Rocky was one of the all-time great cinematic underdogs, a great movie that inspired us all. It also had an amazing soundtrack by Bill Conti; the Rocky theme being, without a doubt, one of the most inspirational and motivational pieces of music of all time.

The success of Rocky spawned an entire underdog fighting movie genre with titles like Best of the Best and Karate Kid in the’80s right up to modern classics like Million Dollar Baby and Cinderella Man. The movie had its fair share of sequels too, though they never captured the sheer emotional grit and triumphant euphoria of the original. Perhaps that’s why, when the final installment of the Rocky saga was released in 2006, nobody seemed to notice. Which is a pity because it’s a great movie, a true return to form.

In it Rocky is old and widowed and believes his best days are long-since past him. He’s down, but never out. This clip features dialogue where Rocky confronts his son, now an adult but struggling to be one, and explains to him the harsh realities of life. It’s the scene which defines the whole movie and all that we love about the Rocky Balboa character; “it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.”

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“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” more »

Inspiration from 3 Sporting Legends – Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong.

Everybody feels like quitting at some point, not just great athletes but even The Greatest. What made Ali the Greatest, however, was that he never did.

It’s much the same with contemporary greats like basketball legend Michael Jordan or cycling icon Lance Armstrong who have both overcome pain and constant criticism to become giants in their field. It’s natural to feel like quitting, to feel dejected and that you’re no good. But if you let those feelings overcome you, and let your critics win, you will never achieve the potential and greatness that is within you.

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Nigerian-born writer and speaker Chris Abani tells the stories of ordinary people; people standing up to soldiers, people being compassionate, people being human and reclaiming their humanity through positive actions. (Via TED Talks)
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An inspirational video featuring legendary athlete Michael Jordan:

“Look me in the eyes.
It’s okay if you’re scared, So am I.
But we’re scared for different reasons.
I’m scared of what I won’t become, and you’re scared of what I could become.
Look at me.
I won’t let myself end where I started, I won’t let myself finish where I began.
I know what is within me, Even if you can’t see it yet.
Look me in the eyes.
I have something more important than courage, I have patience.
I will become, what I know I am.”

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