The turnover in new blood on a major league team is very rapid. Even established players may be removed from the lineup if they continue in a slump, and core players who have come up with the same team can be told mid-season that there is no spot on the roster for them.
A strong mind is necessary to remain active.
Ichiro has always said, “I cannot make more of an effort than anyone else.” But he added he was able to continue to work just slightly beyond his limits. As a professional, Ichiro piled up 4,367 hits (1,278 in Japan and 3,089 in the major leagues). He had 10 straight major league seasons with more than 200 hits.
Although he debuted in the major leagues when he was 27, he still managed to accumulate the 3,000 hits considered one benchmark of whether a player belongs in the Hall of Fame.
One reason for his success is his ability to control his emotions. In August 2016, Ichiro explained his own philosophy about feeling a sense of achievement.
“Will one stop to move forward once they feel a sense of achievement? That is one thing that I have always questioned. And I feel that the more you feel a sense of achievement, the more you will want to move forward. It is very important to feel satisfaction at even the smallest things. That will lead to the birth of motivation and the will to reach the next step.”
He is not trying to make it easier on himself. By calmly analyzing himself on a regular basis, he is able to clarify his strengths and weaknesses. The “accumulation” that Ichiro talks about can be applied to our daily lives as well.