新媒网 · 跨境数据社区

Sylvester Stallone was nearly flat broke, when he penned the story for "Rocky". He saw it as his ticket to better times. While many studios expressed an interest in the script, they were unwilling to accede to Stallone’s then seemingly strange condition. He was prepared to sell the script, if and only if, he would be cast as the lead character. Given his relative obscurity at the time, not surprisingly, several studios turned down his request. One prominent one, even offered him a whole lot of money-which must have been surely very tempting-but on the premise, he would have nothing to do with further development of the film. Stallone, despite his precarious financial condition, refused. Ironically, he was literally enacting the story of Rocky Balboa in his own life and actions. He was living the character’s journey as the ultimate underdog in the truest, most authentic sense of the word. Something which several studios would today regret for not having identified. We all know how this story eventually turned out. But there’s an important lesson in it for us. How much are you willing to stake to achieve your dream? What kind of money or other incentive are you prepared to say "no" to? What are the hits, the body blows, you are prepared to take, before you eventually stand triumphant? These are the kind of questions one must be prepared to answer. Having a dream is one thing, but achieving it can often seem like you are in the midst of a heavyweight title bout. The punches of disappointment often rain down on you. They can put you out for the count. But champions are those who have the belief they will be able to get up again, no matter how hard they have been hit. They rise to their feet again, when the easier option seems to be staying down. They cling on to their belief, even when no one else feels the same. Because it takes all that and more, to have ‘the eye of the Tiger’. And it’s not just about the thrill of a fight, it’s about not letting your dreams out of sight. No matter what. #grit #championmentality