In the classic, and arguably best, installment of the Rocky series, the Italian Stallion has to deal with the loss of his best friend, Apollo Creed.
And then climb into the ring against the man who killed him. A 6’4, 260lb Siberian express train that destroys whatever he hits.
Nobody gave Rocky a snowball’s chance in hell of coming out on top in this one.
Even Adrian, who went full-on “Real Housewives of Philadelphia” in this flick, told him he couldn’t win.
But…
..Spoiler alert.
Rocky K.O’s the roided out Russian in the fifteenth round and essentially ends the cold war with the most epic post-fight speech ever.
So what can we mere mortals learn from such a display of heart and courage?
1: You don’t need much to get the job done.
Rocky ran in the snow and trained in a barn with nothing but a heavy bag and farm equipment.
He also got to train to one of the most badass soundtracks ever, which probably helped.
You don’t need high-tech gadgets or a team of soviet sports scientists to get into fighting shape.
You just have to be willing to work your ass off with whatever you have available.
2: Get your mind right.
Rocky was highly motivated for this fight.
After all, he had just seen his best friend beaten to death in a fight that was supposed to have just been an exhibition.
There was also the guilt of not throwing in the damn towel even when he knew it was the right thing to do.
He had a reason that went much deeper than getting a shiny new belt or a new Trans Am.
When you can find your own reason to turn down that second slice of chocolate cake or to keep pushing even when your heart’s on fire in the middle of a hardcore conditioning circuit.
You’ll become like a piece of iron. Unbreakable.
Find your eye of the tiger, and you’ll have what it takes to go the distance.
3: Keep moving forward.
The Stallion got dropped like a bad habit time and again for 14 straight rounds.
But he kept moving forward until he could land the legendary left hook that finally toppled the giant.
Life is going to knock you down. It won’t always be sunshine and rainbows.
There’ll be days when you can’t stick to your diet, have to miss your workout, and things don’t go your way.
But get up, keep moving forward, and you will win in the end.
Never stop fighting until the fight is done. (that’s from a different flick, but you get the idea)
And if I can change from an alcoholic who drank himself through 2 kidney failures into a coach, husband, business owner, and somewhat respectable member of society.
You can change.
Everybody can change.
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