Motivation and Discipline: The Lens of a Professional Athlete | Neil Walker | TEDxSewickley Academy
Neil Walker is a former Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's no secret that being a professional athlete requires tremendous skill and dedication. Mr. Walker discusses the importance of discipline and how it has allowed him to become successful in his career. Neil Walker is a former Major League Baseball player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Raised in a baseball family, with his father Tom Walker a former MLB pitcher, Neil attended Pine-Richland High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft, after receiving offers from Pitt and Penn State to play both baseball and football.
Neil played for the Pirates, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Philadelphia Phillies during his 12-year career, earning the 2014 Silver Slugger Award. He retired with 149 home runs and 609 RBIs.
Now a radio and TV broadcaster for the Pirates, Neil lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and children. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 4:31The Power of Taking Risks | Arame Marukyan | TEDxYouth@RegentsSchoolSome people take risks by skydiving. Others by trying a new haircut. Arame is here to show us that whether big or small, taking risks might just be the key to unlocking our potential. Arame is a 17-year-old student at Regent’s International School, originally from Yerevan, Armenia. He is passionate about entrepreneurship and business, fascinated by philosophy, history, and politics, and enjoys chess, football, and calisthenics. He graduated from a music school in Armenia and has played the guitar for over eight years. From a young age, Arame excelled in both chess and classical music, winning multiple competitions, including a prestigious Grand Prix in 2024. His love for philosophy has shaped his mindset on ambition and risk-taking. He firmly believes that the ability to take risks is the most essential skill for success. Arame aspires to become an entrepreneur and establish his own company. His passion for public speaking and performance emerged early—at just nine years old, he led his team to victory on a televised game show. Over the years, he has performed in various concert halls in front of hundreds of people, strengthening his confidence on stage. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 4:59The Power of Embracing: Turning Defeat into Lessons | Anya Bijaphala | TEDxYouth@RegentsSchoolFailure isn’t the end of the story—it’s just the start of a better plot twist. Anya is here to show us how defeat can actually be character development. Anya is a 12-year old student in year 7 studying at Regent's International School Bangkok. Being raised in Bangkok with a Thai family who highly values resilience and personal development, Anya developed the virtues of confidence and determination. From an early age, her perseverance and effort were rewarded. She was offered opportunities to enhance her interests of public speaking and leadership from as young as the age of 5, such as: securing the role of the primary head girl in year 6. Her other passions include various sports such as basketball and football. She trains hard for her preferred sports and consistently strives for enhancements in her performance. Anya aims for improvement in everything she does, recognising that even in the mistakes she makes there are opportunities to learn; hence she believes in the saying “It’s not what happens to you, but how you choose to respond.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
