In the early 1970s, Sylvester Stallone was an aspiring ambitious actor struggling to make ends meet. Whenever he got a part, he'd be cast as the thug, but never the hero, which was his childhood dream. Since no one would open the door for him, he knew the only way he'd make it was to create his own path.

In 1975, inspired by a Muhammad Ali fight against Chuck Wepner, Stallone had a vision for a screenplay about a down-and-out boxer who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the world championship. He began to write the script for what would become “Rocky.” What makes this story even more remarkable is the circumstances under which he wrote it. He was virtually homeless, living in a small, run-down apartment and struggling to pay the bills. Stallone’s situation was dire, but his determination was unwavering.

He wrote the script in just three days, pouring his heart and soul into the character of Rocky Balboa and the story of an underdog who refuses to give up. Stallone believed in the universal appeal of the narrative, which resonated with themes of resilience, hope, and the human spirit. With the script completed, he embarked on a journey to sell his story to Hollywood.

Eventually, he found a producer, Irwin Winkler, and a director, John G. Avildsen, who believed in his vision and but would not allow him to star in the film. Back then every producer would say to Stallone: "Your speech slurs, your eyes droop, you don't look the part of a leading Hollywood actor". The producers wanted to cast Burt Reynolds as Rocky. So they offered Stallone $25k for the script. Stallone said, "No! I wanna be rocky, this is my story". After a few weeks back and forth the producers came back and offered him $100k. Once again, Stallone said no. Mind you at the time Stallone was dead broke. He was so broke that he had to sell his dog, Butkus, so that he could pay his rent. After weeks the producers came back again and said, "Ok you can be rocky, but we're only paying you $25k, because without a star we won't be able to raise much money to make the movie"

In 1976, “Rocky” was released and it took the world by storm. The film was a massive success both critically and at the box office. It received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Stallone, and won three Oscars, including Best Picture. Sylvester Stallone had gone from being a struggling actor to a Hollywood sensation virtually overnight. Sylvester Stallone’s story of “Rocky” remains an enduring symbol of the American Dream and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Remember, that when the gatekeepers won't show you the way, know that you can always create your own way. If you can use the rejection from others as the fuel that will propel you forward, then you too can go from being the underdog to becoming unstoppable. 👊🏾