Alex Rodriguez shares why in sports and business, striking out is just a part of the game.

From the baseball field to the boardroom, great communication is critical for success. But as Alex Rodriguez knows, we don’t always hit it out of the park. For this sports superstar turned entrepreneur, striking out is never the end of the story.

“I'm fifth all-time in the history of strikeouts,” says Rodriguez. “That means there's only four people in the history of mankind that have failed more than me.” For the 14-time Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series champion, failures aren’t endings, but opportunities to learn and grow. "The key is how you get back up with the same energy and enthusiasm," explains Rodriguez, who is now chairman and CEO of A-Rod Corp, leading a team of experts in building high-growth businesses.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, co-hosted by Matt Abrahams and Stanford GSB colleague Jeffrey Pfeffer, Rodriguez shares lessons on resilience, authenticity, and effective communication. From maintaining a "slow heartbeat" in high-pressure moments to his approach of "intentional listening," he offers insights on leadership, giving feedback, and viewing communication as "an unselfish act." Whether you're stepping up to the plate or stepping up to present, these strategies can help you turn strikeouts into home runs.

Episode Reference Links:

• Alex Rodriguez
• Jeffrey Pfeffer
• Ep.166 Why Relying on Talent Alone Will Fail You
• Ep.153 Listen Up, Leaders: A Record-Setting Coach’s Guide to Communication

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:53) - Teaching at Stanford: Strategic Pivoting
• (04:28) - Preparing for Life After Baseball
• (06:51) - Performing Under Pressure
• (08:16) - Finding Balance Post-Pandemic
• (09:14) - Building a Media Presence
• (11:05) - Creating Great Teams
• (12:15) - The Role of Ego and Intentional Listening
• (14:26) - Giving and Receiving Feedback
• (17:06) - Setbacks, Resilience, and Redemption
• (20:09) - Developing Authenticity
• (21:39) - The Final Three Questions
• (25:31) - Conclusion

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This live Q&A with host Matt Abrahams celebrates 200 episodes of Think Fast, Talk Smart.

In an age of endless content and information, how do we ensure our communication cuts through the noise? Across 200 episodes of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams has discovered four essential ingredients that help messages rise above the chatter: concision, relevance, accessibility, and precision.

“Attention is our most precious commodity in the world today, and we need to make sure that we engage our audience so we get their attention,” says Abrahams in this special 200th episode. How do we capture and keep that attention? As he’s explored with guests throughout the show, effective and engaging communication — from all kinds of people and in all kinds of places — is concise, relevant, accessible, and precise.

In this special 200th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams shares insights gleaned from hundreds of conversations with communication experts, followed by a live Q&A with listeners from around the world. From crafting compelling elevator pitches to managing speaking anxiety, this celebration episode offers practical advice for focused communication that is sure to be the focus of your audience’s attention.

Episode Reference Links:

• Jenny Luna
• Ep.78 Three Guiding Principles for Successful Communication

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (04:30) - Concision in Effective Messaging
• (07:42) - Make Your Message Relevant
• (13:34) - Ensuring Accessibility
• (17:46) - The Importance of Precision
• (24:35) - Craft an Impactful Elevator Pitch
• (28:23) - Build a Stronger Vocabulary
• (30:19) - Communicating Numbers and Data
• (32:48) - Responding When Caught Off Guard
• (34:47) - Confidence for Speaking and Presenting
• (37:45) - Steering Conversations Back on Track
• (40:18) - Dream Podcast Guest
• (41:19) - What’s Coming Next
• (42:59) - Conclusion

*****
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This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot.

Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with plenty of time to prepare what we want to say. But for most of our communication, there’s no time to plan, practice, or perfect — we have to respond in the moment.

Spontaneous communication is a part of our everyday lives, but few of us have been trained to handle these impromptu situations with confidence. What does it take to flow, not freeze, when put on the spot? This special three-part series turns to experts for guidance, from a sports commentator, FBI hostage negotiator, and UN translator to a game show host, NFL referee and Sotheby’s auctioneer.

Part 1: Preparation and Mindset

Discover how to prepare for the unpredictable, manage anxiety, and find the right headspace for success.

Part 2: Mastering the Moment

Learn to stay present, read the room, and use techniques like mirroring and pacing to connect with your audience.

Part 3: When Things Go Wrong

Find out how to recover from inevitable mishaps and keep moving forward with confidence, turning mistakes into gold.

In addition to insight-packed discussions, this Think Fast, Talk Smart miniseries offers practical exercises and homework assignments to help you implement what you've learned. Whether you draw blanks when put on the spot or simply want to articulate your thoughts more clearly in the moment, these episodes will transform how you think — and speak — on your feet.

Episode Reference Links:

• Chris Voss - Former FBI Negotiator, Keynote Speaker
• Chris Voss's Book: Empathy and Understanding In Business
• Annabelle Williams - Paralympic Champion, Sports Broadcaster
• Giampaolo Bianchi - United Nations Interpreter
• Brad Rogers - NFL Referee, Professor
• Phyllis Kao - Sotheby's Auctioneer
• Peter D Sagal - Game Show Host, Author

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:42) - Focus on What’s Next, Not What Went Wrong
• (04:40) - Failure with Confidence
• (06:45) - Flexibility Over a Fixed Plan
• (08:28) - Staying Cool in Public Slip-Ups
• (10:36) - Using Laughter to Reset
• (13:05) - Gracefully Correcting Yourself
• (14:42) - Staying Calm Under Pressure
• (19:40) - Listener Exercises on Reflecting to Improve
• (21:56) - Conclusion

*****
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