?So many times it happens so fast,
You change your passion for glory.
Don?t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive ...?

Song, Eye of the Tiger

I have seen the movie 20 times and, to this day, ?Rocky IV? still leaves a lasting imprint on my mind and my soul. If you have not seen the movie, do yourself a favor and rent it this weekend.

Why do I love this movie? Unlike most other films that start with the movies hero at rock bottom, this movie opens with Rocky Balboa at the peak of his success and now a ?retired? Heavy Weight Champion of the World. The gorgeous home, the exotic car, a beautiful family ... yet one thing is missing deep within his soul.

The passion, the hunger, the force that drove the Italian Stallion to defy the greatest of odds, to overcome the greatest of feats and eventually to rise to the top of the boxing world.

It took the death of his closest friend and, at one time, greatest rival, Apollo Creed, to re-ignite the fire and the dream that eventually brought him head on in the boxing ring with Creed?s deadly perpetrator - the testosterone drugged, Atlas cloned Russian fighter.

As the movie proceeds, you get a real contrast of Rocky and his opponent - their drives, their training methods, their mindset.

A very out of shaped Rocky goes off to the brutally cold Siberian wilderness and uses the forces of nature to strengthen his body, mind and spirit. Our Russian boxer, on the other hand, who is already massive in size and raw brute power uses the most high tech training methods to bulk up and pump up his iron clad endurance.

But as we soon learn by the end of the film, even the most advanced high tech training techniques in the world cannot compete or win against a strong will, a strong drive, a strong fire in the soul.

Yes, once again, Rocky is the victor!

The movie's message profoundly speaks to the business world as well. A very wise mentor to whom I am most grateful once said to me:

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?90% OF SUCCESS IN BUSINESS IS KNOWING YOUR
COMPELLING ?WHY?, 10% is knowing ?how?.?
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Yet, in my experience as a business coach, I have found that at most 10% of all business owners truly know or act on their compelling ?why.? Those who do know their compelling ?why? often go astray in their daily routine or ?trade their passion for glory.? Is it any wonder why only 10% of all businesses survive after five years?

It is our compelling ?why? that gets us through the most challenging of times, keeps us on track, and fuels our businesses to unimaginable heights --- against the greatest of odds. The fire within can never die; it can only be extinguished. Your ultimate business destiny depends on keeping that fire alive.

COACH'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:

If your business is struggling, stuck, or prospering but has lost its sense of purpose or drive, take time and ask yourself: Where have you ?traded your passion for glory?? Have you ?lost your grip on the dreams of the past?? How are you ?fighting to keep your ?why? alive??

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