Worldwide Success

Sylvester Stallone did it again.  Rocky Balboa is receiving rave reviews from movie critics and grossed $6 million on the opening night, exceeding all expectations.  But this article is not about a movie review.  It is about 10 success lessons that can be learned from Rocky and Stallone, whether you are a Rocky fan, or whether you despise anything that has to do with boxing.

Lesson 1: Rocky is about fighting for your dreams, and so is success

In Stallone’s own words, Rocky is semi-autobiographical.  Both the actor and the character know first hand what it means to fight for your dreams even when all odds are against you.  In the movie Rocky Balboa, Rocky is mourning the death of his wife, his son is embarrassed by him, and his whole neighborhood has fallen into poverty and despair.  But when the opportunity comes for Rocky to fight someone 25 years younger, he sees another change to keep fighting for his dreams, even though everyone else thinks he is a joke.

Lesson 2: Rocky is about beating the odds, and so is success

If you were born with a crooked mouth, a droopy eye and a funny speech, you probably would not think of becoming a Hollywood star.  But that did not stop Stallone.  Despite being rejected daily by casting agents, Stallone kept trying, changing his looks for different roles until one day he hit it big:  “Fortunately I’ve always known how to work with what I had, and sometimes that is all it took to achieve success: a little discipline and a little luck.  And you know what?  If you can relate to that you are in the majority.  That is the story of the planet”, said Stallone.

Lesson 3: Rocky is about the underdog seeking victory, and so is success

Imagine this situation:  you only have $103 to your name and no prospects in sight.  You even have to sell your dog in order to get by.  That is where Stallone stood before writing the script for Rocky.  But Stallone kept on believing: “I may be totally wrong, but I just have to go after this.  I have to believe it can happen”, said Stallone at the time.  In the movie, Rocky’s chance of winning is a long-shot.  This is something many people can relate to, especially those who struggle to get by.  Many people feel like they are an underdog.  But success is about believing in yourself even when no one else does.

Lesson 4: Rocky is about coming back after being defeated, and so is success

Both Rocky and Stallone know what it is like to come back after being defeated.  In the newest movie, Rocky runs a little family restaurant, after having experienced fame and fortune.  Yet, he comes back to show he can throw one more punch.  Similarly, Stallone was defeated when Rocky V became a huge disappointment, as he explains:  “I don’t know how I got off course.  I was not focused on it.  And all the people who relied on the fifth one being the capper were very disappointed.” So Stallone pulled another come back, and this time made it right with the movie Rocky Balboa.

Lesson 5:  Rocky is about facing your humanity, and so is success

Rocky, the character, and Stallone, the actor, are imperfect human beings.  And that is what makes them so likeable.  They don’t always get it right.  But they accept their weaknesses for what they are, and keep looking for ways to make it right after a big mistake.  The moment you embrace you humanity, accept the fact that you are fallible, and forgive yourself for mistakes made in the past, you will be taking the first step towards being successful.

Lesson 6: Rocky is about feeling alone in your fight sometimes, and so is success

You will probably feel lonely sometimes in your journey to success.  You won’t always have someone to cheer you on.  Only you will understand the struggles that you go through, and the emotional ups and downs of your journey.  In the famous scene when Rocky took the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and pumped his fist at the top, he was all by himself.  But that is a defining moment.  It is the moment when you conquer your own personal victories, and celebrate by yourself, in ways that only you can understand.

Lesson 7: Rocky is about turning doubt into victory, and so is success

Rocky is not always sure of himself.  Sometime he stops and asks “Can I really do this?”  But deep inside he knows he can.  He knows he has to try his very best to prove to himself that he can.  And the more people tell him he can’t do it the harder he works to prove them wrong.  So the next time that doubting voice comes back, answer in Rocky’s style, by working harder to prove that you can.

Lesson 8: Rocky is about not losing sight of what you want to be, and so is success

Rocky never lost the vision of who he wanted to be.  Neither did Stallone.  When he wrote the first draft of Rocky he thought about all the people that never realize their potential because they are too scared or beaten down.  He was offered more money for his script than he could have ever dreamt of making, and yet he did not sell out.  Stallone wanted to be the actor playing Rocky, and he stuck to his vision of what he wanted to be, until he succeeded.  He describes it in his own words:  “They finally relented and gave a total unknown a shot; for that miracle I am forever indebted”.

Lesson 9: Rocky is about taking control, and so is success

Rocky takes control of his destiny.  He does not let someone else define what he can and can’t achieve.  When he puts his mind to something, he works hard until he succeeds.  Take control of your own destiny today, and do not let go until you succeed and achieve whatever ambitions you may have for yourself.

Lesson 10: Rocky is about pushing the limits, and so is success

Stallone describes it best:  “Rocky represents this need to continue to push until there are not more regrets or challenges left, no matter how old you are.  What my generation wants is to go out in their own terms, not those dictate by society or generations before them.”  Continue pushing your own limits to achieve success based on your own terms.

Rocky Balboa is about hope, perseverance, hard work, and never giving in.  It is about believing in yourself when no one else will believe in you. This is an inspirational story for anyone who seeks success even when you are just an underdog.  To learn more about Rocky Balboa, check out this dedicated blog.

To learn more about Sylvester Stallone, especially if you are curious about how he stays in such great shape at the age of 60, I would recommend the book Sly Moves: My Proven Program to Lose Weight, Build Strength, Gain Will Power, and Live your Dream.

Social Bookmarks: