WBC is in full swing.
On the timeline, it's "Shohei Ohtani."
Step outside, and the station ads are 360 degrees of "Shohei Ohtani."
Even the tea I picked up has "Shohei Ohtani" on it.
Ohtani, Ohtani, Ohtani...
Before I knew it, everywhere I look is overflowing with Shohei Ohtani.
When talking about him, one phrase always comes up:
"Ohtani is special."
However, I think those who dismiss it with that single sentence are actually missing out the most.
In fact, I believe the opposite.
What makes Shohei Ohtani amazing isn't just his baseball talent.
The essence of his success lies in his extraordinary ability to create "systems" that produce results.
So, even if he hadn't chosen baseball and had taken a regular job at a company, he likely would have stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Today, I want to write about the five laws for achieving results at work from the perspective of "What if Shohei Ohtani were a salaryman?"
① Deconstruct Dreams into "What to Do Today"
Ohtani had a famous goal sheet during his high school days. It's what's known as a "Mandala Chart."
In the center, he wrote "1st Round Draft Pick for Pro Baseball," and around it, he listed the necessary elements.
Ball speed, physical conditioning, mental strength, breaking balls, character, and luck.
From there, he broke it down further into daily actions.
- Picking up trash
- Core training
- Diet management
- Manners
He doesn't just talk about dreams; he turns them into actions.
If Ohtani were in sales, he would surely do the same.
"Goal: Become the top salesperson."
To achieve that:
**- How many appointments to set per day?
- What makes a top salesperson's proposal different?
- How deeply should I understand the client's industry?**
He would deconstruct it to this level.
Dreams don't come true if they remain vague. The moment you turn them into actions, reality begins to move.
② Treat Every Role as a "Research Position"
Ohtani often reviews his own play after games.
According to a teammate in a certain article, he would visualize game scenarios and improve his next play during the intervals between sprints and swings.
Which pitch was good?
In which at-bat was the timing off?
He treats his own performance as a subject of research.
This is exactly the same for office workers.
Why did today's business meeting go well?
Why didn't that proposal land?
How can I apply today's work to the next task?
Even five minutes on the train home is fine. Reflect on the day's work.
Those who treat work as a "task" vs. those who treat work as "research."
Don't underestimate small differences. He knows that results are built on a steady process.
③ Make Health Management "Part of the Job"
It is said that Ohtani sleeps 9 to 10 hours a day.
Many people might think, "Isn't that too much?"
But for him, sleep isn't a break. It's training to improve performance.
It's worth re-evaluating how you spend your nights.
Do you stay up late scrolling through social media?
Do you get lured by Netflix recommendations and binge-watch until morning?
Do you waste time lingering at second or third rounds of drinks after the conversation has run dry?
Judgment, concentration, and mental state.
Everything is affected by your physical condition.
The more capable a person is, the more organized their lifestyle is.
④ Include "The Power to Be Liked" in Your Strategy
Ohtani's Mandala Chart includes these items:
**- Greetings
- Manners
- Picking up trash**
At first glance, these seem unrelated to baseball.
But Ohtani understands.
Opportunities come not just from ability, but from people.
There is a symbolic scene.
After the Japan vs. Italy quarterfinal in the 2023 WBC, Ohtani came out of the dugout and headed toward the field.
After the game, there were paper cups and trash on the ground. Ohtani began picking up that trash without saying a word.
It wasn't because cameras were rolling.
It wasn't because someone asked him to.
He just picked up the trash that was lying there.
This action quickly became a hot topic in overseas media: "A global star is picking up trash as if it's the most natural thing in the world."
Furthermore, Ohtani is known in Major League Baseball for greeting umpires and opposing managers.
That's why Ohtani is liked by his teammates and the opposing teams alike.
Company life is the same.
**Quick responses.
Keeping promises.
Being pleasant.**
These are all obvious, but surprisingly few people actually do them.
Luck is carried by "people," and trust with those "people" is built through small daily actions.
⑤ Choose Your Environment
Ohtani could have been a star in Japan. Yet, he challenged himself in the Major Leagues. This was to compete in the highest-level environment in the world.
I believe the same applies to work.
In what market do you work?
Under what kind of boss do you work?
With what kind of colleagues do you work?
The where you put in the effort is more important than the amount of effort. If the environment changes, the speed of your life changes significantly.
Choose an environment that correctly evaluates your market value, and keep yourself in a challenging environment through self-discipline.
Shohei Ohtani's greatness isn't some special secret trick.
**Deconstruct goals into actions.
Reflect daily.
Maintain your health.
Build trust.
Choose your environment.**
These are all things anyone can do. However, few people continue them every day. That's where the gap widens.
Even if Shohei Ohtani were a salaryman, he probably wouldn't do anything special.
He would simply continue doing what anyone can do, more seriously than anyone else. And by the time people notice, he would be in an unprecedented place where no one can catch up.
2026.03.15
Chihiro, working in SaaS
