Lessons from Rambo: How broke Sylvester Stallone became world’s biggest star

Sylvester Stallone

• Before he made it in the big league Sylvester Stallone was one of a struggling actor
• He was once homeless and slept at the New York bus station for three days
• His lowest point in life was when he tried to sell his dog at a liquor store

The story of Sylvester Stallone before he made it in the big league was one of a struggling actor.

He was struggling in his career and was so broke that at some point, he stole his wife’s jewellery and sold it. He was homeless and slept at the New York bus station for three days.

According to his narration of his life story, his lowest point in life was when he tried to sell his dog at a liquor store to any stranger.

He didn’t have any money to feed the dog anymore, let alone himself. He sold it for $25 (Sh2,500) only and he says: “And I walked away crying.”

Later, when he saw a boxing match between Mohammed Ali and Chuck Wepner, he got the inspiration to write the script for the famous movie ‘Rocky.’

 He spent his entire weekend writing that script and immediately embarked on selling it, but nobody bothered to buy.

When an offer finally came, it was for $125,000 (Sh11million), then another $250,000 (Sh22million)!

Somebody even offered him $350,000 (Sh30.8 million), but he turned them all down because he had one request that they all couldn’t meet: He wanted to star in the movie. But they all insisted that they wanted a real star.

Stallone stayed committed to his decision regardless of his dire financial status.

After awhile, a studio agreed to cast him and offered $35,000 (Sh3million) for the script. He took the offer, and the rest is history!

The movie won Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Film Editing awards at the prestigious Oscar Awards.

He was even nominated for Best Actor! ‘Rocky’ was even inducted into the American National Film Registry as one of the greatest movies ever!

And do you know the first thing he bought with the $35,000? The dog he had sold! A committed actor rose up from nothing to become one of the greatest actors in history.

There is no success without commitment. Commitment is not a ‘one night stand,’ a ‘fling’ or an ‘infatuation,’ but the glue called ‘till death do us part.’

Commitment in life is not about get-rich-quick, pyramid scheme, microwave and right now attitude; it is about counting the cost and willing to pay it in full.

We need tenacious, long-suffering, patient and strong people who are proud to ‘committedly’ wait till the fruits manifest.

Committed people don’t just wait for the fruits, they go the extra mile to wait with the fruits until the seeds inside grow into a forest.

We need an ‘organic’ people, not this ‘GMO generation’ that is addicted to quick-fixes, right now sensations, and instant gratifications.

Refuse to belong to a non-committed, unpredictable, spaghetti-spined generation that cannot stand the trial of endurance. Commitment is the price of success and the down payment for greatness.

Don’t be proud of being ‘parasitic’ and ‘leechy,’ living off other people’s efforts, plans, money or upkeep.

Get your own stuff. Your journey may start with you sleeping on the floor, but that cannot stop you from owning entire floors! You may endure ridicule for a while, but that cannot stop you from fame and popularity.

It takes courage and guts to pursue the path of authentic vision for years while abandoning cowardly tendencies that demand a right-now answer.

 It takes commitment! Don’t merely reduce dreams into recitals and wishful poems; look at your dream, your target and your goal and say to them, “write your name across my heart, I want the world to know that I am yours and you are mine forever!”

Don’t just be willing to sell ‘your dog.’ Be committed enough to do what is necessary to win...and buy back your dog!

Don’t merely love what you do, fall in love with it. Commit. Live. Thrive. Start today, where you are and with what you have.