I want to be as well known as a Charles Poliquin. Also, I want to be an NHL Strength Coach. Finding ways to keep athletes strong and injury free. That motivates me, to stand out and not be like everyone else. As Duke says in Rocky 4, “your going to have to go through hell and face worst than any nightmare you ever dreamed but in the end you will come out on top” …..something like that.
Today was Movie Day—a day in which I do nothing but watch movies, and I try to have one at least once a month.
You see, I love movies :-)
And today, perhaps to rekindle my inner child, I spent 91 minutes watching a movie that I literally watched every day for an entire summer when I was 12 years old: Rocky IV.
Now, you may not agree with me that Rocky IV is one of the best movies of all time, but if you’re a Rocky fan at all, you’ve GOT to agree that it’s the absolute best out of all the Rockies (and there will be time to debate that later if you don’t :-)
I mean, what a great story, right? Rocky, avenging his best friend Apollo’s death by defeating the highly-favored, monstrous Russian on his own turf in Russia−even for someone who’s seen it 79 times like me, it’s pretty intense stuff.
But apart from that, even if you somehow didn’t care for the movie (and I can’t imagine how), Rocky IV can still teach you something extremely valuable and applicable to you and your own goals.
And that is, the raw power of motivation.
Let’s be honest, if Rocky had gone in to fight the Drago prior to Apollo or at any other time, under any other circumstances, he would have got his butt handed to him. The dude was a monster, and had Rocky outmatched in every possible way.
But because Rocky had something extremely powerful to motivate him (the fact that this guy killed his best friend), he was able to seemingly defeat some crazy odds and emerge victorious.
Let me ask you a question: What’s YOUR motivation? What is it that gets you up in the morning and over to the gym before work when everyone else is sleeping in?
What is it that allows you to regularly pass up the quick and easy (and frankly, delicious) foods that so many others regularly indulge in?
Do you have a REAL source of motivation? If you don’t, it’s highly likely you’re going to get “knocked out” by all the temptation and “easy ways out” that surround us on a daily basis.
Let’s face it, it’s a heck of a lot easier to eat whatever, whenever, and skip the whole workout thing then it is to live a fit, healthy lifestyle.
You absolutely have to have a very powerful source of motivation, because without one, your toast.
So do you have a source of motivation that keeps you going strong toward your goals each and every day? What is it?
Reaffirm it by posting it in the comments section below to start today off with renewed focus (and if you don’t value your “reason” enough to post it below, it’s probably safe to say that you don’t really have one).
Talk to you in the comments section!
Joel
Related Posts
351 comments - add yours
Joel, dude, I’m a huge movie buff too. As far as the Rocky movies go, I really liked Rocky III – in fact I wrote a post with a video inspiration from Rocky III:
Seize the Day – There Is No Tomorrow. What Apollo said really struck with me – “…there is no tomorrow.”
But yeah – that fight against Ivan Drago in IV was killer. Pure underground training VS. the Russian lab super-fighter.
As for my motivation/reason why – I put some of my thoughts in this post:
Your Reason Why for Getting a Hot Body… Or Any Other Goal
Cheers,
Yavor
What motivates me? Just one word – disgusted. I am disgusted with the last four to five kilos which I can’t shed. Feeling disgusted and frustrated just kicks my butt up to exercise. You see nothing like positive, enjoyable, serene etc…etc…
Rocky IV has been my sole motivation for training =]
After seeing the ripples on Rocky’s body as he takes his robe off just before the pair face off, and the pec-flex as he struts to face Ivan Drago.. Ah man i got so jealous i just kept training and pushing my body to its absolute limits to get something similar..
Joel, you have an awesome taste in movies =]
My motivation is to look and feel my very best. Happy is attractive! Confidence is sexy! As a single 38 year old I want a partner who is motivated and energetic in all aspects of life, so that is who I will be.
I’ve carried excess weight for most of my life, and now I don’t. I’m lean, fit strong and healthy, and rarely get ill. I used to be told ‘You have a great body (for your age)’. Now I’m told ‘You have a great body’.
Everyone assumes I am much younger than I am :)
I think my greatest motivation is when my body is fit, strong and healthy which results in my mind working in just the same way. So I’m indirectly striving to be at my best: mentally.
Now, for more motivation, Im gonna get that movie!!
My motivation is for my kids but also for myself as well. Being over weight and having to litterally drag your self around all day is no fun at all.
I used to be so active, and then once I got sick it was all down hill from there.
So Yeah basically I want my life back so I can feel better look better and be the kind of mum my kids deserve.
As far as any Rocky movie goes………LOVE the motivation……but not the violence. (JMO) ;)
I find it too easy at times to just skip the workouts. I really want to be healthy for my grown up kids, as an example to them. Also with a married daughter I want to be around for my grandkids. That is a very big motivator to me.
My motivational reasons are shallow – dropping 25 kg to look stunning on my 50th Birthday. If better health is a by-product then bring it on.
Not a big Rocky fan overall, although Sylvester Stallone is a clever guy and essentially designed that part for himself and pulled it off fantastically. Can’t say I’m THAT familiar with the films, but I guess you could say I am familiar with the character. There is one scene that stays with me from the Rocky films, and that is the most recent one, where he’s already retired and just wants to come back for one last hurrah. His son is an adult, and throughout the film his son is embarresed by Rocky or feels he’s living in his fathers shadow. The scene in that film that gets me is when he confronts his father about how he feels. And Rocky pull shim up by his bootstraps and says “Hey, what the hell? It’s your life, you have to live it the best way for YOU, your own way and by your own steam! And this is my life and I play by those same rules. If you’re going to be the “somebody” you want to be, then do it and don’t look around for excuses, especially don’t blame somebody else! Life AIN’T fair and there ain’t gonna be anything tougher than it. You gonna stand up and do what you have to, or are you gonna stand around and complain about how unfair it all is? Coz I can tell you, it ain’t gonna happen while you have THAT attitude”. More or less. That was not a “word-for-word” of the actual monologue, but that was the gist of it. And he was right.
I have been in Denmark for the past 15 months on a church mission. I have gained about 15 pounds on the luscious Danish pastry and constant potatoes that the members feed us. I am going back home to the states in March and I am determined to lose the weight I have gained before that, and then about 10 pounds more after I return. Following Cheat your way thin has given me a good start. Thanks!
At the end of every workout, I like to tell myself “You are stronger now than you’ve ever been before.” ….”He is made of steel.” lol
Hey thanks for the Rocky IV reminder, great movie and I think I’ll try to watch that soon, haven’t seen it in a long time! I LOVE how creative he has to get in his training. I have to say too that I still love “Gonna Fly Now” from the original movie and everytime I hear it on my workout playlist I can’t help but push harder! If you can hear that, haing seen the movie and not get pumped up there’s something wrong! Haha. My greatest motivation is my 2 grandbabies. I’m a fairly young grandmother and cherish what my health can mean in terms oif being a good example and doing all the things I want to do with them! I also simply love being strong! In addition, I’ve had some challenges with my fitness and I get charged up when I try new things with myself and discover ways to improve and get to share it with other people.
My motivation is my own personal happiness.Being overweight constantly overshadowed my own personal joy.So I’m working hard towards being happy…Not much of a Rocky fan but I get what you’re saying about the message behind it.
The love of my life, her name’s Ceci.
I mean I just want to be the best man possible for her, so I do my best to achieve that goal. I just love her so much!!!
♥
Gotta say its my girl… Tipical right? welllllll, not really…! Every time I see get happy for how I look, it makes me value what I do to get in shape! Belive it or not, making omebody happy other than yourself is much more a reward!! Just wanted to say that!
bummer, I was eating a box of Artisan vermont white cheddar wheat thins
when I read this..maybe thats why I don’t have a 6 pack…
Hello Joel,
What you say about the Rocky series is true. Im a huge fan of the series but my favourite is Rocky III. I too have have faced a similar situation where i was on top of the world and had the rug pulled away from under me. To get back up is tough and the determination required is tremendous. Rocky IV is my next favourite, especially the training in the wilderness. But what really peps me up when im down..”Eye of the tiger”..”..just a man and his will to survive”.
regards
Having to avenge the death of your friend, sure is pretty strong motivation. That strong motivation I can not claim. For me it is winning the admiration and respect of a dear one who thinks I won’t be able to make it.
My main motivation is to look and feel great! At 25 I am now in better physical shape then I was when I was 18, which also motivates me to keep up my diet and fitness regime.
My family is also a big motivation for me. Everyone in my family, except my Grandfather, is overweight and unhappy. My Grandfather is 72 and has been involved with the fitness industry his whole life. He is in better shape then most people 50 years his senior and loves life. He is my inspiration, he is living proof that you can have an amazing body at any age!!!
Hey Joel,
I totally agree that Rocky 4 was awesome.It’s hard for me to choose and say which was best though, because in every film Rocky has to overcome a different obstacle. In each film he is afrai of that looming obstacle but then he finds the will and overcomes it !
By the way, I have the Rocky music themes on my MP4 and it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning to do my workout !!
I tell myself ‘while he s eating am gonna think of something else and in 1 minute when he’s finished i m going to feel better, I didn t need it’, and then I remember all the times I ate something I shouldn t or did not excersise for a few days how lazy and heavy I felt..much prefer reflecting my energetic and happy self!
My problem is that I am toast because I can’t seem to find the motivation. Helllllppp!
My motivation is the kind of work that I do (or want to do at the moment). It’s in the performance arts and you’d have to be in your best shape in order to do it. That said, from time to time it does creep into mind to sleep in whenever I wake up at 6AM to exercise :)
Good post Joel. We all need to remind ourselves about these things from time to time.
Couldn’t agree more about Rocky IV though the Russian attitude portrayed in the film is more of a dramatization than a reflection of reality.
The scene where Rocky climbs a snowy peak and shouts “DRAAAGOOOOO!!!” has my adrenaline pumping hard any day.
My motivation is multi pronged- I would love to present myself as an intimidatingly strong opponent to anyone who wants to mess with me (this comes in handy, specially if you’re a real nice guy and punks tend to take that for granted), the sight and sounds of relatives and friends look at my physique in awe, I have a picture I Googled on my desktop (wallpaper)- it shows a severely obese guy who over the years transformed himself into a lean muscular hunk and finally the greatest motivation that I want to be an example of good health, dedication, reason and kindness for my kids (when I’ll eventually have them)….
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hey, it’s Joel! So you want to know a little more about me, huh? Well, I’d be happy to oblige :-)
I guess it all started back in 2001 (my freshman year of college) when I was just a “skinny fat” 19-year old kid. At the time, I was spending close to 2 hours a day in the gym (now my workouts last about 30 minutes), and despite my efforts, you’d probably never guess I worked out a day in my life by looking at me...