By: Rob Baum, CEO
In the last edition of Innovators I Admire, I featured WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark for her personal authenticity and perseverance – qualities that transcend the sports world and are equally valued in the business realm. As MLB’s World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers takes center stage, it got me thinking about another athlete worthy of featuring in this series: Shohei Ohtani. Known for his rare talent as both a dominant pitcher and power hitter, Ohtani has often been likened to baseball legend Babe Ruth. His journey and impact, however, stretch far beyond the field and offer us valuable lessons on the importance of goals and selflessness in achieving success.
While Ohtani’s extraordinary talent is undeniable – perhaps unrivaled in the history of Major League Baseball (I’ll leave that for the professional baseball writers to sort out) – what truly sets him apart is the synergy of his natural ability with a relentless commitment to goal-setting and self-improvement. His determination to become great is matched only by his willingness to put the team first, demonstrating a rare selflessness in his pursuit of becoming one of the greatest baseball players ever.
The Harada Method and Ohtani's Framework for Success
The Harada Method, as described by its creator, Takashi Harada, a Japanese track and field coach, is a systematic process for “developing champions” by identifying long-term goals and breaking them down into daily actions. Ohtani was a student of Harada’s when he was in high school, and he set goals to hurl a baseball 99 miles per hour and make it to Japan’s Major Leagues. With goals established, Ohtani worked toward them in a structured, goal-oriented process, aligning his personal goals with his values to create a strong internal motivation to achieve them.
By focusing on self-reliance and aligning his personal values with his goal-setting, Ohtani greatly exceeded his goals of hitting 99 miles per hour on the radar gun (he clocked in at 101 – the fastest ever recorded in Japan at the time) and ultimately made it to Japan’s Major Leagues. As Ohtani’s high school coach noted, Ohtani’s commitment to his teammates and community has always been as strong as his commitment to his own success, demonstrating that personal achievement doesn’t have to come at the detriment of a team or community.
Drawing Parallels to TechFlow's Mission
At TechFlow, our mission and business processes align closely with a focus on goal setting and shared success. For example, our aim to assist the Department of Defense (DoD) in building energy-resilient infrastructure to support future electric vehicle (EV) charging echoes the long-term, selfless goals Ohtani exemplifies. Just as Ohtani pursues greatness not just for himself but for the success of his team and the betterment of his community, we at TechFlow focus on building solutions that serve both immediate needs and the broader goals of national security and sustainability.
I have always been goal-oriented, and that mindset naturally shapes my leadership at TechFlow—every action we take as a company is designed to move us closer to our objectives. We take pride in tracking our progress, celebrating our successes, and learning from setbacks. Just as Ohtani didn’t wake up one day throwing 99 miles per hour or find himself in the starting lineup of a professional baseball team, TechFlow won’t wake up one day having magically achieved energy resilience for the DoD. But, like Ohtani, who made consistent, incremental progress toward his goals, we are committed to making steady daily advancements toward ours.
Driving it Home
As Ohtani rewrites Major League Baseball’s record books, achieving feats that flummox even the most strident baseball devotees, there is one goal he has yet to achieve: winning a World Series. I know I’ll be watching to see if he can achieve what must be another goal he’s set for himself.
Shohei Ohtani isn’t just a baseball player – he’s a living example of what happens when someone commits to a process of continuous improvement. For that, he is one of the Innovators I Admire.
