Ohtani took a longer path, developing as both pitcher and hitter in Japan. His patience paid off, leading to a deferred $700M deal and sustained greatness.
August 31, 2025
At 18, Shohei Ohtani threw a 99 mph fastball that shattered Japanese high school records.
The Los Angeles Dodgers wanted him. So did the Yankees and Red Sox.
But nobody would let him be both pitcher and hitter.
The Hokkaido Fighters made a different promise to develop both sides of his game simultaneously.
American teams saw limitations.
They saw potential.
Ohtani signed in Japan instead of chasing the immediate MLB dream.
Five years later, he arrived in America as a fully-formed phenomenon, not yet another failed prospect who'd been rushed and specialized too early.
The same patience played out in his $700 million Dodgers deal. While other stars demand every dollar upfront, Ohtani deferred $680 million to give his team flexibility to win now.
Sometimes the fastest path to greatness requires a longer route - Ohtani became the first 50-50 player in baseball while earning the largest contract in sports.
Tiger Woods practiced 13 hours a day, but only competed 20 days a year.
Dan Sullivan noticed this same principle in business. Just as athletes don't train at maximum intensity every day, you shouldn't expect peak performance in every time block.
Instead, design your week around three distinct types of days:
1. Performance Days
These are your championship rounds. Board presentations. Major negotiations. Strategic planning sessions that shape the next decade.
Schedule these when your energy peaks. Monday morning after a restful weekend. Wednesday when you've built momentum. Never Friday afternoon when everyone's mentally checked out.
Cancel routine meetings. Delegate emails. Show up ready to deliver your best work.
2. Practice Days
LeBron James spends more time in the gym than on the court. Do you need the same ratio?
Practice days are for building systems, training your team, and sharpening skills. Review last quarter's mistakes. Design better processes. Teach your assistant to handle complex tasks.
These days feel less urgent but create compound returns. Every system you build today saves ten decisions tomorrow.
3. Recovery Days
Recovery looks like work but serves a different purpose. Clear your inbox. Take walking meetings instead of conference room sessions.
Schedule these after intense performance blocks. Your brain needs time to consolidate learning and rebuild reserves. Those who skip recovery risk burn out.
Humans evolved for bursts of intense effort followed by restoration.
Modern work culture ignores this reality and wonders why everyone's exhausted.
If you want to learn more about advanced scheduling tactics, check out “Calendar Management: An Advanced Strategic Guide”.