In many situations—whether in sports, business, or daily life—people often assume that if something doesn’t work the first time, it must be the wrong idea.

But Shohei Ohtani sees failure differently.

Throughout his career, Ohtani has made it a habit to experiment. Whenever he notices something during training or observes another player’s technique, he often tries it himself.

Of course, most experiments do not immediately succeed.

But Ohtani rarely dismisses them as useless.

Sometimes an idea may actually be correct, yet the person attempting it may not be ready for it at that moment.

For example, a technique might fail simply because the player does not yet have the necessary strength, skill, or experience to execute it properly.

In that case, the idea itself might still be valid.

The real question becomes how one interprets the failure.

Does the player conclude that the method is wrong and abandon it?

Or do they reflect on the reason it failed and recognize what needs to improve?

As Ohtani explains:

“There may be a correct way, but it might not work for me right now.”

The crucial difference, he says, lies in the response.

Some people think, “It didn’t work, so it must be wrong.”

Others think, “Maybe I couldn’t do it yet because I lacked the strength or ability.”

That difference in mindset determines whether a person stops or continues growing.

For Ohtani, failure is rarely the end of an idea.

Often, it is simply a sign that the timing is not yet right.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Opening a Path, Crossing the Ocean: The True Story of Shohei Ohtani, p.279