The Story of Rocky Balboa

One of the most Inspiring stories ever. 

This is one of the SADDEST stories ever told in Hollywood. His name is Sylvester Stallone. One of the BIGGEST and most famous American Movie superstars. Back in the day, Stallone was a struggling actor in every definition. At some point, he got so broken that he stole his wife's jewelery and sold it. Things got so bad that he even ended up homeless. Yes, he slept at the New York bus station for 3 days, unable to pay rent or afford food. His lowest point came when he tried to sell his dog at the liquor store to any stranger. He didn't have money to feed the dog anymore. He sold it at $50 only. He says he walked away crying.

Two weeks later, he saw a boxing match between Mohammed Ali and Chuck Wepner and that match gave him the inspiration to write the script for the famous movie, ROCKY.

He wrote the script for 20 hours! He tried to sell it and got an offer for $125,000 for the script. But he had just ONE REQUEST. He wanted to STAR in the movie. He wanted to be the MAIN ACTOR, Rocky himself. But the studio said NO. They wanted a REAL STAR.

They said he "Looked funny and talked funny". He left with his script. A few weeks later,the studio offered him $250,000 for the script. He refused. They even offered $350,000. He still refused. They wanted his movie. But NOT him. He said NO. He had to be IN THAT MOVIE.

After a while, the studio agreed, gave him $35,000 for the script and let him star in it! The rest is history! The movie won Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Film Editing at the prestigious Oscar Awards. He was even nominated for BEST ACTOR! The Movie 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 SOLD. Yes, Stallone LOVED HIS DOG SO MUCH that he stood at the liquor store for 3 days waiting for the man he sold his dog to. And on the 3rd day, he saw the man coming with the dog. Stallone explained why he sold the dog and begged for the dog back. The man refused. Stallone offered him $100. The man refused. He offered him $500. And the guy refused. Yes, he refused even $1000. And, Believe it or Not, Stallone had to pay $3000 for the same, same dog he sold at $50 only! And he finally got his dog back!

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF EXCEPT YOURSELF!

NEVER GIVE UP!!

From left to right:

The man on the far left just sleeps. Indicating laziness, procrastination, unmotivated, no drive and just does nothing. Just takes everything too easy. Easy to a fault. Doesn’t care much. Whatever may come attitude. Good and bad perhaps. Depends on circumstances.

The next man digs, finds something. Is happy with what he finds. Is content. Doesn’t go any further. He is fine with just enough. That is ok too for some.

The third man from the left keeps digging for the biggie! The big fortune. Where all the big ‘diamonds’  lie. He is a hard worker. He dug the deepest and he is focused on success. He is driven, motivated, inspirational, works hard, doesn’t give up and doesn’t take obstacles as a brick wall. He does not give up. He is focused.  He knows he has to work and he will work and make it big. And he will make it.

The last man on the far right just gives up. He tried but not very hard. He dug little. Cannot tolerate or accept the difficult conditions. Doesn’t continue. He wants to run. To escape. To leave. Doesn’t try and just wants to exit. He lets his fear, insecurities, and lack of effort catch up and just gives up. This type of person is difficult to work with and perhaps ends up bitter, angry and blaming others.

Which one fits you at this point in life you think? Of course over the years we can change. How were you last time? Change for better or worse is the key. That is the point of this whole exercise. Nothing is set in stone, our attitude can change. Just change it and be consistent and then you will find your diamonds!

 I want you to find your success and it starts with attitude. I wish you luck. Do something now!

A Pundit and A Rich Man (Story)

There was Pundit in the village. He was well-versed in all Scriptures. He knew everything, but, he was poor. He did not have a house. He used to get his meals also with great difficulties. Even his clothes were very much worn out.

So, the Pundit used to beg for his meals. He went from House-to-House begging. “Please give me alms”. On seeing his old clothes many people were thinking that he is mad. So, saying “Go Away” they shut the door. For many days he did not even eaten.

Once somehow he obtained new clothes. A rich man gave those clothes to the Pundit. Wearing those new clothes he went to beg as before. To the very first house he went, the householder said, “Sir, please come in. Please have your food in our house”. Saying thus, with great respect, he took the Pundit inside for food.

The Pundit sat down to eat. Varieties of soups, Sweet meals, Vedas, and Sweet foods were served for eating.

Having prayed first, the Pundit took a sweetmeat with his hand and began to feed his new clothes saying, “Eat, eat!”

On seeing that all the householders were surprised and were not able to understand. So, they asked thus, “The clothes do not eat right? The why O, Great Pundit, do you offer food to the clothes?”

Then that Pundit answered thus, “Indeed because of this new clothes you offered me food today. Yesterday itself in this very house you asked me to go away. Since I obtained food due to these clothes, I am grateful to them. This is why I am feeding them.” The householders were a little ashamed.

Moral: never judge anyone by their outlook!

The Boy and the Genie (Story)

This story begins with a young child who, like many young children in this impoverished world spent his days scavenging on a rubbish dump to survive. 

As he came to the end of yet another grueling day among the stench and filth, a small bright object caught his gaze. Pulling it free he saw it was a tarnished and battered old lantern.

He rubbed it gently on his tatty cloths and then dropped it in shock as from its spout appeared a huge puff of bright smoke. When the smoke cleared, towering above him, dwarfing the huge dump that was his home, stood a mighty genie.

When the boy had regained his composure he turned his head skyward.
'Who are you?' he shouted at the top of his voice.
'I am the mightiest of all the genies in the universe' boomed the voice of the genie.
'You have released me from bondage and for this I will grant you a reward of three wishes that men most desire.'

'What is the first wish that men desire?' replied the boy.
'The first', continued the genie, 'is to have great power'

'Yes it is important to have power ' replied the boy then he thought for a minute before continuing, 'so my first wish is for everyone on earth to care for one another'

The genie was frustrated and confused by this answer. 'Why would this make you powerful?'

They boy replied. 'If people began to care then no other children would ever live like me ever again. People who really care would not accept a system where their brothers and sisters suffer to support a better life for others. They would share their power so we would all become powerful. What good is power if we cannot share it?'

Now the genie became angry because this was not the answer he had expected. For there was good reason why the genie had been trapped in the lantern. The genie was incredibly wicked consumed with an extreme greed and lust for power.

The wishes he presented where meant to trick the boy for he knew that for every wish the boy took then he too would also have the power of that wish.... but a thousand times greater.

Reluctantly he granted the wish because he could find no fault in the boy's logic and was bound by the genie oath, through the power of the universe.

'What is the second wish you can grant me?' the boy shouted.

'That you can have wealth beyond your wildest dreams, be it gold , silver, rubies, money.. you name it, anything you choose', replied the genie.
Then the genie smiled slyly as he looked at the bedraggled tiny figure below him. 'Such poverty, such misery, he would surely be tempted this time,' he thought.

Then the boy spoke and said 'Yes I want wealth'. The genie's eyes gleamed with glee. Then the boy continued ,'Yes I want wealth so... I wish that every person on earth no longer gave store of value to any material be it gold, silver or otherwise such as money.'
The genie was beside himself with rage 'How can you have wealth without this? All men desire it... it is impossible!'

The boy answered. 'Once people no longer believe in these values then they will wake up and realize that our true wealth is life itself. We are blessed to be alive and to be part of the ultimate beauty that is nature. The rest is but an illusion, an illusion of wealth that keeps me and millions more living like this.. living for a pittance'. Once we return to living with nature then I and everyone else will be forever wealthy'

The genie began to fear greatly for his plans were unraveling before his eyes. The words of truth and wisdom of the boy left the genie no option but to grant the wish.
The genie had one last card to play to tempt the boy. He thought hard....

'This is my last wish that I grant you' and with slow deliberation he proclaimed,

'YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING YOU DESIRE IN THE UNIVERSE!'.

'Then that is easy', said the boy. 'I wish that you and all your temptations that poison the human mind be banished from the universe for ever.'
.
The genie stared down dejected and defeated at this tiny figure below as the reality sunk in that this small boy was far mightier than he. For a brief moment he stood in admiration at a truly powerful and wealthy boy.

Then with a final wry smile and a puff a smoke he vanished from the universe for ever. 

The Smartest Man in the World (Story)

A doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble. In spite of the best efforts of the pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally, the pilot grabbed a parachute and yelled to the passengers that they better jump, and he himself bailed out.

Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining.

- The doctor grabbed one and said “I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live,” and jumped out.

- The lawyer then said, “I’m a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve to live.” He also grabbed a parachute and jumped.

- The priest looked at the little boy and said, “My son, I’ve lived a long and full life. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace.”

- The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, “Not to worry Father. The smartest man in the world just took off with my back pack.”

Moral: Your job doesn’t always define you, but being a Good Human being Does.

Birbal’s Rice (Story)

On a cold winter day Akbar and Birbal took a walk along the lake. A thought came to Birbal that a man would do anything for money. He expressed his feelings to Akbar. Akbar then put his finger into the lake and immediately removed it because he shivered with cold. Akbar said “I don’t think a man would spend an entire night in the cold water of this lake for money.” Birbal replied “I am sure I can find such a person.” Akbar then challenged Birbal into finding such a person and said that he would reward the person with a thousand gold coins.

Birbal searched far and wide until he found a poor man who was desperate enough to accept the challenge. The poor man entered the lake and Akbar had guards posted near him to make sure that he really did as promised. The next morning the guards took the poor man to Akbar. Akbar asked the poor man if he had indeed spent the night in the lake. The poor man replied that he had. Akbar then asked the poor man how he managed to spend the night in the lake.

The poor man replied that there was a street lamp near by and he kept his attention affixed on the lamp and away from the cold. Akbar then said that there would be no reward as the poor man had survived the night in the lake by the warmth of the street lamp. The poor man went to Birbal for help.

The next day, Birbal did not go to court. The king wondering where he was, sent a messenger to his home. The messenger came back saying that Birbal would come once his Rice was cooked. The king waited hours but Birbal did not come. Finally the king decided to go to Birbal’s house and see what he was up to.

He found Birbal sitting on the floor near some burning twigs and a bowl filled with Rice hanging five feet above the fire. The king and his attendants couldn’t help but laugh.

Akbar then said to Birbal “How can the Rice be cooked if it so far away from the fire?”

Birbal answered “The same way the poor man received heat from a street lamp that was more than a furlong away.”

The King understood his mistake and gave the poor man his reward.

The 81 years Marriage (Story)

Story of a Marriage that has lasted for 81 years, is 104 years old and his wife 100. As they were very poor, they could not pay a photo of their Wedding day. These snapshots collected the moment in which she again put the Wedding dress to recover that moment with her husband.