The Difference Between Success And Failure Is Very Small … Don’t Give Up

InspirationMindset

Mar 23

It was Sylvester Stallone who famously once said “going that one more round when you don’t think you can, that’s what makes all the difference in your life.”

It’s important food for thought. That the difference between success and failure is very often something so very small. Doing that one extra thing that you didn’t think you could do. Or making that one call when your knees are knocking. Or taking that leap of faith when just the thought of it made you feel like throwing up.

Sylvester Stallone‘s true inspirational story is stuff of legends among filmmakers and screenwriters.

He was born in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City on July 6, 1946. Due to complications during labour, the lower left side of Stallone’s face is paralyzed, including parts of his tongue, lip, and chin. For the first few years of his life, he moved from one foster home to another as his parents were in a very unstable marriage. Eventually, he reunited with them but his troubled past and paralyzed face made him an outcast in school. He often received suspensions for his poor grades, fights, and behaviour problems at school.

From a very young age, Stallone dreamt of becoming an actor. After having no luck in New York, he moved to Los Angeles but things got even worse. He struggled to find work and things got so bad that he sold his wife’s jewelry, became homeless and even sold his dog because he could no longer feed him. Most people would have given up at this point, but not him. SIDENOTE: I’ve got to say that under no circumstances would I ever sell my dog (I have four of them) - no matter what there is always a way to make ends meet.

But I digress. Let’s continue on with Stallone’s story.

Stallone’s Turning Point

One day, Stallone went to watch a boxing match between Chuck Wepner and Muhammad Ali. He was so inspired that he went home to write a movie screenplay. Screenplays usually take anywhere from months to a year or more to write, but Stallone didn’t sleep for 3 days and produced his in just 72 hours.

He then set about pounding the pavement to find a buyer for his script. His hard work was beginning to pay off and he was offered $125,000 for the Rocky script, but he refused it - even though he was flat broke, because the studio wouldn’t gamble having him, an unknown actor who also “looked and talked funny”, in the star role.

Stallone was then offered $250,000 for the screenplay. He refused unless he could star in it.

He was then offered $350,000. He refused unless he could star in it.

The studio wanted this screenplay very badly, but they were not willing to risk the money on his unproven talent and unusual looks.

Stallone stayed strong. Eventually the studio paid him a small amount for his script and let him star.

With his fortunes up, Stallone went to buy back his dog, but the guy he sold it to would not sell him back. Stallone offered the man $1000 for the dog, but the man refused.

Eventually, the man accepted $15,000 for the dog.

As you know Rocky became one of the top-selling movies of it’s time and was nominated for ten Academy Awards. The sequel, Rocky II was released a few years later and also became a major success. The film series has grossed more than $1.25 billion at the worldwide box office.