As I write this, social media is going gaga over Glenn Maxwell’s stupendous batting display in the ODI World Cup match versus Afghanistan. Words such as ‘courage’ and ‘inspiration’ are being generously tossed around, and rightly so. That knock will probably go down in history as one of the greatest of all times.
There’s nothing wrong with seeking inspiration from events around us. Positive vibes rarely hurt. That got me thinking about the Netflix documentary ‘Sly’ on the life of actor Sylvester Stallone.
A disclosure is in order: I have been a long-time admirer of Stallone and his work. So, if my views seem tainted with a bias, they probably are 😃
‘Sly’ covers key aspects of Stallone’s life and career in an engaging manner. Though it’s easy to dismiss Stallone as just another beefy action star, it’s noteworthy that his career spans nearly five decades. That kind of longevity is rare in most professions, and certainly in the entertainment industry. Even at present, Stallone continues to be relevant; how many celebrated industry leaders can claim to have such enduring careers?
Documented in some detail is Stallone’s difficult childhood, his struggles to make headway in movies. Facing rejection, Stallone took the initiative and wrote the script for ‘Rocky’ to launch himself as an actor. That’s determination for you. When studios wanted to cast established actors in the titular role and offered him substantial monies to part with his script, he displayed immense conviction by refusing to do so.
Following the superlative success (both critical and commercial) of ‘Rocky’ came a string of box office failures. Stallone resiliently turned things around by both starring in and directing a sequel to ‘Rocky’. Also, he moulded himself into another iconic character ‘Rambo’.
Stallone’s career hit a rough patch in the 2000s. Several of his movies went straight to DVD, failing to get theatrical releases. Written off and past his prime, Stallone tenaciously staged a comeback, revisiting his iconic role as Rocky Balboa in 2006. In 2010, he created ‘The Expendables’ franchise and won the approval of moviegoers yet again.
Sure, Stallone is unlikely to feature in a list of greatest actors of all time. But his career story has admirable qualities such as resilience, creativity, longevity, and conviction in spades. For anyone seeking inspiration, ‘Sly’ has a lot to offer.
Before I sign off, here’s something from my LinkedIn article archives (I did say I’m a fan 😃)
Investment lessons from Rocky Balboa
Keep punching!
