Pinoy Accountant's Journey: Pursue Your Dreams

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When we see someone become a movie star, get promoted or become successful, we tell ourselves how lucky that person is. But if we take the time to learn their story, we’ll find that their success has least to do with luck at all.

These people did just one thing. They pursued their dream.

Sylvester Stallone’s story

I love the story of Sylvester Stallone. Some people may know his story but not many people do.

He was paralyzed from birth in the lower left side of his face and he has a slurred speech. But all he wanted was to become an actor. He came to New York City to pursue his dream.

Nobody wanted him. He was rejected more than 1,500 times by agencies in New York. He was also broke. He had to sleep in the New Jersey bus terminal for 3 weeks. At his lowest point, he had to sell his beloved dog for $25 to a stranger.

He decided to change his approach and wrote screenplays. Inspired by a fight he saw of Muhammad Ali, he wrote a screenplay and finished the script in 20 straight hours.

He took it to movie producers and directors who rejected him. He however found one who was willing to pay $125,000 for it as long as he wouldn’t act on it.

Sylvester wouldn’t have any of it. He wanted to become the lead actor. He walked away from the offer no matter how broke he was.

The producers increased their offer to $250,000 but he still didn’t accept it. They made another offer for $325,000. But he still said no.

They eventually agreed for him to act in the movie but only paid him $35,000.

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He then used $15,000 of the money they paid him to buy back his dog, his bestfriend. The dog was also in the movie, Rocky.

Rocky made $200 million.

Colonel Sanders – The Kentucky Fried Chicken Story

You are probably more familiar with Colonel Sanders’ story, which is summarised below.

Colonel Harland Sanders was 65 years old when he received his first social security cheque of $99. He knew he had to do something so he could survive financially.

Colonel Sanders always had a passion for cooking. He believed there was an opportunity to market his original recipe chicken to restaurant owners across the U.S.

He told the restaurant owners that he had a chicken recipe, with its blend of eleven herbs and spices, which people liked and he was giving it to them for free. All he wanted in return was for the restaurant owners to pay him a small percentage on the pieces of chicken sold.

In his travels in the U.S., he was rejected more than 1,000 times. However, Sanders persevered and 1,009 tries after he finally persuaded Pete Harman in South Salt Lake, Utah, to partner with him. They launched the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" site in 1952.

And, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Don’t fear failure

We fail. We get rejected. We lose. Everyone does. I learned from inspiring people like Sylvester Stallone and Colonel Sanders that the more you fail, the more chances of success you will have.

I used to fear failing but I try not to anymore.

When I wonder why I have not achieved my dream, I just ask myself if I have failed enough times or if I have even tried at least 100 times. The answer is most likely 'No'.

You may want to have your own house, become a qualified accountant, lose 10 kilos or become the best dad. No matter what your dream is, work passionately on it and be willing to pay the price then you will see results.

I like this quote from Robert Kiyosaki: