I usually try to keep my content as original as possible ( this means most of the things I share are my intellectual property asides Let's Rub Minds of course) but this post is an exception as I feel that I've been inspired by this write up and it'd give me immense joy to share that inspiration with you guys. Below is the story of an A list Hollywood actor who got to the top with nothing but his dreams. Enjoy!
Back in the day, Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor in every sense of the word. At some point, he stole his wife's jewellery and sold it just to put food on the table. Things got so bad that he ended up homeless. Yes, he slept at the New York bus station for three days! His lowest point came when he had to sell his dog as he couldn't afford to feed it or himself. He took the dog to a liquor store waiting for any stranger to sell off his dog. He sold his dog for $25 and walked away crying.
Two weeks later, he saw a boxing match between Mohammed Ali and Chuck Wepner and that match inspired the script for the award winning movie Rocky. He wrote the script for twenty good hours! He tried to sell the script and got an offer of $125,000 but he had a condition for selling .
Stallone wanted to be featured in the movie. In fact he wanted to be the lead character in the movie. The studio didn't see sense in that so they rejected him, they wanted a real Star!
They said he looked and talked funny( due to complications at birth, Stallone was partially paralysed at birth. This affected his speech and facial features) so he left with his script. A week later, the studio called and offered him $250,000 for his script which he promptly refused. They took it up to $350,000 but still Stallone refused their offer. He never let his situation control his opportunity. He knew the studio saw his unrefined gold for what it was. He also knew they wanted his gold but didn't want the dirt so he refused their offer and went on with his rags and gold.
After a while, the studio gave him $35,000 and let him star in the movie. The movie Rocky won Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Film Editing at the prestigious Oscar Awards. He was even nominated as Best Actor for the movie Rocky. The movie was nominated in the American National Registry as one of the greatest movies ever.
Today, the same Stallone guy who sold his dog because he couldn't feed it is one of the greatest Actors that's ever lived.
This story was written by Betsy Stevens. I omitted the part where she wrote that Stallone went back in search of his dog and paid a whooping $15,000 to get it back.
She added " life is tough. Opportunities will pass you by because you are a nobody, doors will be shut on you. People will steal your glory and crush your hopes . You will push and push and nothing will happen. You may end up broke and have to do odd jobs for survival . Here is one advice : never give up on that dream! Never let them crush it, keep dreaming, keep hoping ! No one knows what you are capable of except yourself ".
In times of sky rocketing inflation and unfathomable hardships all over the world, stars are still being born, destinies are still falling in place. The story of Sylvester Stallone reminds me of Jumoke the bread seller turned model.
Like Stallone, we have moments of trials. A wise man once said to me " Precious, a man's greatness is measured by his capacity to overcome trials and tribulations. It's his ability to overcome that makes him great". I also remember that gold isn't beautiful till it has gone through fire.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation with your dreams within your grasps but still so far away? Perhaps it's not your dreams but a health situation that eludes even the professionals? That's just the time for you to pick up your armour and go to war with the enemy. Fight, claw, tear till you have nothing left. Nobody became great overnight as every great man has a story. Remember, your faith and your dreams are all you need to soar. Cheers mates!
Inspired🙌
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