- April 12, 2018 -
His parents fought so much that they neglected him...so he spent many years in foster homes as a child.
The doctor severed a nerve in his face when he was born, leaving him partially paralyzed with slurred speech.
He struggled at school and was always in trouble. He was expelled from 14 different high schools.
In the early '70's he moved to New York City to follow his dream of becoming an actor - but could only get small bit parts.
He had to work at a zoo cleaning lions' cages and as an usher at a movie theater.
He was so broke that for three weeks he slept at a bus station.
One day he watched a boxing match that inspired him to write a screenplay about an up-and-coming boxer...
So he stayed up writing for 20 hours straight and finished the whole screenplay in 3 days.
He said, "It was either do that movie or rob someone because I was at the very end of my rope."
When he tried to sell the script, nobody wanted it.
He couldn't afford to feed his dog Butkus so he sold him for 50 bucks and walked away crying.
He had $106 in the bank and his wife was pregnant.
He finally met producers who wanted to buy the script...but he refused to sell it unless he was allowed to be the main actor.
He felt he was the only person who could bring the passion the role needed, but the producers wanted a real Hollywood star.
You got it =) Sylvester Stallone...
They offered him $125,000 for the script with the condition that he would NOT play the lead.
He refused so they offered him $250,000...and then more for just the script.
He still refused.
Finally, the producers relented, bought the script AND let him start in the movie...
...but only paid him a fraction of their initial offer.
First thing he did after he sold the script? He bought Butkus back for $3000 (my favorite part of the story!)
Rocky went on to win 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
And the Rocky movies have grossed over $1.4 billion, making it one of the most successful franchises of all time.
One of the most successful movies in history, making $200 million off of a $1 million budget.
That's some ROI.
When I think about stories like this it kind of puts stuff in perspective...
+ Finding a flat tire when leaving for the office...happened yesterday morning.
+ Taxes due on the 17th...hey we get 2 extra days this year. lol
+ Deals you're counting on closing get postponed because of things outside your control.
+ New employee not showing up on a busy day...with no heads up.
As entrepreneurs leading our teams, we show up every day...ready to slay the dragon.
That's how winning is done.
If you need help figuring out your next steps, set up a free consult with us.
Keep on movin'!
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