David Ortiz: Do the Work to Be Ready

Baseball legend David Ortiz—Big Papi!—joined us on the One Question Podcast to discuss how students can thrive in high-pressure environments. Ortiz emphasized the importance of discipline, strong work ethic, and preparation, as well as listening to advice from trusted mentors like parents. Big Papi was known as a clutch performer—so we wanted to know his advice for students to perform at their best in whichever field they ultimately pursue.Julie LammersToday, we’re excited to welcome David Ortiz. David is a three-time World Series champion and one of the most iconic players in baseball history. Known for delivering big hits in the biggest moments over his career with the Boston Red Sox, he earned a reputation as one of the most clutch performers the game has ever seen. And we are thrilled to have him on our podcast today.Michael HornYes, indeed. Excited to have Big Papi join us. David, you’re known for staying calm and coming through when the pressure was at its highest. Of course, pressure isn’t just limited to sports, right? It shows up in all kinds of workplaces and careers. So I’m curious, what advice would you give to middle and high school students about how to perform well and stay confident in high-pressure environments on the job?David OrtizMy biggest advice to all you young people over there, teenagers in general, is to be able to perform at the highest level under pressure. The main key is, number one, to be disciplined. Number two, you need to have a really good work ethic so your body and mind is prepared to react whenever the opportunity comes. And I’m talking about performance on the field or at work or whatever you do. You need to have the discipline and the dedication to get prepared for because that’s the only advantage you have. And when it comes to performing off the field, listen, nobody gonna give you better advice than the one that you can give yourself.I always use as a tool my mom and dad, who were my best friends of all time. I was a good listener. I listened to what they had to say because life experience is all about who got here first, who has the most experience. And I always give credit to my mom and dad because they were my parents. They want the best for me. They want all the good things for me. My dad was a baseball player and all he preached about was me. It was him wanting me to be a better player than what he was.So you don’t get that from many people. You don’t get that from many people. And the one person that wants you to be good, that wants everything to be good for you, that wants to take care of you, that’s the one. So be a good listener, pay attention and they’re going to take you to the promised land. Take care. God bless you and see you when I see you.The Future of Education is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelbhorn.substack.com/subscribe