. Power Over Your Emotions - Treat emotions like data not directors. Pause then respond. - Feel. Deal. Heal. It’s part of being human. Suppression is not cool anymore. - EQ requires awareness, intelligence and agility. 3. Power Over Your Time & Energy - Great leaders protect their time and energy fiercely. - Say no to distractions and yes to focused action. Stop saying “I’m busy.” Start asking “Is this worth my energy?” - Eliminate energy drains, whether it's people, tasks, or negative habits. 4. Power Over Your Performance - Visualise your character and performance daily. 2 mins is enough. - Frame pressure as a privilege to meet your potential. - Stop blaming others and take accountability. Seek feedback constantly. 5. Power Over Rest & Recovery - A true leader knows when to rest and recharge. - It’s not a reward for the work, it’s part of the work - Protect sleep, thinking time, and moments where you’re not “on.” Want to start leading yourself better? Start with these steps: 1. Be intentional with your self talk today. Every time you go through a door say something useful to yourself. 2. Set one boundary around your time and energy to protect your peace this week. 3. Put 10 mins in your calendar for active rest. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. ♻️ repost to help someone else lead better How I can help: If you are serious about levelling up, I have one space left for coaching. I help high performers, execs and business owners go from good to great. DM me ‘MIND’

After coaching female athletes, leaders and founders for 5+ years, I’ve noticed something interesting… No matter the industry, experience level, or stage of success, the same three mental barriers show up again and again. - having confidence but not self confidence - Imposter syndrome and self talk - perfomance declining under pressure So many women I work with are capable, driven and ambitious. From the outside they look like they have it all together. But internally, the conversation is often very different. Am I good enough? What if people find out I don’t belong here? Am I ready for this next step? The truth is, while there will always be things outside of our control: markets, opportunities, timing - the one thing we do have control over is ourselves. Our mindset. Our habits. Our standards. Our character. Mental fitness is about building the internal strength to navigate those moments. To move forward despite doubt. To set meaningful goals and actually become the person capable of achieving them. And that’s exactly what we’ll be exploring at our Mental Fitness Live Event with Female Founders Rise Founder Rise on Tuesday 10th March (live in London) It also feels especially meaningful to be hosting this alongside Emmie Faust Faust. We met two years ago, and she completely changed my understanding of what “women supporting women” actually means. Before meeting Emmie, I thought it was just a phrase people used - but she genuinely embodies it in everything she does. In the way she champions other women. In the communities she builds. And in the spaces she creates for women to grow. This event is one of those spaces. A room full of ambitious women, honest conversations about the challenges we face, and practical tools to strengthen the one thing that will always matter most: your mindset. P.s your mind is like a puppy. If you don’t train it, it will sh*t everywhere! Only 10 tickets left! See you there: https://luma.com/bh75dbaf

Your reactions, expectations and decisions are shaped by patterns your brain has learned over time. You’re watching paper come out of a tap… but for a brief moment, your brain insists it’s water. Our minds are pattern detectors. And they are incredibly fast.  Most of the time, this works brilliantly.  Prediction makes life faster and easier. BUT the predictions are not always accurate. They replay old experiences as if they’re happening right now. - That first public speaking disaster? Now your brain predicts danger before you even step on stage. - That manager who once dismissed your idea? Now your brain predicts criticism, so you hold back. - That time trust was broken? Now neutral gestures suddenly feel threatening. Then the outcome often matches the expectation - not because it was inevitable, but because the prediction shaped your response. The good news is that the brain updates through experience - including imagined experience. This is where mental fitness comes in. Here are a few things you can do: 1. Ask: Am I seeing what’s actually happening? Or what I’ve learned to expect? 2. Use mental rehearsal to change your expectation bias. - If you visualise worst case scenarios then your brain will predict that will happen (more fear, more anxiety). - But if you start visualising better case scenarios repeatedly, you can train your brain to predict success and high performance. You have to give it NEW evidence to predict from. e.g you speaking on stage well. Or you sharing an idea in a meeting and owning it. Without deliberate practice, yesterday’s experiences keep shaping today’s choices - quietly, automatically, invisibly. p.s Who thought it was water? let me know in the comments!!! ♻️ repost to remind someone else.

Arguably one of the most important lessons I’ve learned. If you are highly reactive, you are highly manipulated my life. If you have low self belief, you are highly manipulated by other people and their opinions If you haven’t trained the mind, you are highly manipulated my fear, doubt and worry. The word ‘manipulated’ may seem a bit harsh or intense, but it’s true. If you don’t have a solid foundation of awareness, intention and belief in yourself… It will be easy to keep giving your power away to external things and circumstances. ♻️ repost to remind someone else

Sounds simple right? Yet 90% of people don’t do it. It’s easy to react. To that person. That email. That crisis at work. But that’s just habit and autopilot. Mental strength comes from the pause in between stimulus and response. I challenge you today- instead of immediately reacting to something, count down from 4 in your mind and then respond. ♻️ repost to remind someone else

I used to do these 4 things everyday until I realised they were slowly destroying my mental performance. 1. Complaining too much - it’s so easy to find something to complain about. Weather. Late train. Cold coffee. Boss. - but complaining rewires the brain to always notice what’s going wrong. Instead: everytime I complain… I also say but I’m also glad that… 2. Harsh and critical self talk - Being hard on yourself can be useful sometimes. But too much is like having a best friend that’s constantly putting you down. - Research shows that self compassion is crucial for high performance. Instead: I Ask.. what would my best friend say? 3. Comparing my journey to other people’s - With social media, we compare ourselves 24/7. Even subconsciously. - That’s not going away, so we have to get stronger. Instead: Whenever I catch myself comparing I say ‘I choose to focus on my lane. It’s the only thing I can control’ 4. Visualising worst case scenarios too much - mentally rehearsing failing, something going wrong, experiencing the past wires the brain to be more fearful and anxious. - It creates an expectation bias that’s always assuming the worst will happen. Instead: I choose to visualise my ideal scenario. Ideal perfoamnce. Things working out. Repeat repeat repeat. Have you noticed anything that ruins your mental performance?

One of the most underrated skills in life (yes I really believe this is a skill) is the art of noticing. What lens do you view you the world from? It’s easy to be negative, find problems, complain. But it’s life changing to be someone who can notice the good, the things to be grateful for, the possibilities. ♻️ repost to remind someone else

Yesterday I spoke at Meta HQ in London to 100+ female leaders. I focused the keynote on 2 specific mental barriers I see women face…. 1. Lack of self confidence. We worked on: - training the critic in the mind - detaching self worth and identity from achievements - taking ownership of one’s self image 2. Crumbling under pressure. We worked on: - reframing what pressure is - shifting from have to -> get to - performing like the top 1% despite obstacles These 2 skills are crucial for building a champion mindset. And of course I finished with a live guided visualisation because talking about mental fitness is not the same thing as doing it. The energy in the room was just incredible. Meeting 100+ women who are leading the way in their respective fields was a privilege. Thank you to everyone at Meta for their warm welcome :) and a big shout out to Ashley McGowan Nicola Mendelsohn CBE Derya Matras for your warmth and inspiring work!

This is a 90 second masterclass in mental fitness. Truly extraordinary mindset. Here are my 6 takeaways: For context Eileen Gu is the number 1 skier in the world. But it’s not by accident. Her mindset is what separates her. 1. “I am a pensive, introspective person.” - She’s owning deep thinking as her superpower. Love that. - Her “scientist” mindset (observing and analysing without judgment) - builds strong self-awareness. - A Journal of Sports Psychology study found athletes who practiced self-reflection improved performance by 15%. 2 “I spend a lot of time in my head. But it’s a nice place to be.” - Most people run from their thoughts. She’s made peace with hers and actually enjoys the company. - When you trust your mind instead of fighting it, it can become your best ally. Metacognition (thinking about thinking) even improves problem-solving and resilience. 3. “I journal a lot.” - she’s actively training her mind every day, like a workout for her brain. - Writing, visualisation, and imagery are her tools to keep her mind sharp, focused, and resilient. 4. “You can control what you think… therefore you can control who you are.” - Thoughts shape feelings, actions, and identity. - She’s using neuroplasticity to intentionally become the person she wants to be. It’s the not so secret secret to life. 5. “How cool and empowering is that?” - She’s changing the narrative: mental training isn’t just for fixing problems - it’s fun, sexy, and a performance edge. - Your brain can be a playground, not a prison. How amazing is that? 6. “I treat it just like I do my ski training.” - Here’s the crux: very few athletes or people give their brain the same attention they give their body. - By treating mental fitness like physical training, she’s building a performance advantage that most overlook - but everyone can tap into. P.s she’s 22!!!!! Follow for more examples and content like this!

You’re confident. But not self confident. (Yes there’s a difference and it matters) Here are 9 Signs to look out for: Note: This is by far the most common pattern I see when coaching high performers and leaders. 1. You look sure of yourself BUT you over rely on external validation to feel it. 2. You speak with conviction BUT question yourself in silence. 3. You shine when things go well BUT spiral when they don’t. 4. You chase achievement to feel worthy THEN move the goalpost. 5. You fear being misunderstood SO you perform instead of express. 6. You can light up rooms and in public BUT feel small when you’re alone. 7. You can hype everyone else up BUT struggle to celebrate your own wins Confidence says ‘I’ve got this’ Self-confidence says ‘I’ve got me’ This clip is from my most recent TEDx talk where in 10 mins I explained exactly what you need to do to build the skill of self confidence. I had to learn it the hard way but confidence on its own no longer has as big of an advantage as I thought. Full talk: https://lnkd.in/e38qh57K

8 years of daily mental fitness training in 10 sentences: (part 2) 1. Ask yourself: “Will this matter in 24 hours, 24 days, or 24 months?” Most stress reduces when you gain perspective. 2. Replace “I have to” with “I choose to.” The moment you reclaim agency over your obligations, your relationship with effort fundamentally changes. 3. Self-awareness without self-compassion quickly turns into self-criticism. 4. The brain will choose a familiar pain over an unfamiliar possibility every time. 5. Starting your day by saying ‘show me how good it gets’ will help you see possibility over problems 6. Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now. 7. Most people try to eliminate pressure. High performers learn how to regulate themselves inside it. It’s not the enemy. Untrained responses are. 8. Confidence grows fastest after evidence. Small daily wins compound into belief. 9. You can reframe nervousness as readiness. The physiological state of anxiety and the physiological state of excitement are nearly identical - what changes is the story you attach to the sensation. 10. One of the biggest signs of a strong mind is the ability to not react to everything. The more you react, the more life manipulates you. Which one resonated with you?

The best way to see if someone is mentally fit (including yourself) is to look at The tiny everyday moments. Not the big presentations, major deadlines, or life-changing crises. The real test is in the small stuff: - How you respond in traffic. - How you accept a compliment. - How you react when your coffee order is wrong. - How you handle constructive feedback. - How you listen without interrupting. - How you pause before reacting to frustrating emails or messages. - How you acknowledge mistakes instead of deflecting. - How you celebrate small wins, not just big victories. - How you practice gratitude for mundane things. - How you choose kindness in tiny interactions. - How you manage your inner self-talk under stress. - How you stick to simple habits like moving, hydrating, or taking a breath. - How you let go of minor annoyances instead of stewing over them. Mental fitness isn’t JUST built in crises. It’s built in the micro-moments that accumulate day by day. The small, deliberate choices compound into focus, resilience, and emotional strength. Sometimes we overwhelm ourselves thinking we have to do everything at once. But it really is this simple: start today with one thought, one action, one response - and then repeat. Do you agree? And would you say you are mentally fit?

I come back to this speech by Nick Saban (world class football coach) very often. In the video he’s expalaining to the team that in order to dominate other teams they need mental toughness. He defines it as ‘what does it take to break you?’ What does it take to break your focus? What does it take to break your confidence? What does it take to break your discipline? What does it take to break your motivation? These are tough but such brilliant questions to ask yourself and your team. When you can honestly answer them, you can build stronger foundations. And this is the crux of mental fitness. P.s I’m hosting mental fitness live with Female Founders Rise tomorrow (Tuesday 2pm) live in London. This is exactly what we are going to work on because it’s the difference between good and great. Tickets in comments.

8 years of mental fitness training in 10 sentences: 1. If your peace depends on everything going right, that’s not peace that’s control. 2. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you choose to respond. 3. The body keeps score of chronic stress; unprocessed stress or emotions eventually cn become physical tension and illness. 4. If you can overthink the worst, you can overthink the best. (Same skill, different direction). 5. Your diet is not just what you eat. It is what you read, listen to, watch and the people you surround yourself with. 6. Constant complaining and comparison quite literally erodes your confidence and optimism. 7. Don’t wait for that one person to believe in you. Become that person . 8. The magic you experienced in your childhood was not because you were a child, it’s because you were present. 9. You will remain the same until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change. 10. Beliefs are not truths. They are simply stories you have repeated enough times that your brain has familiarity. Which one resonated? And do you want part 2?

About to go on stage at Santander! (8th keynote in the last 2 weeks). This is how I prepare for peak performance: I rely on the power of visualisation to think, feel and perform the best I can. The total process takes 5 minutes. I repeat it at least 5 times. 1. Process visualisation - I mentally rehearse my ideal performance in the environment I will be in. - how do I want to walk on? What am I going to say? How will I engage with the audience? What’s my tone of voice? 2. Character visualisation - I visualise how I want to show up and step into character - this includes what I wear, body posture and the energy I want to bring. - I add emotion as well. Training my nervous system into how I want to feel. 3. Negative visualisation - I visualise things that could go wrong but see myself overcoming the obstacle - e.g tech issues, lack of audience engagement. This means I’m prepared for anything. I’ve built agility and resilience. 4. Creative visualisation. - I finish by doing a small gratitude visualisation. Reminding myself how lucky I am to get to be here and do what I love. This is exactly how I train elite athletes and leaders. And it makes a difference every time. See you on the other side 😍😍

You don’t need more confidence. You need to build the skill underneath that which is Self trust. Do I trust myself that I can handle the situation? Do I trust myself that I can bounce back? Do I trust myself that I will show up and do my best? Self trust is a firm, internal reliance on your own integrity, judgment, and capabilities, regardless of outcomes. And it’s the foundation to real confidence. The best way to build it is to get very good at keeping the promises you make to yourself. No matter how small or big. If you say you will go to the gym. Go. If you say you will go for a promotion. Do it. If you say you will take a break. Take it. If you keep breaking those promises, your self trust slowly gets destroyed. P.s this is one of the themes I discuss in my new TEDx talk: give me 10 mins and I’ll make you dangerously confident. There are 2 more pieces to the puzzle! Full video is linked here: https://lnkd.in/eb4ncZac

Once I started auditing these 3 things, my relationships, mindset and self belief significantly improved. Every 3 months look at: - who am I spending time with? - what am I feeding my mind? - what beliefs am I reinforcing? It’s all about intention and then action. Rather than waiting for the start or end of the year- this allows you to audit multiple times. It’s March! So it’s time to audit. Spend 15 mins asking yourself these questions ♻️ repost to help your colleagues

Watch how Ronaldo motivates his team mate before a penalty. You can apply this to your own team today. Here are 3 key things to notice: 1. It’s motivational and aspirational  - ‘You take it well’  - He’s reminding João he can do it  - He’s instilling confidence and competence in him. There is certainty in his statement. Action: how can you motivate someone better today? 2. It’s psychologically safe  - ‘If we lose, so be it’  - this completely took the pressure off  - Sometimes when we are too focused on the outcome, performance suffers.  - Instead there was no expectation. He wouldn’t be punished for his mistake. Action: how can you remove or reframe the pressure for someone today? 3. It pushed him to be better  - ‘Show personality’  - It reminds João to rise up to the challenge and connect to who he is. To level up in his character - Become the person you need to be to get the job done. Action: how can you bring out the best in someone today? Take a moment to reflect on how you motivate your colleagues, team or yourself. The words you say make a difference.  How you say it also makes a difference. P.s after watching that, who else thinks they can score a penalty? I’m so ready to go 😂 ♻️ Repost to remind someone else how to get their team across the finish line.