There are some awesome people around us who are so very inspirational.
We think we know them. What we do know is how they look and maybe a few of their achievements. On knowing what they have been through, the kind of hurdles they have overcome, the kind of loneliness they have encountered, it sends deep shivers down our spine. Helplessly, we find ourselves saying, "Wow".
Here is one such story. I am sure you have heard about him and seen his photographs. I am sure a few of us have made good fun of him too. After reading this "Life School Message" I am sure you will be amazed by his story.
Please allow me to share with you the incredible story of the travails and glory of Sylvester Stallone. I sincerely believe, every person should be told this story.
Have you ever wondered why Stallone has a unique expression on his face? He seems like talking with a drawl right? It seems like he is talking out of one corner of his mouth, right? Right!!! He was born with the lower part of his face, paralyzed. As a result of this, his speech was always slurred. It left him with parts of his tongue, lips and chin, paralyzed.
Can a person like this 'dare' to become an actor and that too as a hero? Impossible, isn't it? Wouldn't this inability sound the death knell for an acting career? For everyone else, yes! For Stallone, no! Read on...
Just imagine the ridicule he would have been subjected to his entire childhood. It would have been so difficult for him to clearly express his thoughts, his emotions, in words. The sounds he would make wouldn't come out properly. He was an outcast among the school kids. He often received suspensions, for his squabbles and poor grades.
The first five years of his life, Stallone lived in an area known as Hell's Kitchen. He moved from one foster home to another as his parents fought miserably and endlessly in a bad marriage.
Stallone wanted to pursue an acting career. He tried out for nearly each and every casting call he could, and contacted as many casting agents as he could find. The result of every effort was a 'thumbs down'.
One day Stallone was watching on TV, a fight between Weppner and Mohammad Ali. Weppner was getting absolutely butchered but kept standing. He was refusing to give up. It was as if Weppner was taunting Mohammad Ali to keep hitting him. And he kept on coming back for more. This underdog was really fighting for it despite the negligible chance of winning.
This inspired Stallone to begin writing. He could not sleep the whole weekend and wrote the script for 'Rocky' in about three days’ time.
He began trying to sell the screenplay to many producers with enormous numbers of rejections. This went on for months. Then, he found himself broke. He slept at the New Jersey Bus terminal for three weeks as he had no money to take a room.
In an act of desperation he waited outside of a local liquor store asking people if they would buy his dog; his closest and best friend. In the end someone bought his dog for roughly $50. Stallone was extremely devastated that his life had come to that point. He says, this was the lowest point of his life.
He kept pursuing this story that he had written. Eventually someone liked it and they agreed to buy his script for $ 35,000/-. He wanted to play the part of the hero, Rocky.
They declined and insisted he sell the script to them. Stallone disagreed and told them he was the perfect actor for the hero's role. He declined their offer despite his current poverty.
A couple of weeks later they contacted him with an even higher offer and Stallone still insisted that he play Rocky. They once again declined. Can you believe this? The man was poor. He barely had money even for food.
The offer kept rising just so he would sell them the film without playing the part. The price eventually got to around $3, 00, 000 and still he declined. He was certain that he was the perfect person to play the role of the hero and that was it. There would be no possibility of a compromise.
Eventually they offered Stallone a measly $25000 for the script as well as acting. He accepted. Goodness gracious! Can you believe this? The first thing Stallone did was go back to the liquor store to buy back his dog.
He waited 3 days for the guy to come by and finally the guy came. He offered the guy $150 to buy back the dog, the man declined. Stallone was clear what he wanted.
It ended up costing him $15000 and a part in the movie to buy back his dog. The guy and the dog are in Rocky. The dog is credited as Butkus Stallone in the movie. Isn't that so cute? Imagine giving your pet, your name too. It makes my heart sing.
Rocky made about $200 million. Sequels followed. Till date Rocky has garnered over $1.25 billion.
Stallone lived by his statement in Rocky.
Rocky Balboa: Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that.
It won 10 nominations for the academy awards. It famously won the Academy Award for best picture in 1976. At the awards ceremony he read out all the rejection slips from those who said the film fill fail badly and no one would watch it.
How is this for persistence? How is this for believing in your dreams? How is this for winning against odds?
Are you inspired? If yes, please share this story with as many people as possible. Let’s touch as many lives as possible.
With loads of love, prayers and exceptional wishes.
Source:
Narendra Goidani
As I Live...I Learn
