How I Got Here: Former professional boxer and author Stephen Lovett
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Admit it, we’ve all been there – stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.
It seems impossible and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.
Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you want to know about the secrets of career success. This week, we sit down with Stephen Lovett, a former professional boxer turned stonemason and published author. Ahead of the release of his book TOUGH IS NOT ENOUGH, Stephen shares his journey, including his perspective on what it’s like to be controlled by a need for perfection in boxing and beyond.
Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Stephen Lovett, a former professional boxer turned stonemason and published author. I’m also a husband to Alexandra and a proud father to our four-year-old son, Leonardo, and our newborn twin daughters, Juliet and Eloise.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
I was introduced to boxing when I was 13 years old by my grandfather. The day I watched my first boxing match of two heavyweight boxers slug it out I was hooked. The obsession to box took over my life from that day.
Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
I had my first amateur boxing match when I was 16 years old. I battled with the fear of fighting but the determination and will to succeed overcame those fears. The life I had through boxing at times were difficult which lead me to write and now I have a book TOUGH IS NOT ENOUGH coming out in late September.
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
I never wanted boxing/fighting to end even when I was going through the most difficult times. I wanted to box so bad, I wanted it to be my life, I never wanted it to end. I would always analyse every particular difficulty I was going through and find a way to overcome it even if it was underlying effecting my mental health.
What was your biggest break?
My biggest break and achievement was signing with Al Haymon an American businessman and boxing manager, who managed the likes of Floyd Mayweather and the founder of Premier Boxing Champions. Training under Hall of fame boxing coach Ronnie Shields in Houston, Texas and training along side numerous world champions.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My Australian boxing manager Dominic Kelly once gave me two pieces of advice that I still live by to this day. He told me that you need a balance in life of professional, social, spiritual, emotional and mental. The other piece of advice by Dom was that you need to live in the now and recommended me read the Power of Now book by Elkhart Tolle. This book got me reading about spiritually and practicing meditation.
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
I love the adrenaline and conquering the fear and doubt I would go through leading up to a fight. What I hated so much was the uncertainty, the broken promises and the high expectations.
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
I stay up to date with various social media accounts. I watch interviews of upcoming fights and I’m regular watching the boxing on the weekend.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I pursued a dream to achieve the ultimate goal in boxing and that’s to be world champion. I sacrificed a lot and jeopardised my own mental health at times. I want to be a voice to help others in a similar situation. You’re dream could be to be an actor, dancer or a well known painter but there is lessons to be learned. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket because there’s a whole lot more to life then one focused outcome. I’m the product of that scenario. I’m happy and determined to achieve success whatever that may be.
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
People could follow things I did but also things I did not do. My book TOUGH IS NOT ENOUGH goes into the detail about things a did right and things I didn’t do. Life is a lesson and you can grow and learn from your mistakes. I can now pass on my knowledge.
What advice would you give your past self?
Speak up and don’t put your trust in other people to get things done. I took boxing matches I shouldn’t have because I was scared to upset authority figures. I didn’t have a voice the times I needed it and this would lead to the end of my boxing career.
Feature image by Steven Llyod Photography.
