Inspiration comes in many forms. For some, like myself, it comes through music – my creativity and mood often gets a jolt when I hear such tunes as Kings of Leon’s Kings of the Rodeo or Jill Scott’s Hate on Me. Some folks can get inspired from a city, like New York – Woody Allen and Robert Deniro have cited the streets of Manhattan as their muse. Others get inspired from underdogs like Susan Boyle in her quest for becoming the winner of Britain’s Got Talent. In fact, the savvy Mary McKnight from Sacrilicious Marketing (AKA @REBlogGirl on Twitter) recently wrote up a nice post on the Susan Boyle Effect and the untold story of the underdog.
This brings me to the assertion that Rocky Balboa is one of the most inspiring characters in film history. Not only because his personality is made of grit and determination, but also because he’s an extremely likable guy on SO MANY LEVELS:
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Rocky is someone that just about everyone can identify with
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his moxie is something that is TRULY inspirational
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the way Sylvester Stallone commits to the character is completely genuine and authentic
Theses incredible attributes are played out so well in a scene from the latest (and last) film in the Rocky series where Rocky has a heart-to-heart with his son, Rocky Jr.
What moves me most in this scene (truly) is when Rocky tells his son:
“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 ya hit.
It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward.
How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
THAT is why Rocky is a champion. THAT is what can shake people out of a funk. Yes, Rocky is a fictional character; but that does not make him any less inspirational. The story of Rocky moves us because, time and time again, he took the hits, dug in deep and kept moving forward.
Now, let’s think about today: we’re in the midst of a recession; unemployment is up; and twelve major brands have been predicted to go under by the end of the year. How will YOU keep moving forward after ‘getting hit’ these days? What will YOU do the rest of this week to inspire others?
I’ve actually never seen Rocky (gasp!) but this was a great post! There’s so much focus on the negatives today. In reality, most of us have our health, have family who love us, and have a roof over our heads. We may get hit now and then but Rocky’s right… the winners keep moving forward! Thanks for reminding me to keep things in perspective and try to inspire others each day.
@amymengel
I loved this post and well needed! Times are hard and it seems like we are running such a fast past that it is easy to lose focus. Lately, when I become overwhelmed, I stop a minute and make myself think of 3 things that I am thankful for and it truly helps. For example, the other day I was stressed out about school and realized a lot of people don’t have the opportunity that I have and I continued on…just an idea for others to incorporate into their daily lives!
OMG that is my FAVORITE quote in that movie. It rang in my head for days. It’s funny when I’m doing something “new” or taking on a physical challenge, I often hear the trumpets in the background..”Ba-ba-bababa” in my head. In fact, that song alone was the reason my son took up the trumpet, but I digress…
In any case I like your point, Narciso. We need to find it in ourselves to move forward, to find inspiration, to discover one’s inner strength during these uncertain economic times. One of the things that I have learned through hard times is that none of it defines who we are at the core. It just shapes our experiences so we can be ready swinging the next time. Problems seem to shapeshift into different cloaks, but in the end have a familiar feel. Thanks for ringing in some truth this morning, I know I appreciated it.
Very inspiring post. Thanks for it.
Perhaps more amazing, for me, is that Stallone is actually one of us, a writer. Further, notwithstanding his success as an actor still has his foot in the writing pool and is involved in upcoming projects on the production side.
Great Post, Narciso. I completely agree. We can lie down and say “oh, whoa is me” when life is hard or we can get back up, however woozy, recover and learn from the hit, and come back swinging ourselves.
-Tom O’Keefe
(@tomokeefe1)
I loved this part of the movie. Like you said, it’s a fictional character, but what he says right there is as real as real gets. Don’t be a victim. Take charge of your life. There’s dignity in being your own man/woman and lifting yourself up to however high that takes you. Look and move forward with your own two eyes and feet and don’t wait for others to drag or push you in directions you can’t control.
I think there are way worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching the First Rocky movie followed by the last. Wonderful stuff and great post. Go Rocky!
Enjoyed the post, Narciso. You seem to be a natural at this blogging thing
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Perhaps with inspiration comes renewed confidence. To paraphrase another movie hero, ‘confidence is as confidence does’. One dynamic the economic crisis has reminded us of is the key role feelings like confidence and trust have in making our economy, and world, go round. We are currently in a downward spiral where lack of consumer confidence causes poorer economic performance which leads to further deterioration in confidence… I truly believe our attitude toward these tough economic times will play a key role in the recovery. To paraphrase an anonymous Dallas Cowboy player, ‘enough of this negativity, we need to get the positivity going.’
Keep up the good work. -Don B @donbart
Thank you for the great inspirational post. Sometimes I get so tired of all the negative that surrounds us, lets take a lesson from Rocky and keep moving forward. Great post that I WILL be sharing with friends and family. Thanks again.
This is a good clip. I think i’ll forward it off to some realtors I know that could use a “pick-me-up” in their troubling transactions. They can get hit alot it seems!
Thanks.
Bryan
I love nice quotes, this is one of them..
I heard it on the movie, but didn’t really pay attention to..
Thanks for the blog..
Great post. You and seem to share a passion. I spent some time with Sly on the set of Balboa and I have been blogging about it , in a book I wrote called, Cue The Rocky Music. Check it out or my blog at Cue the Rocky music blog!
Yo! all the best, Mike