8 Lesson's Rocky Balboa Taught Us

I had a proud dad moment the other day. My youngest daughter had been given the task at school to write down and share with the class her favorite movie. Most of the kids in the class chose Disney movies, stating anything from The Little Mermaid to Teen Beach Movie, but not Lily. Lily got up and said her favorite movie(s) are Rocky I, II, III, IV, and V. Lily is 8 by the way.

Don’t get me wrong, all the Rocky’s are in my favorite movies category, and I can eat up an entire weekend real quick by watching all of them, but it made me take a step back and think why these movies might have had such an impact on her. Especially with all the competition they have with Disney and Nickelodeon.

When I really stopped to think about it, Rocky represents everything we try to teach our kids about life. Everything we tell them they can be and how they should live their life. It’s the ultimate piece to show you can accomplish anything and be anything you want if you make the decision to put in the work and earn it.

Let’s look at some of the attributes Rocky portrays in the film.

1     ROCKY TAUGHT US TO BE HUMBLE

Rocky was able to capture the hearts of a nation with his words, actions, character and integrity. He respected others, especially his adversaries, and never tried to be anything he wasn’t. We live in an “Alpha Male” society; one in which a lot of individuals think it’s “Alpha” to put other’s down and be a bully. Let your actions speak for themselves. If you consistently do the right thing, overtime you won’t have to vocally build yourself up, because others will have already taken notice.

2     ROCKY TAUGHT US TO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES AND NOT TO BLAME OTHERS

Rocky definitely wen’t through times where he doubted himself, but he always came to his senses and realized that no one was going to take away what he worked so hard for without a fight; or on the flip side, no one was going to prevent him from achieving his goal without a fight. This is great symbolism! All of us go through high’s and low’s. We all have high’s where we feel we are unstoppable and on top of the world and no one can stop us, and vice versa we all have those low’s where we doubt ourselves and trick ourselves into blaming others for our problems. Let’s listen to what Rocky teaches his own son about losing himself and blaming others:

3     ROCKY TAUGHT US TO LOVE WITH ALL OUR HEART AND TO BE LOYAL

Loyalty is a rare trait in today’s world. A lot of people in modern society bail on a relationship as soon as things get bumpy or spread nasty rumors about their friends and family. Rocky had a huge heart! Rock’s love for Adrian was unbreakable, and if you were his friend, he would die for you. Whether it was his love for Adrian, his loyalty to Apollo, or trying to give the neighborhood kids advice, it always came from a genuine place.

You ain’t never getting rid of me – Rocky to Adrian

 

4     ROCKY TAUGHT US WE MUST EARN OUR WAY IN LIFE AND NO ONE OWES US ANYTHING

Nothing in life is free or easy. There are no free rides or shortcuts. We must earn our way in life and the price is paid by the trials and tribulations we encounter on the way. Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Workweek is terribly misunderstood by those who haven’t even read it. Tim doesn’t discount hard work, he just attempts to focus your work on what really matters and gets results. Whether we want to admit it or not, all of us are exactly where we are supposed to be. All of us are a direct reflection of the choices we have made. Learn from what didn’t work, and if you aren’t happy with your current situation, change it. Don’t be entitled and expect other’s to do it for you, because they won’t. Take control of your own life and earn your way. We are supposed to get bumps and bruses along the way, otherwise it would be pretty boring:

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!― Rocky Balboa

Nobody owes nobody nothing. You owe yourself – Rocky

 

5     ROCKY TAUGHT US TO HAVE A PURPOSE

Having a purpose is what gives the things we do daily meaning. We could be the best salesperson or boxer but without a purpose there is no meaning and it just feels hollow. Rocky always had a purpose and throughout each film that purpose changed. Early on it was to get Adrian, then it was to be the champ, then to revenge a friend, then to give back, but all the way he had meaning. What if you had a purpose so strong you were willing to die for it? What is your purpose? Why do you do the things you do daily?

No, maybe I can’t win, maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he’s got. But to beat me, he’s gonna have to kill me, and to kill me, he’s gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me, and to do that, he’s gotta be willing to die himself and I don’t know if he’s ready to do that. I don’t know, I don’t know – Rocky

 

6     ROCKY TAUGHT US THAT TALENT IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR HARD WORK

Early on in life, talent alone might be able to get your foot in the door, but eventually you are going to run into people who work hard to be the best at what they do. Their might not be anything I enjoy more than watching someone that is the best at what they do regardless of what that might be, and being the best is earned not inherited. I recommend we all make a commitment to be the best we can at what we do daily. If we have to be there anyway, we might as well be the best I can’t recommend this book enough, it is a great read to put what you do for a living into perspective, and just might motivate you to be the best. It is definitely on my favorite books list: So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

Hard Work Beats Talent when Talent Doesn’t work hard – Tim Notke

Cause if you’re willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who’s got the right to stop you? I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something…and you’re told no, even after you paid your dues? Who’s got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody! It’s your right to listen to your gut, it ain’t nobody’s right to say no after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do! – Rocky

 

7     ROCKY TAUGHT US TO GENUINELY HELP PEOPLE

All of the good deeds Rocky performed were unconditional. He did them just because they were the right thing to do. Whether it was giving little Marie advice on getting a reputation or training Tommy Gun, he did them not to put on a show, but because he felt it was right to do so. To put it another way, Rocky was the opposite of a hypocrite! He did these things not to garner attention and to get a pat on the back, but just because the opportunity presented itself and he was there.

8     ROCKY GAVE US THE MOST MOTIVATIONAL THEME SONG EVER!

If you are ever feeling down, or need just a little extra motivation throw on the Rocky Theme Song and prepare to achieve new goals!

In closing, Rocky contains all of the qualities I hope my kids grow up to have, and because of those reasons I am proud my daughter put them as her favorite movies. I think we could all learn something from Rocky by simplifying our lives, loving unconditionally, working hard, and genuinely helping one another.

I mean, how can you not stand up and have the ultimate wave of patriotism rush through your veins when Rocky knocks out the Russian (Drago) in the last round!

Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life. – Rocky