Why Do We Love Rocky Balboa?

Have you ever wondered why Rocky Balboa has become such a timeless Character?

How is it that 40 years after the original movie
people still go out to see the movie?

A few nights ago I took a stroll down memory lane
as they were playing the original Rocky in a movie
theatre here in Vancouver BC.

There's a lot a lessons in this movie and I've used
them for myself and my clients over the years.

Here's my observations:

1) Rocky has never really got his shot.

I think a lot of people feel this way especially as they get older.

It's easy to feel somehow your dreams, your goals and your
compelling vision for your life somehow got lost in the shuffle. 

This makes the character relatable to just about everybody. 

Is there a dream in your life that you
feel slipped out of your grasp?  

If so what decision could you make today
that could put you back on track for your dream?

2) Rocky gets his shot but he's scared nervous even suspicious of the people around him. 

He wants to change his life,
yet when he gets the opportunity of a lifetime
e doubts he can learn the skills in time to be successful. 

Despite his doubts he presses on.
Despite  the imminent and potentially humiliating
and physically painful defeat.

Rocky goes for it!
 
Most people have doubted themselves at some point
in time but facing ones doubts or fears is what
makes somebody courageous.  

Make a list of things that you haven't done because of fear. 

Pick one of them and decide right now that you must 
to do this, no matter what.

You might be surprised as to how empowering  this can be
and how easy it can become to face your fears.

3) Rocky has support from unexpected corners:
the manager Mickey, who shunned him before
for his past choices in life. 

His surly friend Polly who wants to help him
as long as he gets a slice of the action.

Most of all Rocky has Adrian his new girlfriend.
Adrian provides Rocky the emotional security he needs
because no matter what happens he's going to be loved. 

Deep down everybody wants to feel loved yet
many people don't truly feel they're worth it.  

The best way to be loved is to be loving to
everybody you possibly can be loving to.  

Kind words kind acts and being supportive to others
in challenging times builds emotional trust with
friends, families and lovers.  

If you ever feel lonely, sad or depressed, find something
or someone to love whether it be an animal, a person or even a stranger.  

When you give love it makes you feel good about yourself.

4) Rocky has character flaws which he knows and admits.  
This level of humility makes him likable.  

Despite his flaws he still tries to be the best that he can be such as:
being kind to animals,
giving advice to kids on the street,
telling jokes to make people laugh.  

He makes up for his lack of skills and intelligence with heart.

What character flaws or defects are you hiding from?

Make a list things that you would like to change about yourself.  

When we own our character flaws especially with
those around us people often act compassionately to help us.

Pick one flaw on your list  and work on it.  

It's amazing to discover how when we change ourselves
other people begin to appear different then our previous perceptions. 

5) Rocky has an incredible heart,
he decides that even though he doesn't have a chance of winning
against the champ he's going to give his best fight. 

He gets he gets up at 4 AM to go running,
eats raw eggs out of a glass,
quits smoking,
pounds sides of beef in a cold meat locker,
and does all the training necessary to be a success. 

The more he trains the more confidence he gains.  

Virtually everybody can agree, preparation and opportunity
must meet in order for you to achieve ultimate success.

If you feel that you can't do something
recognize that with enough training
you can do just about anything.

Pick a goal that you've always wanted to achieve
and get expert advice and accountability.

Find out what are the action steps that you have
to do on a regular basis in order to achieve that goal.  

For the most part, successful people simply work smarter
and harder than people who are less successful.

Successful people also are willing to work for a
long period of time without recognition or even
certainty of success.

This is why doing what you truly love is one of
the most important principles of life.

Rocky loves fighting and although many people have
told him to quit throughout the years he didn't.

Through his persistence and a stroke of good luck he finally gets a shot.

Are you doing what you love?

Success is not always being the best,
the most famous or even being competent.

Children play for the pure pleasure of playing.  

Ask yourself how you can bring more fun and joy in your life
by playing/doing what you love just for its own sake.

6) Rocky he realizes that he will never be able to be successful
if he doesn't have a coach.  

Although he's resistant to the idea at first because of resentment
he drops his resentment and takes on Mickey to help him reach his goals. 

Expert advice is he essential to success in just about everything.

Without it you're asking for trouble
and probably competing against people who have great coaching. 

An interesting sidebar to this is,
 Apollo Creed his opponent,
doesn't listen to his coach before the big fight.  

Although he is superiorly skilled, conditioned and experienced
he forgets what got him there and that is solid expert advice. 

Many people in life leverage a coach to achieve a certain goal or dream. 

Once they achieve a goal they think that they know as
much as the coach or that they've achieved the pinnacle of success. 

This is a dangerous place that many successful people fall from.  
There's an old saying that says success tests us more
than the greatest adversary. 

If you've been successful don't let it go to your head.

Recognize there's always somebody out there who is training harder,
 preparing more thoroughly
or who's hungrier than you are for the same goal.

By keeping a coach in your corner at all times
you can guide yourself to greater levels of achievement
without falling prey to pride.  

7) Define success in your own terms.

The night before the fight Rocky decides that success
will not be defined as winning the fight.  

He decides success will be going the distance
no matter what his opponent throws at him.  

Have you defined what success means to you?

If not take the time to get clear about you
goals, ambitions and dreams.  

Ultimately listening to ones inner voice and having
faith to see it through to the end is what makes dreams so powerful.

Dream big, dream often, and work your butt off to go for your dream.

Don't let people stop you, define you, or limits hats possible.  

Seek the council of people who've done what you want to do.

Avoid the judgement or criticism of those who don't understand
your desire,
your vision,
or your passion for doing what you love.

Success isn't about the outcomes in life.

It's about being true to oneself,
loving the process even when it hurts,  
and most of all,

it's about the person you become in striving for your dream.

Nothing feels better than giving it all you got in each
​moment because life passes by so quickly.

Go out there and seize the day! 

Wade

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