#1201 Rocky on How Winning Is Done

In our last +1, we spent some time with 4-Star Admiral William H. McRaven.

We made some sugar cookies from the challenges life inevitably (!) serves up as we reminded ourselves that life’s not fair and that our job, when we’re inevitably (!) knocked down, is to drive on.

We’ll come back to more wisdom from McRaven’s great book soon.

First, I want to chat about some parallel wisdom from Rocky Balboa.

As it turns out, the day after I read McRaven’s book, I read a book by a former NFL player named Desmond Clark.

In his book Principles of Winning, he echoes McRaven’s wisdom on the fact that life’s not always fair and that we need to be prepared for setbacks.

He leans on some wisdom from “that great philosopher Rocky Balboa” to make his point.

Here’s how Rocky puts it:

“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 you’re 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!”

Note1: You can watch that poignant scene on YouTube here.
Note2: I highly recommend watching it. It’s powerful.

Right before sharing that wisdom with his son, Rocky talks about how, when he was just a baby, he used to hold him in his hand and know he was going to do great things. (← I get tears in my eyes just typing that and challenge any father out there to not get misty watching that scene.)

Then, right after that wisdom above, Rocky tells his son:

“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 hits and not pointing fingers and saying you ain’t where you want to be because of him or her or anybody. COWARDS DO THAT AND THAT AIN’T YOU. YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT!!”

Then:

“I’m always going to love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son. You’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain’t gonna have a life.”

That’s Today’s +1.

We’re going to get knocked down.

Let’s get back up.

Stronger than ever.

With a fierce resolve to be our best in our darkest moments as we give our families, communities and world all we’ve got.

TODAY.