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Believing in yourself is incredibly important in life. If you think you can achieve something, you have a chance of succeeding. But if you don’t believe in yourself, success becomes very unlikely.
Sylvester Stallone is a great example of someone who believed in himself strongly. He turned down a lot of money for his first script, “Rocky,” because he had something very important to him that he wanted to achieve.
This real-life story of self-belief and determination is inspiring. Stallone’s decision to stick to his beliefs paid off big time, making him a huge star in Hollywood. It shows that when you have strong self-belief, you can achieve incredible things.
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone is a legendary figure in Hollywood, known for his iconic roles in the “Rocky” and “Rambo” film franchises. His life story is a testament to determination, perseverance, and the pursuit of the American dream.
Born on July 6, 1946, in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, Stallone faced early challenges that would shape his relentless pursuit of success. He was born with a partially paralyzed face due to complications during birth, which resulted in slurred speech and drooping features.
This physical adversity made him a target for bullies and filled his early years with hardship. Despite these challenges, Stallone developed a passion for acting and filmmaking. He attended the American College of Switzerland and later the University of Miami, studying drama and film.
However, life took a different turn when he moved to New York City to pursue his acting dreams, where he found himself struggling to make ends meet. Stallone even resorted to working odd jobs like cleaning lion cages at the Central Park Zoo while living in a tiny apartment.
He was completely broke
Eventually, things got so bad that he couldn’t afford to feed both himself and his faithful dog Butkus.
In an act of desperation, he went to a local liquor store and started begging people to buy his precious dog, Butkus, for $100. When Stallone eventually found a buyer, he walked away crying.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the only taker he had was offering him a meagre $50. Distraught, he made the deal and sobbed all the way home.
He spoke about the event in 2013, saying: “Yeah, I sold my bull mastiff Butkus to a little person. I tied my dog up at the store with a sign that said a hundred bucks. I got $50 from this guy called Little Jimmy.”
Stallone was absolutely heartbroken that he had to sell his beloved pup – but his luck finally turned.
Just a week later, Stallone sold the Rocky script to United Artists for the fee of $1 million and the first thing he did was to try to get his dog back. But there was one massive problem in his way: Little Jimmy.
Stallone recalled: “When I sold the Rocky script, I went to see Little Jimmy and begged for the dog back. He lined up his children [and said]: ‘Oh my kids love the dog.'”
Stallone replied by saying: “You’ve only had him for one week!” He remembered: “[Little Jimmy] wanted to fight me and he said he was gonna kill me – he was a crazy little person! I couldn’t fight him – they’d arrest me – so I offered to pay double.”
Stallone explained he received “several threats” from Little Jimmy before the pair settled on the fee of £3,000 to buy his dog back.
He did end up giving Little Jimmy a massive break in his own career, however. Stallone revealed how he gave Little Jimmy a role in Rocky when it was eventually released in 1976.
He said: “I ended up putting him in the movie. Do you remember in Rocky, when the little guy goes: ‘Hey, did ya win?’ and I go: ‘What are you, deaf?’ and he goes: ‘No, I’m short!’ Well, that’s him.”
Muhammad Ali was his inspiration
The turning point in Stallone’s life came when he watched a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner in 1975. Inspired by the underdog story of Wepner, Stallone felt a burning desire to create a similar narrative in the form of a screenplay.
He began writing the script for what would become “Rocky,” pouring his heart and soul into the story of a down-and-out boxer named Rocky Balboa who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the world heavyweight championship.
However, Stallone’s journey to turn his script into a film was far from smooth. Studios were interested in buying the script but wanted to cast a well-known actor in the lead role. Stallone, driven by his unwavering belief in the story, refused to sell the script unless he could play the main character.
He wouldn’t back down
He stood his ground, even when offered significant sums of money, and eventually, his determination paid off. United Artists agreed to produce the film with Stallone as Rocky, albeit on a shoestring budget.
“Rocky” was released in 1976 and became an overnight sensation. The film was a massive success both critically and commercially, earning Stallone an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and winning the Oscar for Best Picture.
The film’s iconic training montage set to the tune of “Gonna Fly Now” became an enduring symbol of determination and perseverance.
Stallone’s rise to stardom didn’t end with “Rocky.” He went on to create the character of John Rambo in the “Rambo” series, solidifying his status as an action hero. Despite facing personal and professional setbacks over the years, including failed marriages and box office disappointments, Stallone’s commitment to his craft never wavered.
What an inspiration
His life story serves as an inspiration to countless individuals worldwide. Stallone’s journey from a struggling actor with a paralyzed face to an iconic Hollywood figure is a testament to the power of self-belief, resilience, and unrelenting determination.
He transformed his perceived weaknesses into strengths and created timeless characters that resonate with audiences to this day.
In Sylvester Stallone’s life, we find a remarkable narrative of overcoming adversity, following one’s passion, and never giving up on a dream. His story is a reminder that success is often born from the depths of struggle, and the Rocky spirit lives on as a symbol of unwavering determination in the face of adversity.
Thoughts for the week
- How would you describe your self-belief? Rank yourself out of 10 (1 is zero and 10 is you are unstoppable).
- Self-belief is like a thermostat on your central heating you can only go as far as you believe you can.
- You have to throw your belief forward then you catch it up in real life.
- You need to believe it first then you see it appear in your life.
- This week observe how you speak to yourself when facing difficulties and see if it’s positive or negative. Moving forward, try to develop a more positive inner voice.
Warm regards
John
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