of 2024 World Series is Major League Baseball's dream come true: two franchises in the biggest television markets featuring two of the most famous players in the game.
One of those athletes is Shohei Ohtaniwidely regarded as the best player in the league – and perhaps in the history of the game. When not injured, the 30-year-old superstar pitcher throws 100 mph fastballs. And on the other side of the plate, as a hitter, he leads the league in home runs and is the only person in baseball to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a year.
On the eve of game 1, fitness trainer And the Founder took for him fibers to break down the Harada Method, a system of goal setting and achievement that Ohtani learned from his high school coach Takashi Harada and used to achieve so much in sports. Here's how the Founder destroyed it:
“Here List of goals of Shohei Ohtaniwhich is crazy to look at in hindsight,” the Founder wrote.
- Age 18: Join an MLB team
- Age 19: Master English and achieve AAA
- Age 20: Called majors, make 1.5 billion JPY (~13 million USD)
- Age 21: Starting rotation, 16 wins
- Age 22: Win the Cy Young Award
- Age 23: Member of the Japanese WBC team
- Age 24: Throws a no-hitter and 25 wins
- Age 25: Throw the World's Fastest Pool 175 km/h (~108 mph)
- Age 26: Win the World Series and get married
- Age 27: WBC Team Japan Member & MVP
- Age 28: First son born
- Age 29: Throws 2nd no-hitter
- Age 30: Get the most wins by a Japanese pitcher (in 1 MLB season?)
- Age 31: First daughter is born
- Age 32: Win the Second World Series
- Age 33: Second son was born
- Age 34: Win 3rd World Series
- Age 35: Member of the Japanese WBC team
- Age 36: Break the hitting record?
- Age 37: First son takes up baseball
- Age 38: Statistics drop, start thinking about retirement
- Age 39: Decide to retire at the end of next season
- Age 40: Throw a no-hitter in my last game
- Age 41: Return to Japan
- Age 42: Introduce the American system to Japan?
The founder then broke down the framework of the Harada Method to show how Ohtani has achieved so much of this high list and more.
Step 1: Assess yourself for self-reliance
Using the 33 categories below, rate yourself on a scale of one to ten on how these words describe you, with one being “not accurate” and ten being “most accurate.”
- Responsible
- Adaptable
- Authentic
- Brave
- Capable
- CARE
- Safe
- Creative
- Determined
- Ethics
- Flexible
- Very capable
- Honest
- Imaginative
- Independent
- initiatives
- INNOVATIVE
- Inspired – love to work
- Curious
- Empowered
- Knowledgeable
- Motivated
- ORGANIZED
- Personally
- Prepared
- realistic
- responsible
- Self-managed
- strategic
- With strong will
- support
- Reliable
- Visionary
Step 2: Create your long-term goal
“This is your north star where your actions will be directed,” explains Founder. “It will organize goals, objectives, self-analysis and action plan.”
Step 3: Analyze the obstacles
Once you identify the biggest obstacles between you and success, “you then create countermeasures to solve those obstacles before they happen,” says Founder. “It helps you plan tasks and routines to reach the goal when the going gets tough.”
Related: Want to inspire your team to success? Check out these 11 quotes from World Series champions.
Step 4: Create an Open 64 chart
This is a chart consisting of eight grids with nine boxes, for a total of 72 boxes. At the center of each nine-box grid, you set a big goal that will serve as a pillar of your overall achievement, and surround it with eight small tasks that will help you achieve that big goal. In the end you will have 64 mini-tasks and routines that support the achievement of your long-term goals.
So for example, if one of your goals is to be in great physical shape, you'd list eight tasks necessary to get there—setting an exercise schedule, committing to healthy eating, joining a health club, and the like.
Step 5: Create a routine checklist
“It is not enough to set a goal,” says the Founder. “You need to establish a system of features that will make the goal an inescapable one. Have a list that you check off every day to make sure you are taking the necessary actions to make your vision a reality.”
Step 6: Keep a daily performance journal
“The journal is divided into tasks to be completed and reflections on one's performance at the end of the day,” writes Founder. “Journaling builds awareness by keeping you aligned with your goal.”
Related: Alex Rodriguez's 4 Keys to Major League Success
Step 7: Ask for help
The founder concludes by saying that the final step is connecting with a coach and a supportive community. “We can't achieve things on our own,” he says. “Find a coach who can help you achieve success faster and stay accountable. Find people around you who can support and help you on your way to achieving your goal.”