[Opinion] The Uniqueness Created by a Shift in Thinking

Superstar Shohei Ohtani, the only player in Major League Baseball history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, says, "I pick up trash dropped in the baseball stadium with the mindset of collecting luck that others carelessly discard." One might wonder how picking up trash helps with baseball, but to achieve big goals, small actions must be accomplished, and consistently practicing this attitude is important. Ohtani always controlled himself and developed his self-management skills by not missing even the smallest details in his daily routine.

Mentor Kim Ji-won at Gyeongnam Veterans Support Center.

His military life, which had been ordinary, changed after learning about the job of a security guard through a senior who was discharged earlier. Moreover, he was introduced to a mentor from the Veterans Center working in the field he aimed for through that senior. Fortunately, there were three years left until his discharge, and he spent his military service contemplating how to connect relevant certifications and work-related experience from his current position.

His military life changed after setting a small goal. Instead of doing things just because he was told, he started forming a habit of thinking deeply about his superior’s intentions and working accordingly, always seeking the most efficient way to act.

Like the saying 숙습난방 (熟習難防: habits ingrained in the body are hard to change), his behavior did not change easily. However, after setting a goal, he thought one more time. He actively changed his negative thoughts of "Why do I have to do this?" to "This will help me later," forming a habit of proactive behavior.

Currently, no one knows how the tasks performed in the military will help in the next job after discharge. Furthermore, those who are building experience or preparing for their desired careers also cannot know how their current work will assist them in the future.

I believe in the big changes created by small habits. Just as dots come together to form lines, and lines come together to form surfaces, actions driven by a shift in mindset accumulate one by one with positive energy. After discharge, I achieved my goal of becoming a security guard and now serve as a mentor helping others like my former self.

At the Gyeongnam Veterans Support Center, many mentors are active in various fields such as entrepreneurship, returning to farming, and employment. If you are searching for a mentor in your desired field, do not worry about your location and be sure to contact the center to make use of the opportunity to talk with a mentor. Listening to and learning from the vivid stories of mentors who have experienced the field first-hand will surely make it much easier and faster than doing it alone.

Kim Ji-won, Mentor at Gyeongnam Veterans Support Center

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.