Speaker 1: 0:00

Hi, I'm Shelly Maurer and I'm Cher Emrick.

Speaker 2: 0:03

Welcome to Life Lessons from Pickleball, where we engage with pickleball players from around the world about life on and off the court.

Speaker 1: 0:12

Thanks for joining us. Welcome everyone to Life. Lessons from Pickleball, oh my gosh. Today we are so lucky to have with us Rajul, known as Raj Chickalingaya. Raj brings a powerful combination of athletic discipline, curiosity and heart to the court.

Speaker 2: 0:33

Raj. You were raised in Corvallis, oregon. You started playing tennis at age five and competed at a national level before taking your talents to collegiate tennis at Whitman.

Speaker 1: 0:42

College and you're currently playing pickleball in local open tournaments as well as professional qualifying events across the country, and you've recently started coaching pickleball.

Speaker 2: 0:54

But before we start talking about pickleball, you started playing tennis at five. Wow, can you take us back to what drew you to tennis in the first place and what that journey looked like for you growing up?

Speaker 3: 1:07

Yeah, absolutely. Well, first of all, thanks for having me. Really appreciate you having me on and, yeah, looking forward to our conversation. What brought me to pickleball or to tennis at age five? Well, my parents, first of all. I'd say I was already a pretty active kid growing up and I was always on the run and I was moving, running before I could walk, essentially. So I guess they were like, yeah, let's put a racket in your hand and see what happens. I loved all sports, but especially sports with round balls, like tennis balls, squash balls. I played a myriad amount of sports growing up, but that's what kind of led me to it and I was hooked ever since.

Speaker 1: 1:49

But five years old, raj, that's crazy Five was a little young.

Speaker 3: 1:54

yeah, Maybe I had a ping-pong paddle in my hand at that time and then graduated to the heavier racket sports.

Speaker 1: 2:03

And so how were you introduced and what was going on in your life when you were introduced to pickleball?

Speaker 3: 2:09

introduced to pickleball. I was introduced, um, for a long time. I was, uh, kind of in college. I kind of found out what the concept was, you know, shorter tennis court, um, kind of still the same mechanics and all that stuff. But I kind of played once or twice, maybe when I was 18. And then, you know, after moving to Seattle after college, I went with my tennis gear to the Green Lake Pickleball Courts down here and I had no idea there's hundreds of people playing and I was like man, I can't even get on a court to play tennis. This is awful. Tennis, this is awful. What are these paddles and soft balls? What is this sport? I had the disdain at the time and then I got hooked. Someone lent me a paddle and I was like, oh, this is cool.

Speaker 1: 2:54

Isn't that funny. That tends to be the way. I mean. Most tennis players are not keen on that and we are noisy and we take over the courts, but once people try it, it's like they're hooked most of the time.

Speaker 3: 3:08

Yeah, it's, it's the new thing, you know. It's uh, I mean, the sport's been around for a while, but I guess it's grown in popularity so much in the last like few years. Even really after the pandemic it felt like but oh yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:21

So how, how? How did your competitive tennis background shape? The way you've approached pickleball?

Speaker 3: 3:29

Oh, it's huge, I mean I think I think that's one of the things I'm. I'm kind of feel pretty blessed and lucky to have played competitively for such a long time because I mean you notice through the different sports kind of a similarity in mindset and same principles of how you. You know how what it means to compete, what it means to compete well, and you get the same butterflies and nervous feelings like in the same. You know all you know my competitive sports. I've played I'm not just pickleball, I've played like squash growing up, tennis kind of at the same. You know similar, similar level and it's taught me a whole bunch of things. I mean just that you can take.

Speaker 3: 4:12

You know outside of the court, like what it means to you know your relationship with nerves and fear, your internal environment versus your external environment. You know, or detaching from a result, it's really big, like you know, if there's a big life event, okay, how can I accept and detach from the result? And what does success mean to me? You know, sometimes it's not winning the point, sometimes it's how I'm performing in the point. So I think, like those type of things, I mean it's huge.

Speaker 3: 4:38

And then you know controlling your anger, controlling your fear, controlling your internal environment and then responding to your external environment. And then for me it's like an expression, you know, it's like I like the athleticism, I like how my body feels when I, you know, generate a slice, shot or a volley and, yeah, and again, like, in terms of the logistics, a lot of it translates from tennis, you know, like forehand, backhand, drives, volleys, you know they're, they're pretty, they're pretty similar. So, but I enjoy the mental side of it, you know, and the competition thing, um, it's more of a mental thing for me and I gain a lot of satisfaction out of it.

Speaker 1: 5:13

It's absolutely a mental thing. So are there, have you learned something about yourself that kind of surprised you in your life of competing in sports? Surprised you in your life of competing in sports?

Speaker 3: 5:26

What has surprised me? Well, I've really I'm surprised I'm playing pickleball, to be honest. I mean, I think I told you earlier that this I had some kind of not disdain, but it was like oh, what is this? Is this even a sport Like it's? Like you know, and I've learned that you know doing, I think, in just in life in general, I've kind of, just as I've gotten older, sort of matured into a more secure sense of self, I think, like tapping into what you enjoy doing, and I was like this is really fun. So let me just keep going on this.

Speaker 3: 6:00

And I think probably you guys have, I've heard on other episodes you could probably speak to this you didn't know where the pickleball would take you, you know, like you just you started one at one time and then it just all these experiences, all these relationships with people that you've had that you probably wouldn't know kind of came about through, through just kind of you know, enjoying the moment type of thing. So for me, I really, you know, I think I think a big, huge stepping stone, learning experience for me is like, especially, coming out of college and then playing tennis so competitively for so long. I thought I was going to do that professionally, and I didn't really have a vision afterwards because I would be spending like hours and hours drilling and then we would talk about what tournaments like my dad and I would just travel around the country playing. We were talking about what futures events we would talk about what tournaments like my dad and I would just travel around the country playing. We were talking about what futures events we would play. You know, that's a step below, like the ATP and stuff.

Speaker 3: 6:51

And then I just got you know, not that I was that that good at that level, but I also just kind of got burnt out with it, and so it's kind of a new, new adventure for me, you know, and so but but I was a little bit lost at the time. I was like I didn't really know, kind of you know for a career, what I would want to do, and it was a little scary doing something that you know pickleball like that's not necessarily what socially attracted, you know in the, in terms of like a profession or something like that. So it's kind of it was a nice reminder. It was like oh, like be, be brave, follow your kind of gut instinct, and so that's kind of a big thing what I've learned from it, because a lot of goods come out of it.

Speaker 2: 7:31

So follow your joy. Follow your joy follow your bliss.

Speaker 3: 7:35

Easier said than done. But yeah, it is Especially like like you said.

Speaker 1: 7:40

I mean tennis is highly respected, pickle Pickleball it's taken a while for the respect, and so I can appreciate if you were in this professional line and then you switch sports to one that's not quite as highly regarded yet, although now it is. I can appreciate that that would be a little hard on the ego.

Speaker 3: 8:06

It's a little hard on the ego, but it's also just a really good practice, you know, and caring, like valuing what you know, not valuing too much what people think, or caring what the right people think you know, or caring just as heavily about what you think of the situation. And the reality is, I mean, if you enjoy it and you kind of exude that, like people will see that and, um, they'll be drawn to it, you know, and they won't. You know, no one's thinking, oh, you know, you're playing pickleball for that, and then they, they, just they forget about it. You know what I mean. So, yeah, I mean, and that I can't speak for everyone, but that was definitely a maturing moment for me, um, but pickleball is pretty respected now. It's a sport.

Speaker 1: 8:44

I think it's completely changed. Yeah, completely. Yeah, now it, I mean it's right up there and um, happily so.

Speaker 3: 8:53

Yeah, I mean the barrier, for it's a really cool because, uh, the barrier for entry is pretty, pretty low in terms of other sports. Like, the ball is a little bit slower, it's easier to pick up. The community is really cool because you can play pickup pickleball. You know, like as if, pickup basketball, but you can't really do that too much with tennis and it's still hard to perfect. You know, once everybody starts getting the same level, then it just becomes like anything else. Right, you're to to master it, to perfect it. It takes a lot of skill, especially if people are the same level as you playing it.

Speaker 1: 9:24

So Thank goodness for coaches like you.

Speaker 3: 9:28

So, what?

Speaker 1: 9:28

what inspired you to start coaching?

Speaker 3: 9:38

Oh, I've been um I've been putting that off for a while Like the coach. Um, I've always had a feeling like I wanted to work. I've always wanted to work with people. I think coaching such a people you know it's a people business, you know it's um. I like mentoring, I like finding out, just working with people, communicating. I mean one of my values is like building relationships, having like shared experiences, adventure and stuff like that. Mindsets. The psychology of it all is really interesting to me and, um, I I did a little bit of mentoring and in college, just like as a chemistry, like teaching assistant and stuff like that, and I taught tennis a little bit, but not too much, and um, but I've always got great satisfaction out of you know, helping people kind of maximize their potential and and finding out what best ways they think and then seeing that, like when somebody gets it, you know just being like, oh.

Speaker 3: 10:23

So that's super satisfying to me and I just thought this was the right time. I mean I'm playing at this stage the best pickleball I've been playing. I've been traveling around playing tournaments. I think I can take a lot of what I learned. It doesn't come from pickleball, it comes from just years of you know, doing tennis academies and tennis coaching and traveling around the world, like to Spain to just like get for a serve coach, you know like stuff like this, and I feel like I can kind of bring that to the to the fold and it's just really satisfying and I think I I really enjoy it. So it's a new, it's a new adventure and it's definitely difficult. For sure it's not, it's not easy, but I enjoy the aspect of you know, like finding out you can't teach the same thing to the same person in the same way. So it's all completely new. Every person's different right.

Speaker 2: 11:17

That's what I was going to say is you're so skilled at just watching the players and knowing what they need to do, and the way you do, you individualize, the way you speak to each of us. It's not just like one way, like you said, so you're really good at that.

Speaker 3: 11:34

Shelly, you're too kind. Oh my God, I'm about to hang up the podcast.

Speaker 1: 11:41

Now she was even saying that before. Oh Cher, he is just such a terrific coach and it's your person-to-person I mean you have such a heart, there's no question about that. And you have emotional intelligence, which if we have that on the court, that's a big plus. And then to use your heart, your emotional intelligence and then your skill, and you put all that together in a coach, I mean, how can you go wrong?

Speaker 3: 12:08

Well, that's very nice of you to say. I mean, I think it makes it so much easier when you're working with really fun and really lovely people who want to learn, you know, and just have fun. I think that's like the biggest thing I've been lucky with, like people I've worked with, for sure.

Speaker 1: 12:24

But yeah fun.

Speaker 2: 12:25

I think that's like the biggest thing, I don't.

Speaker 3: 12:27

I've been lucky with like people I've worked with for sure. But but yeah, I don't know. It's too nice, I don't know what to do. I'm going to go take tissues and wipe my tears away, enjoy.

Speaker 2: 12:36

I want to go back to earlier when you said talking about the mental strategies, and you were talking about, you know, if you have something going on in your day or how you can disassociate that and just be on the court and play. Like what are some skills, what are some ways that you do that?

Speaker 3: 12:51

Oh man, I love this conversation. This is like this is like my jam. I love talking about this. I don't have this like mastered by any means, but it's something that just fascinates me because it's, like I've noticed in my competition, just changing your mindset just a little bit. Like everyone wants to play loose, right, like everyone wants to play free and play loose, but it's. But you kind of have to figure out what are the tools that can unlock that for you. Like sometimes people say, okay, it's breathing, like okay, let me just take a deep breath right before the point starts and then then go, but it's not a blueprint for everyone. It's like it's um. So I found for me, like I was about to do, an example.

Speaker 3: 13:31

I was playing a tournament um the washington state open, which was this it's it's held in um everett area in the greater seattle area, um, and I was playing with one of my partners, daniel Colon, great pickleball player and really fun to play with, and we've been playing together for some time. The week prior, the week following that tournament, we were in a huge slump and the last few tournaments we've played together, we were, we were getting tight, I think we weren't, we were kind of letting the result obviously you're, you're, you're playing tight, so you're, you're like I want to win this, and then you kind of end up missing balls early and you get down like in a game to 15, you'll get down like 13, four, and then you'll start playing loose, but by that point it's a little bit too late. And then they win and you lose to people you shouldn't lose to, and it's the worst feeling, right.

Speaker 2: 14:26

When you're saying playing tight, you just mean like you're just physically tight. Is that what you mean? Yeah, I'm nervous. I'm like my palms are sweating. I'm nervous.

Speaker 3: 14:34

Yeah playing tight. Yeah, I don't want to miss. And so I ended up missing more. You know I want to hit a ball that's slightly goes over the net, so it's not attackable. But uh, I'm a little bit. You know, my body's physically tight, so I'll lob it up and then they'll smash it. You know, and you're like I could have, this is not resembling my actual play, like um, and everybody has those moments.

Speaker 3: 14:56

But we were in that slump for like a week prior to that um, we didn't win a match in our practice. Uh, we I'd had a huge group of guys that that uh went in practice with the time before, really good players, um, but we were like middle of the pack in the level and we should have won a lot of the matches and we didn't at all. So that was just going into the tournament. So we had one phone call I remember talking to him like the day before, the day before and I was like, let's just define. Like, the reason why we were missing is because we're so attached to the result. So it's obvious.

Speaker 3: 15:28

Okay, you want to detach, let's, let's change the rules of success. Like what does that mean? And we were like, okay, rules of success are just going to be. Let's just be really aggressive from the get-go and let's just get all our nerves out and even if we are nervous, we don't. It doesn't matter if we miss the ball, it doesn't matter if we miss the net, we're just gonna hit like drive it more because easier to to drive it when you're tight and nervous. Yeah, sink it, drop it. If you're talking pickleball terms, yeah, I'm sure you two know that, or?

Speaker 3: 15:58

like experience that um, so even if we missed, we would decide, okay, how do we? So that's what, that's what success means, right? And then how do we make sure that we stay in that mindset? We have to do constant reminders. So we'll, we'll be every. If somebody rips it like my partner, daniel Cologne, rips the ball and misses I'll be like great job. Next time let's go and celebrate as if we're we, like that was successful, because that is successful. Um, and if you do that, we did that three or four times and we started to just feel like get loose. And the reality is, you know, if you're playing loose you kind of you you rise, you drop to the level of your actual performance. You know, on that day, so even the losses.

Speaker 3: 16:40

When we lost, we, we didn't lose that much. We, we got third, we, we, we did the best we've ever done. We got bronze. Congratulations, thank you.

Speaker 3: 16:51

We made it out of our, our really hard pool, but the way we did it was that's what was really really satisfying to me, because that would be like a lesson that I can take outside of the theater of pickleball right, Like I can be like okay, take a situation, and then what does success mean in this situation? Like, if I'm like okay, I introduced myself to someone, I'm really nervous, and I'm really nervous. Why am I nervous? Because I care what they think. Well, maybe I changed the rules of success. And the rules of success might mean I just want to say X, y Z, and so once I say that X, y Z thing, I'm like okay, that was successful.

Speaker 3: 17:26

And so I tried practicing that kind of thing in other areas, you know, and so that's just like a little bit of the mindset stuff that I love. So it's not just about winning or losing, it's that's really about like what works. And for me and Daniel Cologne about like what works. And for me and Daniel Colon specifically, um, what worked really well for us was to just hype each other up, even if we lost the point, no matter what, if we were aggressive and loose and we and we ended up playing. It's not a coincidence.

Speaker 2: 17:51

We played the best we've ever played well, I just love that so much because, like you say, if you're in a tournament or in a game and all you're focusing on is the point and you keep losing the point, you get tighter and tighter and tighter and it gets worse and worse. But if you change the idea of success, I love that. So even if you lost the point, you were successful because you drove it and you still. Then you felt up. That was amazing.

Speaker 1: 18:15

Yeah, that's such a great tip. Such a great tip.

Speaker 3: 18:18

Yeah, and it's not for everyone. But like, if you, you know, and if you lose I mean even the losses feel good that way, because you're like I did what was in my control, because you're controlling what you can control, like the outcome, and you have more respect for your opponent, you're like man, oh wow, that's crazy, they did that and I'm I know I'm playing completely loose and free, so they must be good on them. If them, if they weren't better and they won on the day, they won on the day. And if you played really well, then you're like okay, they're better today and that's fine. So it's a good, peaceful way of being. I think it's kind of healthy.

Speaker 1: 18:53

I think that is fantastic. You said it's not for everybody actually. I think that is a universal recommendation or life lesson that it's important that we each define for ourselves what is success for ourselves. We're not holding it some other person's vision of what success means. I'm not trying to live up to somebody else's expectations and you're doing that in your life as well as on the court. I think that's huge.

Speaker 1: 19:23

I love that idea and celebrate whatever that success is, even if the ultimate, and you're not attached to the outcome. That's what you let go of.

Speaker 3: 19:33

And it's hard right, like sometimes, um, I know, when you know things don't go super well when you're playing from a competing standpoint and you start getting nervous. I think a lot of people aren't comfortable with that. They get uncomfortable with those thoughts and with those the feeling of, oh man, now I'm nervous, oh, I'm starting to feel nervous, but it's like it's almost that reframing of no, that nervousness is okay, but you can also have you don't have to lean fully on that you can be like, okay, I expect that I'm feeling this way and then. But I choose to define success as this even if I'm feeling nervous that that is success. The success is like maybe ripping the ball or, you know, hyping my partner up, you know or something like this.

Speaker 3: 20:19

But yeah, I find a lot of joy in that I got a lot of satisfaction because I feel like I can. You know, it's that personal growth piece right. It's like it's just a theater in which you're operating.

Speaker 2: 20:31

Wow. Do you have any other wisdom that you've learned from being in those professional qualifying events?

Speaker 3: 20:39

Other wisdom. Hmm, I don't know about wisdom, but I'm just talking about whatever is on my mind. I think we mentioned, like I think I heard in one of your other podcasts you were talking about sort of connection and connecting with people and I think having the other aspect of what pickleball and you know, similar in doubles tennis but if you're having one team member, um, finding out how they tick the chemistry with you is really really important. Um, and one of those examples I remember I was in mesa. I played with the mesa tournament last year. It was. It was just a 5-0 event, but it was um.

Speaker 3: 21:18

I played with a kid from iowa that I've never played with before and I got set up, but from a by a friend. It was. Um. I played with a kid from iowa that I've never played with before and I got set up, but from a by a friend. It was a complete blind date and, um, we never played any points together and immediately we were on the same page and I realized like, oh man, I really like a partner who's uh, energetic, likes to talk strategy with me and I don't have to worry about, like, building up, you know, um, or or so it turned out that, that he played like me and how he conducted himself, like you know, on the court. Um, and he was a lefty, I was a righty and it just was really good and we, we, we won, we won the whole thing 50 teams, we didn't lose. Wow, that was a really big aha moment for me.

Speaker 3: 21:59

It's just like energy is everything right, chemistry is everything, even if the player is worse than you or you might have a better quality of partner in terms of level, that chemistry on the court, because of all those factors of that mindset stuff and getting down and momentum and all of this stuff, you have to be mentally strong. That's what's being, and it comes easier with people who have competed for a long time. But some people, if they just get in the competition, they don't understand that. Like no, it's not your, your attitude, your body language, how you present to your opponent looking across from you, do I have this guy beat? Is he slumping over after I hit the ball like, hit a winner? Is he? Is he, you know, looking down at his shoes? Do I have him that way? Or, oh man, this person's unshakable, because even if I had a winner, they're being even more aggressive. It's like oh, and it's not over till, it's over right.

Speaker 3: 22:48

So, yeah, it's so much more than just who you're playing with. It's just the chemistry behind it and the relationship you two have.

Speaker 1: 22:57

So do you actually typically, when you're starting a tournament, do you strategize with your partner?

Speaker 3: 23:05

Yes, if it's a new partner, I'll talk like, hey, how do you like to play, you know, or what, what things do you like? Do you like to talk strategy? Do you like to meet to high five? How, even to the? How do you high five? Right, because you don't want to get on the court and and you know you're fist bumping while they're high fiving.

Speaker 3: 23:24

And then I finally look over and I see somebody doing that. I'm like, oh man, dude, we got this right, like so it's all about you know how you present um and what, how you feel comfortable. And you know shelly and I were talking about this earlier, about even with what who takes what ball super important? You know Shelly and I were talking about this earlier, about even with what who takes what ball super important? You know you don't want balls going right between you two and you know on and strategy might look like, you know, on the day I'm not miss, I'm missing a lot of my forehand. So maybe I want you to take more of the more of the back, more of on my side of the court, even though it's on my side of the court, maybe I have you do that.

Speaker 3: 24:01

That would be like you know strategy stuff or like do you like adjusting after each point? Do you like playing the man or the woman or do you like, do you like playing your game? Right, I'm more of a. I like to play the opponent and see what's working, you know, and adjust if it doesn't like if I'm sometimes I'll just lob somebody and if they're missing I'll keep lobbing until they beat me with that and I'll change something else. So not losing twice. You know that's a, that's a, that's a philosophical position to be in and you want to. You want to talk with your partner and say, hey, does that resonate with you? And stuff like that. So yeah, there's a lot that goes into it and but that's the stuff I love. Like I enjoy that kind of thing.

Speaker 1: 24:44

It's the mind, mind, mind's everything mind is everything is everything.

Speaker 2: 24:46

So can you give the listeners like so when you show up at an open play, right, and you're playing with somebody that you completely don't know?

Speaker 3: 24:53

yeah right.

Speaker 2: 24:54

What besides? You know who's going to take the forehand. What are some other strategies that you should just talk to people about?

Speaker 3: 25:05

Basic strategy and stuff like that.

Speaker 2: 25:07

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 25:10

You could say well, one easy one that you know, if I'm walking up and I'm playing you know the open play down in Green Lake I'll be like first of all, I'll try to make them feel comfortable and say, hey, by the way, you can take any of these balls, or I'll let you take these balls. I'll start out with what I can give you, you know, opposed to what. Hey, I might want to take this shot or whatever. I don't lead with that ever and I'll just see. And if they're, if, I'll read it. If they're like oh, it sounds good, they might even say, oh, you take all of these balls. And then I haven't even asked that question yet. But they're like okay, and then it feels comfortable because it's like they gave me what I. You know what I mean. So I'll start with that.

Speaker 3: 25:49

I'll just ask or ask them like hey, what side do you prefer to play on? Because there's a lot of stigma behind you know the left side because there's the forehand behind. You know the left side because there's the forehand, so typically the stronger player. It's not always the case at all, but it's it's. It can be seen that way that the stronger player plays the left side. So I'll ask them hey, what side do you prefer?

Speaker 3: 26:10

A side, because if I just walk on the left side, I might you know and these are for people that are more the amateur level, that are not at used to it as much um, I'll say that. So the whole goal is to make somebody feel comfortable, be personable right away, um, and just be likable, and that's the because. Then, like things will, things will follow, the strategy and all that stuff will follow um. But if you're, yeah, if you're playing with somebody and you've never played with them before, just let them take more of the shots, lean on that. And if they say, hey, can take more of the shots, lean on that. And if they say, hey, can take more of these then go for it Right, but Okay, yeah, yeah and they'll be loose.

Speaker 2: 26:47

Yeah, yeah, kind yeah.

Speaker 3: 26:48

Yeah, Loose and kind friendly, I mean it's. It should be fun right at the end of the day, Right.

Speaker 1: 26:53

It's gotta be and you're, and you're starting with generosity. I, I just love that. You're immediately generous and say what do you want, what do you prefer, what would you? And then everybody doesn't feel like they need to defend themselves. You're already generous and that's brilliant. And then it creates the chemistry.

Speaker 3: 27:13

I mean, it is like microsurgery, right? So it's got to be intense.

Speaker 1: 27:22

It does change lives yeah, satisfaction.

Speaker 3: 27:26

Actually I was reading, isn't it there? There was, uh, um, like the longest sign of health for like a sport is like a racket sport, because it increases the balance. Maybe it's in the amygdala or something like that. I'm not um, but it's like keeping that part of the brain sort of alive. Yeah, um, so it's in the amygdala or something like that. I'm not, but it's like keeping that part of the brain sort of alive. Yeah, so it's healthy.

Speaker 1: 27:47

Yeah, there was a recent article that said that pickleball, in particular they were talking about, addresses all of the qualities of living. It's the mind, it's the emotion, it's the fast, it's the slow, it's strategy. It's's the emotion, it's the fast, it's the slow, it's strategy, it's all the things, and then it's community as well, I mean it's like the perfect sport, right, and you can play it till you know. Any age, any age, little ones to nine. How old is 95. Grace.

Speaker 2: 28:15

Joyce.

Speaker 1: 28:16

Joyce and is still competing at 95. Yeah, joyce is still competing at 95.

Speaker 3: 28:21

Yeah, that was amazing. I think I was listening to her podcast earlier.

Speaker 1: 28:24

It was at the.

Speaker 3: 28:25

Mesa one, right where she had her happy birthday.

Speaker 1: 28:27

Yes, oh man yeah it was amazing.

Speaker 3: 28:31

I was like, oh, I'm going to talk about Mesa, but it's not going to be as cool as that. Happy birthday to me.

Speaker 1: 28:38

Well, you won the whole thing. I think that's pretty darn cool with somebody that you hadn't played with before and you figured it out right away and had that chemistry and strategy. I love that. So you're starting a graduate program, Raj, that's industrial organizational psychology. Okay, number one, what?

Speaker 3: 28:55

the heck is that.

Speaker 1: 28:57

And then, how does it overlap with the work that you're doing as a coach in Pickleball?

Speaker 3: 29:02

So there's a lot of industrial organizational psychology. There's two sides of it. It's basically human behavior, but in the business-like, company sort of sense, and it looks at factors like job satisfaction, motivation, basically human behavior concepts and how it applies to work, work-life balance, performance, which is kind of what I'm really interested in, and team dynamics, stuff like that. It can be looked at as and there's different avenues. There's recruiting you could do, you could be an organizational consultant, you could work internally at a company.

Speaker 3: 29:40

I kind of got into it because I majored in psychology in college and I didn't really know quite what I wanted to do afterwards. There was I was potentially going to go the medicine route and but and only for reasons why, just like I thought it was something you know prestigious to do, to be honest, and I think I would be really like it honestly, because there's a part of it that's working with people and I like the science of it and but yeah, I mean one of my values is like really enjoy what you do, because I don't want to like with me, I feel like I would be, you know, if I'm in a cubicle all day, me personally, and that's nothing against anybody that does that, but I know I would, just if I'm a little bit bored, even a little bit bored, I don't get work done or I don't get anything done.

Speaker 3: 30:35

So you know I want to look at the clock and go, oh, oh, man, it's, it's already five o'clock, not, uh, 30 seconds, right, like that's not, I'm just gonna yeah. So, um, I, I want to be like the lifestyle thing is important and I've always wanted to, you know, work with people and I thought like what better? It's kind of the the field of helping people enjoy what they do, kind of, in a way, that's the way I kind of look at it and so, you know, if I can help people do that, that's a really that just sounds so cool to me. So, and again, I don't know exactly the niche I want to carve out in that field, but executive coaching is one and that takes some skills. You know that.

Speaker 3: 31:10

That I that just coaching in general, and so, um, you know, part of being a pickleball coach, kind of honing that, and just it's really fun. Like I always go over time, like when I'm coaching. I'm like I look at the clock, I'm always late. I'm always like go late to another lesson and it's like, oh and sorry I was over here and and then I'll go over time there, and so I feel like that's a good problem to have.

Speaker 1: 31:30

That is a great problem to have. And executive coaching a lot of companies are now using Pickleball to help their employees network with each other and kind of find that bonding and all. So you could bring the Pickleball into the executive coaching as well.

Speaker 3: 31:49

Totally yeah and yeah, no, it's uh, it's good and I'm I'm looking to still coach, you know, like in the program, hopefully I can continue it and um, and so you know, if I can, if I can make that, uh, you know, I guess, any lead, you know, you never know where it, where, like life goes, obviously, that's obvious, I don't need to say that. But you're, you're a, so who knows? Like, I think, as long as I kind of follow whatever my kind of gut intuition, you know, is about like oh, what, what feels good in the moment, type of thing I think I think can be a good compass for me moving forward. So that's what I'm trying to do, yeah.

Speaker 1: 32:31

So follow your bliss. So you've come up already, before even being asked, with a number of life lessons that you've learned on the court and off, and I just brilliant and I'm going to remember the define your success. That's huge for me. I'm putting it in my mind, are there any other life lessons that you wanted to mention that haven't been mentioned yet?

Speaker 3: 32:53

Not really. I'd love to hear what. If you don't mind what yours are and maybe I can just chime in, I'm just curious what are yours?

Speaker 2: 33:03

My life lesson is my biggest life lesson is follow your joy. And that's exactly why I'm doing this podcast and playing a lot of pickleball is because it brings me so much joy. And that's exactly why I'm doing this podcast and playing a lot of pickleball is because it brings me so much joy.

Speaker 1: 33:16

Yeah, and mine too. I mean, we came up with a zillion words that qualify for what how pickleball has influenced us, and that's certainly one of them too. For me, it's being in the moment. I have a tendency to be in the future, and so pickleball has really required me to be in the moment and not be thinking about anything else and just be where I am, with the people I'm with, focused on what I'm doing, and that's been really helpful in life as well as on the court.

Speaker 3: 33:50

Wow, like a moving meditation. Yeah, wow, like a moving meditation.

Speaker 1: 33:53

Yeah, exactly it is. Oh gosh, what a, what a wonderful conversation, raj. I just, I just love that you found the time, cause I know you're super, super busy. That was.

Speaker 3: 34:06

Shelly's doing. She. She texted me and she was like you haven't signed up yet. I'm like okay, I'm sorry, like I want to. I really really want to I'm so glad that you made you. You reminded me, because this has been really awesome and uh, yeah it's just my lack of scheduling ability, you know oh, no, no, no.

Speaker 1: 34:24

That's a good sign that you you're that busy and that happy, but how can people find you online?

Speaker 3: 34:31

Oh, so well, I'm teaching pickleball currently, so I have a Calendly link. I'll have a website up pretty soon. It's not quite Google-able yet, but the bearings are there and I'll be coaching in the Seattle pickleball kind of greater Seattle area. So I'll be doing a lot of outside and some inside. But I have a list of like 10 locations. Some are in the Bellevue area, some are in North Seattle Pickleball kind of greater Seattle area. So I'll be doing a lot of outside and some inside. But I have a list of like 10 locations. Some are in the Bellevue area, some are in North Seattle.

Speaker 3: 34:56

I mean, I'm mobile, I can drive and yeah, I'm just going to have fun and do that and you'll be able to. Once the website goes up or if I know you, I'll send you my Calendly link and you can just book the courts or book the lesson if you want. And I update it on a weekly basis and so it depends. I'm still playing tournaments, so some of the weekends I'm not free and some in the week, but yeah, that's. And if you're ever going to Green Lake, I go to open play there pretty regularly because I live very, very close and so I just walk there and sometimes play. Maybe you'll see me walking around the lake if the lines are too long, because I don't like waiting yeah, I'm impatient.

Speaker 1: 35:38

I've got to work on that are you on social media for people to be able to follow you as well? Do you have a Instagram account or I do?

Speaker 3: 35:47

I need to put more pickleball stuff on there. But um, yeah, I believe I'm Rajal Chiklingaya, so if you can spell that, We'll have it in the. It's a beautiful name, I can email you about what that is.

Speaker 1: 36:01

We'll have it in the notes so people can find you.

Speaker 2: 36:04

And so can I put your calendly link on the podcast.

Speaker 3: 36:09

Absolutely yeah.

Speaker 1: 36:11

You don't have it yet, or you do have it, I do have it, oh, okay. Yeah, we'll put that in the notes.

Speaker 3: 36:16

Yeah, yeah, That'd be, that'd be awesome. But that'll be linked to my web. I can just send it. You know the county link works so.

Speaker 1: 36:23

Okay, okay, great, cool yeah, and then give us an update when your website's ready. But this has really been fun, thank you, I I feel like I've learned so much and didn't even have to pay for the coach. You know, I mean, this is amazing. You gave us so many tips, thank you.

Speaker 3: 36:39

I'll give you a few lessons.

Speaker 1: 36:41

Yeah, no problem, thank you.

Speaker 3: 36:44

No, no, thank you. This has been really, really fun. Yeah, I want to keep going.

Speaker 1: 36:49

I wish we could keep going but I'll let you guys go we'll talk offline. But, shelly, I know you wanted to say thanks too yes, thank you very much, raj.

Speaker 2: 37:00

Sorry I had to keep bugging you, but it was worth it.

Speaker 3: 37:03

I mean, if you didn't, I would have been regretting it, I would have been like, oh no, raj, not again and we want to thank everybody.

Speaker 1: 37:12

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for tuning in, definitely share this episode. Thank you for liking, subscribing and sharing. It really means a lot to us and we just love you guys, our pickleball community. We are all over the world. We love you and thank you so much and we look forward to a new conversation next week. Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye.

Speaker 2: 37:33

Bye. If you love our podcast, we'd be so grateful if you'd take a few seconds to follow or subscribe to Life Lessons from Pickleball. This ensures you'll never miss an episode and helps us continue these wonderful conversations.

Speaker 1: 37:48

On Apple Podcasts, spotify or wherever you listen. Go to the show page and tap the follow button in the top right corner, and on YouTube, click the subscribe button under any of the episodes. Thanks so much. Hope to see you on the court.