“We’re like Navy SEALs trained for failure” - Alex Rodriguez reveals how he and his rival David Ortiz embrace setbacks to achieve success

Alex Rodriguez had some words of inspiration for the attendees at a business event. The Yankees superstar was a guest speaker alongside former Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz, aka "Big Papi."

Former rivals Rodriguez and Ortiz were speakers at the Aspire Tour event in Houston Texas, a motivational event for businesses looking to make a mark. The tour was founded by entrepreneurs Eddie Wilson and Andrew Cordle and features successful celebrities from various professions as speakers.

In a video shared on Instagram, A-Rod with Ortiz by his side talks about the importance of fighting failure. He compares himself and Big Papi to the Navy SEALs and says:

"A big strikeout, bases are loaded, you're getting booed, the first five seconds of how you talk to yourself after a bad moment is the most important. The reason why Papi and I have such a competitive advantage of business is because we have failed so much...

"Papi and I can go to 20 meetings in a row and hear no's no's no's but we are going to the 21st meeting, why? Because we're like Navy SEALs trained for failure."

A-Rod and David Ortiz's rivalry stretches back to the 2000s during their spells with the Yankees and the Red Sox, respectively. The two teams had some showcase encounters that signified the intensity. One of the memorable series involves the Red Sox prevailing in the 2004 ALCS in Game 7 after coming back from the brink of defeat as New York won the first three games.

Alex Rodriguez's successful business ventures

Alex Rodriguez might not yet have made it to Cooperstown post-retirement but has kept himself busy with various business ventures. The three-time MVP is the CEO of A-Rod Corp, a broad investment firm, and Slam Corp, a merger and acquisition company that focuses on consumer tech and media.

A-Rod also is a part owner of the NBA team the Minnesota Timberwolves and their WNBA counterpart the Minnesota Lynx. He is a strategic advisor to the Professional Fighters League and chairman of beer brand Presidente. He is also a color analyst for FOX and ESPN where he spends most of his time with Ortiz and former teammate Derek Jeter.

It is safe to say Rodriguez has made an empire out of his brand name as he currently has a net worth in excess of $350 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.