Before every single person in America knew his name, I spent six years and thousands of hours watching Shohei Ohtani. Nothing Shohei will ever do on a baseball field will surprise me. He will go down as the greatest player in the history of baseball. But the trait at the heart of what makes him great is not limited to baseball. It is a quality anyone can emulate and one I have seen in the most successful people I have interviewed.
A Lifelong Angels Fan’s Perspective
I have been an Angels fan my entire life. I grew up watching the team through good years and bad (almost all bad). From the time I was a kid, I have tried to spend every free Sunday afternoon at the Big A. In 2018, I wrote about Shohei in Forbes, very early in his Major League Baseball career, when fans and analysts were still trying to make sense of how one player could both pitch like Pedro Martinez and hit like Bryce Harper. Since then, I have interviewed more than 500 of America’s most successful people, including Fortune 500 CEOs, four-star generals, Hall of Fame athletes, and Olympic gold medalists. Across those conversations, one truth among many has stood out: the very best never stop improving. They are never content, never satisfied, and never finished learning. Shohei Ohtani is the perfect example of that mindset.
The Shohei Ohtani Approach
Shohei is a tinkerer in the truest sense. No matter how well he performs, he is constantly experimenting with ways to get better. Baseball is a game of adjustments, but Shohei doesn’t wait for something to go wrong before making changes. He looks for ways to evolve even when he is dominating. That approach separates the good from the great. Shohei doesn’t treat success as an endpoint. He treats it as a beginning.
What Leaders Can Learn from Shohei
Shohei’s story is not just about baseball. It is about how to approach anything you do, whether it is running a company, managing a team, or building a career. The principle that defines Shohei’s greatness applies to leadership development and personal growth just as much as it does to sports. The best leaders understand that success is never permanent. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Growth requires curiosity, humility, and the courage to try new things. In my work with top leaders, I have seen the same pattern. The ones who thrive over time are the ones who keep experimenting. They view success as a process, not a trophy. They never get comfortable.
The Power of Curiosity
Shohei’s greatness begins with his curiosity. Every pitch, every swing, every training session is a chance to learn. He is constantly asking questions. Could this new grip create more movement on my pitch? Could this workout increase my strength or improve my mechanics? Could this change to my recovery routine help me play at a higher level? Curiosity is the foundation of innovation. Most people stop looking for ways to improve once they find something that works. Shohei does the opposite. He keeps exploring. In leadership, curiosity is just as powerful. It drives learning, creativity, and growth. Curious leaders are better equipped to handle change and uncertainty. They ask better questions, listen more closely, and build stronger teams. Curiosity also deepens connection. The best leaders are curious about their people. They ask about ideas, motivations, and challenges. They make others feel seen and valued. That kind of curiosity creates trust and builds culture.
The Discipline Behind Experimentation
Curiosity alone is not enough. Without discipline, curiosity can become chaos. Shohei combines curiosity with structure. Every experiment he tries has a purpose. Every adjustment is measured. That combination of creativity and discipline is the key to sustained excellence. In business and leadership, you need both. Great leaders know when to innovate and when to stay the course. They test new ideas carefully, evaluate results, and make data-driven decisions. Discipline keeps experimentation productive. It prevents distractions and ensures that improvement happens with intention.
How Feedback Fuels Growth
In every profession, feedback is fuel for improvement. Shohei thrives on it. Every at-bat and every pitch provides information he can use to get better. He studies the results, looks for patterns, and makes precise adjustments. The best leaders do the same. They seek feedback rather than avoid it. They treat it as insight, not criticism. They want to know what is working and what is not. They listen to their teams, their customers, and their mentors. Feedback helps leaders grow faster. It accelerates learning and strengthens relationships. It builds a culture where improvement is constant and everyone is invested in getting better.
Leadership and the Art of Adjustment
Baseball is a game of adjustments. So is leadership. Circumstances change. Markets shift. Technology evolves. The ability to adapt determines who succeeds and who struggles. Shohei Ohtani’s ability to adjust quickly and effectively is what makes him special. One week, he might face a lineup full of power hitters. The next, he faces a team built on speed and contact. He adapts without hesitation. Great leaders do the same. They understand that success today does not guarantee success tomorrow. They stay agile and flexible. They are willing to rethink strategies and pivot when necessary. Adaptability has been a recurring theme in my conversations with high-performing leaders. The best of them never stop learning. They read constantly, listen to podcasts, and surround themselves with people who challenge their thinking. They understand that every day presents a new opportunity to learn something that will make them better.
The Danger of Comfort
One of the biggest threats to long-term success is comfort. Once you achieve something significant, it is tempting to relax. But comfort leads to complacency, and complacency leads to decline. Shohei Ohtani never gets comfortable. No matter how many records he breaks, he stays focused on getting better. That hunger is what keeps him elite. The same principle applies in leadership. The moment a leader decides things are “good enough,” progress stops. The best leaders constantly look for ways to raise the bar. They ask how they can improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. The more you push yourself to keep learning and improving, the longer you stay relevant and effective.
Applying Shohei’s Approach to Leadership
Shohei’s mindset can transform how we lead, work, and grow. Here are a few key lessons leaders can apply right now:
1. Treat success as a starting point, not an ending point.
2. Stay relentlessly curious.
3. Experiment with purpose.
4. Value feedback.
5. Refuse to get comfortable.
The Intersection of Leadership and Greatness
Watching Shohei Ohtani has taught me more than I expected about excellence. His greatness is not just the result of talent. It is the product of mindset, discipline, and a deep commitment to growth. The same pattern appears in every great leader I have interviewed. Greatness is not something you reach once and hold forever. It is something you earn every day through effort, curiosity, and persistence. True leadership is the ongoing pursuit of improvement. It is the decision to keep learning even when things are going well. It is the choice to get better not because you have to, but because you want to.
The Shohei Ohtani Approach
Shohei is a tinkerer in the truest sense. No matter how well he performs, he is constantly experimenting with ways to get better. Baseball is a game of adjustments, but Shohei doesn’t wait for something to go wrong before making changes. He looks for ways to evolve even when he is dominating. That approach separates the good from the great. Shohei doesn’t treat success as an endpoint. He treats it as a beginning.
What Leaders Can Learn from Shohei
Shohei’s story is not just about baseball. It is about how to approach anything you do, whether it is running a company, managing a team, or building a career. The principle that defines Shohei’s greatness applies to leadership and personal growth just as much as it does to sports. The best leaders understand that success is never permanent. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Growth requires curiosity, humility, and the courage to try new things. In my work with top leaders, I have seen the same pattern. The ones who thrive over time are the ones who keep experimenting. They view success as a process, not a trophy. They never get comfortable.
The Power of Curiosity
Shohei’s greatness begins with his curiosity. Every pitch, every swing, every training session is a chance to learn. He is constantly asking questions. Could this new grip create more movement on my pitch? Could this workout increase my strength or improve my mechanics? Could this change to my recovery routine help me play at a higher level? Curiosity is the foundation of innovation. Most people stop looking for ways to improve once they find something that works. Shohei does the opposite. He keeps exploring. In leadership, curiosity is just as powerful. It drives learning, creativity, and growth. Curious leaders are better equipped to handle change and uncertainty. They ask better questions, listen more closely, and build stronger teams. Curiosity also deepens connection. The best leaders are curious about their people. They ask about ideas, motivations, and challenges. They make others feel seen and valued. That kind of curiosity creates trust and builds culture.
Final Thoughts
Shohei Ohtani will go down as the greatest player in baseball history. But what makes him special is not his statistics. It is his mindset. His refusal to settle. His curiosity. His dedication to always getting better. That same mindset drives great leaders and great organizations. It is what turns success into sustainability and talent into greatness. The lesson is simple. Never stop experimenting with ways to improve, even when things are working. Especially when things are working. That is how you become elite. And that is how you stay there. For more leadership lessons from Thirty Minute Mentors, visit AdamMendler.com.
