Top 3 Lessons from Sylvester Stallone’s Rags to Riches Story
Thursday, August 16th, 2007
Every successful person I have come across has an amazing story to tell. These stories are reference experiences that motivate us to take action in our owns lives. The following story was passed on to me by the great motivator, Tony Robbins.
Sylvester Stallone is an international icon. Through his movies, he has symbolized the power of having a sheer determination to work towards your goals. However, many people do not know about how Stallone got to where he is today. Before I tell you the three lessons, sit back and enjoy the story.
It all started at a young age. He had a strong desire to become a movie star. His motivation was that he wanted to let people escape reality for just a moment as well as inspire people to fulfill their potential.
Stallone did the natural thing and started to apply for roles in movies. He was constantly rejected for various reasons. The most common reason pertained to his dopey look and his tendency to talk out of the side of his mouth.
He was quite a persistent fellow as he claims he had been kicked out of acting agencies over 1,500 times. You’re probably thinking they aren’t that many agencies in New York, and you’re right. He was kicked out of each one 5 to 10 times.
He finally landed a gig after spending the night at an agency. The problem was that all of his roles were based on him being a beaten up thug. After three or so movies, these small opportunities came to an end.
He kept trying and trying and trying, but things weren’t working. He couldn’t pay for heating in the apartment. He was starving and his wife would constantly yell at him about getting a job. He refused each time, but why?
He refused to get a job because he thought his hunger for success would wither away. To Stallone, his hunger was the only thing he had going for himself. Unfortunately, his wife did not understand and pretty much wanted to end the relationship.
Then one cold day, he went to a public library. He didn’t go there to read a book, but he wanted to find a warm place. To pass time, he stumbled on a book by Edgar Allen Poe. He had an epiphany and decided to start writing.
He created the movie script, Paradise Alley, and managed to sell it for $100, but it did not lead to anywhere. Finally, he was so broke that he sold his wife’s jewelry. This was basically the end of their relationship. They had no food and no money. There was only thing he had left, and he loved him more than anything. It was his dog and the unconditional love it offered.
He was then forced to sell his dog. He waited in front of a liquor store to sell his dog for $50. He finally met a man to buy it, but he haggled him down to $25. This ended up being the lowest point of his life.
Then 2 weeks later, he watches a Muhammad Ali fight and gets an idea. He writes for 20 hours straight. He was in the zone and had created a script that would eventually be known as Rocky. Now, all he had to do was find somebody to buy it.
After a series of rejections, he finally found a couple of people who wanted to buy it. They offered him $125,000 for the script. Even though this was an unbelievable amount of money, Stallone said he would only accept it if he starred in the movie. As a no name, he was rejected, and he turned down the money because he refused to compromise. A couple of weeks later, the same guys offered him 250k and 325k. He rejected both offers.
They finally offered him the chance to star in his own movie, but they didn’t want to pay him much as it was a risk to them. They ended up paying Stallone $35,000, which included a share of the profits.
The first thing he did was go back to the liquor store to find the man who bought his dog. He waited three days before he finally did find him with the dog. He told the man he would do anything to get the dog back. He offered $100, $500, and $1000, but the man refused to sell the dog back. He changed his approach and finally got his dog back.
What did he do? He paid the man $15,000 of the $35,000 he received from the movie script.
The movie, Rocky, ended up costing $1 million to make, and it grossed over $200 million. Not a bad investment, eh?
So what are the top 3 lessons we learn from Sylvester Stallone?
1. Find purpose
Stallone knew what he wanted, and it helped him focus his actions. Despite many failures, he was able to make the right adjustments that led him just one step closer to success.
2. Fuel desire
Stallone understood what motivated him. He knew that if he got a regular job. The fire that drove him would fizzle. I’m not saying you should starve, but you should not be afraid to take massive action for your goals. Know what motivates you and execute.
3. Compromise never
Stallone faced many opportunities to settle on his dream to become a movie star. This was his purpose, and he would not accept anything less. With his determination, he was finally able to get exactly what he wanted. Keep in mind that there are situations where compromise is acceptable. Just do not compromise on your purpose in life.
Stories are a wonderful way to convey many ideas in a way that is memorable. Every successful person has amazing stories of how they overcame their challenges. They love telling these stories as they understand something very important: The journey is the reward.
Think Sly.
Carl Zetterlund
Power Profiles showcase successful people who you can learn from. If there is any golden rule to follow, take advice from people who already there.
