Sylvester Stallone: An Inspirational Man
Sylvester Stallone
Role models provide for us great examples of how we can achieve what we want to in our lives, and by looking at their careers it is possible to see an outline of what we should be doing to achieve these goals ourselves. At the same time some people are just simply inspirational, and through their achievements, their creativity, their attitudes, or their reactions to adversity have inspired many to get more from life. And one who has gone relatively unnoticed despite considerable achievements is Sylvester Stallone.
Born on July 6, 1946, in New York City, Sylvester Stallone is one of the most popular Hollywood action stars of all time, playing such iconic characters as John Rambo and Rocky Balboa. Stallone got his start writing and starring in “Rocky”. The film was a smash, receiving 10 Oscar awards and winning the award for best picture. Stallone's career took off from there, gaining action star icon status.
His first major hit was “Rocky”. It was about a 'bum' who was given one shot, and through strength of will managed to succeed in life. Despite not winning the fight, he wins the personal fight and goes on to do great things. This film was semi-autobiographical in more ways than one – and Stallone himself was a 'bum' at the time living from cheque to cheque without being able to pay for rent. He was a struggling writer, suffering for his art like his hero Edgar Allen Poe and Rocky.
Throughout his incredible career, Stallone would go on to make five more Rocky films, and would also create another iconic hero 'Rambo'. In the majority of his films the theme remained the same – what one guy could achieve if he believed in himself, and at the same time he used the films to demonstrate his physique. Between himself and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stallone managed to bring bodybuilding and health and fitness into the life. Stallone and his colleagues inspired the world to get fit.
For Rambo 3 Stallone also set something of a benchmark for fitness training and bodybuilding when he got his body fat down to 3% or less. This was something that even Bruce Lee didn't achieve (and he had far smaller biceps and measurements). Stallone is actually in the Guinness book of records for this achievement and it demonstrates again just how determined he is and how this has allowed him to achieve so much.
However were a fairly low period for Stallone's career and several of his films flopped critically and commercially leaving him unable to find work. Even his last Rocky project 'Rocky V', was unsuccessful. He also went on to help present television show 'The Contender' which was a big success but not enough to give him back his 'star' appeal.
Stallone wanted to make a big breakthrough in the film industry but was held back – so he did it in his own way and wrote his own script. He wanted to be taken seriously in the art world, so he persevered until he found acclaim. When he wanted to make his big comeback, he didn't let age or people's expectations stand in his way. He forged his body through sheer strength of will, and created a character that every bodybuilder and boxer considers a hero.
Now Sylvester Stallone says he wants to be a role model to youngsters. Stallone in his 64, said: "Every generation has to have a hero and this generation has the superhero, it's evolved. But after Avatar it's like, 'Stop, let's go back to basics'.
"Young men need good examples, role models. I know I do, and I hope I might be one of the influences on young guys."
