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Wednesday 21 September 2011
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Thursday 15 September 2011
The Commitment Of Sylvester Stallone
Surely, one of the best examples of the power of commitment and how ‘doing whatever it takes will get you what you want’ is the story of Sylvester Stallone. At his peak, Stallone was one of the most popular and highly paid stars in Hollywood, commanding a fee of US$20 million per movie. was he just born under a lucky star? Was he naturally talented actor? Was he at the right place at the right? Hardly. He was someone who seemed to have all the odds stacked up against him.
His family was so poor that his mother had to give birth to him on the doorsteps of a school. A blotched delivery by students caused a facial nerve to be severed, leaving him paralyzed on the right side of his face. As a result, Stallone had to live the rest of his life with slurred speech. He even had to deal with having drooping lower lip and being made fun of because of his name ‘Sylvester’ (associated with the Looney Tunes cat). Despite all these limitations, young Stallone dreamed of becoming an actor and inspiring millions of people through his movies.
First he enrolled in acting school and then started going for auditons. Predictably, with his wooden acting, his dopey looks and his slurred speech, Stallone was rejected for every part he applied for. But he never give up. Doggedly he just kept changing his strategy and taking action. The way he landed his first part is a fine example of how he was willing to do whatever it took. When he was rejected after yet another audition, he pulled up a chair in front of the manager’s office and sat down, refusing to leave unless they gave him a chance. After sitting there for hours, they were so moved by how much he wanted a chance that they relented and gave him a part. Although he appeared for a couple of minutes (as an extra), it gave him the first breakthrough he was after.
Unfortunately, that experiance was followed by yet another string of unsuccessful attempts at getting another acting job. At that point, his wife told him to give up his ‘stupid dream’ and get a real job. His reply was, ‘If i get another job, I would lose the only thing I have got going for me… my hunger.’ ‘By quiting and getting a job, I would be selling out on my dream’. Stallone actually wound up so broke and desperate that he was force to sell his dog for $50 in order to survive. It was the saddest moment in his life because his dog was the one friend he god left.
At the lowest point in his life, he watch a boxing match between the world heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali and Chuck Wepner, an underdog that everyone thought would be defeated within three rounds. What no one expected was Wepner’s determination and tenacity. He lasted the total of fifteen rounds with Ali, just refusing to go down. Sly was so inspired by what he saw that he had visions in his head about a movie that he was going to write. He started writing profusely for 84hours non-stop until he finished the manuscript for ‘Rocky’. He was so excited by the script because in his mind he knew that this was going to be the movie that would change his life and his fortune.
But when he went round attempting to sell his script, everyone felt that it was too predictable and that nobody would be interested in watching a movie about boxing. But he didn’t give up. He kept on going and going until one company made him an offer of US$75,000 for the script and the right to make the movie. This should have made Sly overjoyed but his dream was to be an actor and not a writer.
So, he told them that the condition of sale was that he be cast as the lead actor. They objected saying ‘You’re a writer! You not an actor!’. ‘There is no way we will let you act!’ But Sly stood his ground and refused to sell the script if he wasn’t the lead actor. They then increase their offer to US$255,000 up to US$1 million, but Sly kept insisting that he fitted the role of ‘Rocky’, and no one else. Although he was broke and hungry, he refused to sell out his dream for a six-figure pay check. That was his level of commitment.
Eventually, they reluctantly agreed, on the condition that the movie was made on a shoe string budget of less than a million dollars and Stallone would get only US$35,000 for the writing, and acting. Sly would however, get the percentage of the profits, if the movie made money. He agreed immediately. The first thing Sly did when he got his money was to go in search of the man who bought his dog to buy it back. When he finally tracked down the man, he offered to buy his dog back for US$100. The man declined his offer saying that he was not interested. Sly upped his offer to US$500. Still the man refused. Sly again upped his offer, this time to US$1,000. The man still would not budge saying ‘No amount of money will ever convince me to sell this dog.’
While most of us would give up at this point, Sly knew that if he was committed to do whatever it takes, he would find a way. Eventually, he did get his dog back. He paid the man a whopping of US$15,000 and also gave him a part in the movie as part of the deal. When Rocky was launched at the box office, it grossed over US$171 million and was nominated for ten academy awards (including best actor), eventually winning an Oscar for best Picture and Best Director. Sylvester instantly shot to fame as an action star and lucrative offers came in for future blockbusters, which were to eventuate in First Blood, Rambo and the Rocky sequels. His eventual success came from the fact that to him, becoming an actor was truely a must.
His family was so poor that his mother had to give birth to him on the doorsteps of a school. A blotched delivery by students caused a facial nerve to be severed, leaving him paralyzed on the right side of his face. As a result, Stallone had to live the rest of his life with slurred speech. He even had to deal with having drooping lower lip and being made fun of because of his name ‘Sylvester’ (associated with the Looney Tunes cat). Despite all these limitations, young Stallone dreamed of becoming an actor and inspiring millions of people through his movies.
First he enrolled in acting school and then started going for auditons. Predictably, with his wooden acting, his dopey looks and his slurred speech, Stallone was rejected for every part he applied for. But he never give up. Doggedly he just kept changing his strategy and taking action. The way he landed his first part is a fine example of how he was willing to do whatever it took. When he was rejected after yet another audition, he pulled up a chair in front of the manager’s office and sat down, refusing to leave unless they gave him a chance. After sitting there for hours, they were so moved by how much he wanted a chance that they relented and gave him a part. Although he appeared for a couple of minutes (as an extra), it gave him the first breakthrough he was after.
Unfortunately, that experiance was followed by yet another string of unsuccessful attempts at getting another acting job. At that point, his wife told him to give up his ‘stupid dream’ and get a real job. His reply was, ‘If i get another job, I would lose the only thing I have got going for me… my hunger.’ ‘By quiting and getting a job, I would be selling out on my dream’. Stallone actually wound up so broke and desperate that he was force to sell his dog for $50 in order to survive. It was the saddest moment in his life because his dog was the one friend he god left.
At the lowest point in his life, he watch a boxing match between the world heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali and Chuck Wepner, an underdog that everyone thought would be defeated within three rounds. What no one expected was Wepner’s determination and tenacity. He lasted the total of fifteen rounds with Ali, just refusing to go down. Sly was so inspired by what he saw that he had visions in his head about a movie that he was going to write. He started writing profusely for 84hours non-stop until he finished the manuscript for ‘Rocky’. He was so excited by the script because in his mind he knew that this was going to be the movie that would change his life and his fortune.
But when he went round attempting to sell his script, everyone felt that it was too predictable and that nobody would be interested in watching a movie about boxing. But he didn’t give up. He kept on going and going until one company made him an offer of US$75,000 for the script and the right to make the movie. This should have made Sly overjoyed but his dream was to be an actor and not a writer.
So, he told them that the condition of sale was that he be cast as the lead actor. They objected saying ‘You’re a writer! You not an actor!’. ‘There is no way we will let you act!’ But Sly stood his ground and refused to sell the script if he wasn’t the lead actor. They then increase their offer to US$255,000 up to US$1 million, but Sly kept insisting that he fitted the role of ‘Rocky’, and no one else. Although he was broke and hungry, he refused to sell out his dream for a six-figure pay check. That was his level of commitment.
Eventually, they reluctantly agreed, on the condition that the movie was made on a shoe string budget of less than a million dollars and Stallone would get only US$35,000 for the writing, and acting. Sly would however, get the percentage of the profits, if the movie made money. He agreed immediately. The first thing Sly did when he got his money was to go in search of the man who bought his dog to buy it back. When he finally tracked down the man, he offered to buy his dog back for US$100. The man declined his offer saying that he was not interested. Sly upped his offer to US$500. Still the man refused. Sly again upped his offer, this time to US$1,000. The man still would not budge saying ‘No amount of money will ever convince me to sell this dog.’
While most of us would give up at this point, Sly knew that if he was committed to do whatever it takes, he would find a way. Eventually, he did get his dog back. He paid the man a whopping of US$15,000 and also gave him a part in the movie as part of the deal. When Rocky was launched at the box office, it grossed over US$171 million and was nominated for ten academy awards (including best actor), eventually winning an Oscar for best Picture and Best Director. Sylvester instantly shot to fame as an action star and lucrative offers came in for future blockbusters, which were to eventuate in First Blood, Rambo and the Rocky sequels. His eventual success came from the fact that to him, becoming an actor was truely a must.
The Success Story of Sir Richard Branson
The place - the UK. The period - the late sixties. This is the story of a 17-year-old boy who was a rebel at school. The school's rules were rigid and it made the boy claustrophobic. The boy wanted to break free his mind. This boy soon started an amateur students' paper which circulated not just in his own school, but also among students of other nearby schools. His mother gave him four dollars to start with. The paper quickly became popular among students of other schools too. The boy sold advertising space to major corporations. His paper carried articles on rock stars, movie actors, politicians and intellectuals. Though it was not of any literary value, it reflected the young boy's enthusiasm and entrepreneurship.
The boy was very eager to make this paper a growing business. His only companion in this venture was his dear buddy Johnny James. Seeing his burning enthusiasm to do something, the Headmaster of Stowe congratulated him and said, "I can predict that one day you will either go to prison or become a millionaire."
In 1970 the boy set up a mail-order business, and started selling records by mail. The boy was successful and quickly turned his record-mailing business into a record shop. A couple of years later, in 1972, the young enthusiast boy started manufacturing records. But what would be the name of the company? His partner in his record manufacturing business Nick happened to say "We are all virgins in this business." They christened the company ‘Virgin Records'. I am talking about Sir Richard Branson , better known as the Virgin Boss. Richard Branson is perhaps the most charismatic individual when it comes to the top corporate heads of international fame. Known for his maverick business strategies and untraditional ways, Sir Richard Branson, who appeared in several TV shows including Baywatch, was born in the UK on July 18, 1950.
Richard Branson believes in some simple strategies, like:
• Size does matter; you need to challenge and compete with big brands to become big yourself.
• Take it easy, mix fun with work.
• Remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
• Haggling is possible in every business - it brings down prices.
• Be camera / media- friendly.
• Mingle like a common man, go ahead like a bullet.
The £ 3 billion Empire of Richard Branson, the Virgin boss, is a result of numerous success stories. Virgin Records saw their first success with Mike Oldfield's ‘Tubular Bells' that became a best-selling record. After this, the company moved ahead swiftly, sometimes being drawn into controversies. It had to be sold to EMI in 1992 to generate money in order to keep the airline business running. It is said that Richard Branson cried after the company was sold, but he soon started V2 Records, another music brand. In 1984 Sir Richard Branson started his flagship brand Virgin Atlantic Airways to compete with British Airways. Sir Richard Branson then went on to start more airline brands such as Virgin Express, Virgin Nigeria and Virgin America (2006). Sir Richard Branson launched Virgin Mobile in 1999 and Virgin Blue (in Australia) in 2000. Other brands from him were Virgin Trains, Virgin Cola, Virgin Vodka, and Virgin Lottery.
In 1993 Sir Richard Branson, the millionaire Virgin boss, won a double lawsuit against British Airways and won a huge money of £ 610,000 which he divided among his employees. In 1993, Sir Richard Branson received an honorary Doctorate degree from Loughborough University, although Sir Richard Branson had quit conventional studies at the age of 17. In 1999, the Queen awarded him knighthood. In 2004, Sir Richard Branson announced the launch of Virgin Galactic, a company that will take travelers to outer space, as part of space tourism, beginning late 2007. Sir Richard Branson continues to enjoy every piece of his success, living life king-size, and adding new feathers to his crown every day.
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