Katsuya Nomura

This Japanese Hall-of-Famer shows startups what can happen when you rise to your full potential.

Katsuya Nomura (1935–2020) was a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Nomura's father died when Nomura was just 3 years old. He, his mother, and his brother lived in poverty.

After high school, Nomura tried out for the high-profile baseball team the Nankai Hawks. The team's manager thought he'd be useful as a catcher for pitching practice, so he made the team—albeit just barely.

Nomura's first season was dismal, and he was almost cut from the team. However, when he passionately begged to be given another chance and even offered to play for free, they kept him on.

That's when Nomura took off. He became a record-breaker who played for 26 years, one of the longest national baseball careers ever.

Nomura knew what he was meant to do, and he wouldn't rest until he reached his potential—an example every startup should follow.