The Power of Potential
I was trawling through YouTube the other night in search of some much-needed inspiration to distract me from the constant negative chatter that is COVID.
Randomly, I came across an interview with Sylvester Stallone who was sharing his story about living to his potential, rising from poverty-stricken wannabe to Hollywood icon.
It all began with him writing the screenplay for the Academy Award winning ‘Rocky’ in just three days, an inspired idea after watching a Muhammad Ali boxing match.
He was at his lowest ebb and had become very adept at living in poverty.
After numerous attempts, and a fair share of rejections, he eventually sold the script on the proviso he played the lead role in the movie.
Virtually everyone was hesitant about an ‘unknown’ playing the lead except Sly. He believed in the film’s potential, and himself, that much he finally issued an ultimatum.
The rest they say, is history.
The Rocky films were never about the staunch reality of boxing, but rather a metaphor about life. It depicted a humble man, with deep core values, sacrificing himself for the good of others.
It’s a perfect message of hope for a world in upheaval. As relevant now as it was back in the mid-70’s when the movie first hit the big screen.
There were several notable insights I gleaned from Sly’s story.
Everyone has the potential to live a better life.
Believe in what you can be, not what you are right now.
Great potential is wasted by prejudice. Look beyond ill-conceived stereotypes.
Surround yourself with like-minded people that will encourage you.
Dream big (have a vision) and don’t be afraid to fail.
Achieving your potential takes discipline, consistency, and hard work.
Don’t listen to the naysayers. The impossible is possible.
It is never too late to start over. The best is yet to come.
I coach impressive senior executives and a startling, yet sad, statistic is the vast majority (over 70%) are not satisfied in what they are doing, feeling professionally trapped and frustrated.
Their definitions of success are often heavily influenced by societal norms, family, and friends.
Realising your potential is a process that takes time and requires considerable thought. It will be up to you to take control of your journey.
Assess your strengths and weaknesses, discover what you enjoy doing, don’t listen to popular opinion, have clarity of vision, decide on what you truly believe, and have a deep commitment to help other people.
There is nothing better in life than to help others live as close to their unique potential as they can. That’s where the joy is. That’s where the success is.
Here are some key principles in life that will help you move forward, reach your potential, and make the world a better place.
Small things matter. Do the small things right, and you’ll do the big things right.
You can’t do everything alone. It takes a community to help overcome life’s challenges.
A will to succeed is more impactful than your education, social status, or ethnic background. Measure a person by the size of their heart.
Life is not always fair. Sometimes you need to accept that’s the way it is.
At times life is tough. You will fail and it will be painful, but it will make you stronger.
Face obstacles head on. Take risks and reap the reward.
Step up in your darkest moments. It will be your time to shine.
Give hope to someone else. Extend a hand and lift the downtrodden.
Fight the good fight and never give up!
In the immortal words of Rocky himself:
‘It isn’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It’s how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done’
Don’t just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.
Success is not what you accumulate. It’s about having a good reputation, a strong character, and a selfless attitude.