Tag: Sylvester Stallone

Pele, The Wheel of Time, Creed, Simon Sinek, and an African Proverb

Pele, The Wheel of Time, Creed, Simon Sinek, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 16, 2024

Sunday Supplement #162 (June 16th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

– Pele

Book of the Week:

The Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan

I recommend The Wheel of Time with a grain of salt. On one hand, it’s one of the best stories I’ve ever read. On the other hand, it has 14 novels, many of which have long, tedious sections.

The series is epic fantasy. It follows the journey of five young people from a small village as they get drawn into the battle of good versus evil in the land.

Robert Jordan created one of the best magic systems I’ve ever read, and the world and its history are amazing.

Unfortunately, Jordan died before completing the series. However, he left detailed notes, and Brandon Sanderson was chosen to finish the series.

The last seven novels in the series were number-one New York Times bestsellers. After its completion, the series was nominated for a Hugo Award.

Movie of the Week:

Creed

Rocky, which I featured in Sunday Supplement #72, is one of my favorite movies. When I learned Ryan Coogler wrote and was set to direct this series continuation, I knew it was in good hands.

I featured Coogler’s feature debut, Fruitvale Station,in Sunday Supplement #110. This movie convinced Sylvester Stallone to let Coogler take over the series.

Creed follows Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of Apollo Creed— an opponent and friend of Rocky Balboa from the original series.

Apollo’s wife, Mary Anne, adopted Adonis after the former heavyweight champion passed away. While growing up with other opportunities, Adonis decides to pursue a career in boxing.

The film perfectly captures the spirit of the Rocky franchise while having Rocky play a vital role in Adonis’s journey. It’s a fun movie with a lot of heart.

Brainfood of the Week:

Simon Sinek on Intensity vs Consistency | RSA

RSA’s (Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce) YouTube page has many brilliant videos sharing knowledge from various leaders across various fields.

I’ve featured Sinek, bestselling author and speaker on leadership, in many previous Sunday Supplements. While I try to vary the content each week, Sinek’s work is well worth revisiting.

In this video, Simon Sinek discusses intensity and consistency. He discusses the difference between short-term crunching and long-term efforts.

Many people and businesses try to cram in intense work periods, expecting tremendous outcomes when taking incremental steps forward each day is often better.

Check out this short video if it piques your interest, and check out Sinek’s work or other RSA videos if you’re interested.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The road to success is always under construction.”

– African Proverb

I came across this African proverb on a couple of websites (although some sources credit other people with the quote), and it captured a powerful message.

In the past, I’ve worked toward a goal and, upon reaching it, promptly eased my foot off the gas. The most straightforward example has been working out for a period and then stopping.

What I see in this proverb is the lesson that you must always continue to work on yourself and your goals if you want to be successful constantly. And the journey only ends when you do.

I think it’s helped me to think about what journeys I’d want to continue for the rest of my life. That way, I’m happy to pursue them consistently.

Think about the things you want to work on for the rest of your life, persevere, and have a blessed week ahead!

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James Baldwin, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Fruitvale Station, Weird History, and an African Proverb

James Baldwin, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Fruitvale Station, Weird History, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 18, 2023

Sunday Supplement #110 (June 18th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“People are trapped in history, and history is trapped in them.”

– James Baldwin

Book of the Week:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass – Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist, writer, orator, and statesman.

Douglass’s exact date of birth is unknown because it was uncommon for enslaved people to be told their birthdate. He later chose February 14th, 1818.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is Douglass’s memoir recounting his life as an enslaved person and his determination to educate himself and find freedom.

The book is the first of three of Douglass’s autobiographies and is the most famous. His writing is excellent and is a firsthand look at a period of history that deserves observance.

Movie of the Week:

Fruitvale Station

When he was in college, Ryan Coogler first wrote Creed and brought the project to Sylvester Stallone for consideration. However, Stallone didn’t take on the project at first.

Coogler went back and wrote Fruitvale Station to honor the story of Oscar Grant III. He showcased his abilities as a storyteller and director with this debut film.

The film shows the life of Oscar Grant on the last day of 2008 as he reflects on his life and addresses the direction he’s headed.

Fruitvale Station is a powerful film brought to life by the filmmaker Coogler and the start performance of Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant III.

Brainfood of the Week:

12 of the Most Important Cities in History | Weird History

Weird History is a YouTube channel that chronicles the stories of history that are often overlooked. Their channel has over 4 million subscribers and over 500 million views.

In this video, Weird History covers some of history’s most impressive and important cities and why they fell.

Ancient cities were vital hubs for commerce, ideas, trends, culture, and scholarship. Some grew so large and influential that we still know their names centuries later.

The video covers cities like Jerico, Babylon, Ur, Alexandria, and Timbuktu. It is a brief look into the history of these cities and is worth the watch.

Check out their channel for more exciting and well-made videos.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero.”

– African Proverb

The phrase “the winners write history” relates to this African Proverb because we often only see one side’s version of what happened.

This African Proverb shows the importance of seeing both sides of the story before judging something.

I don’t think everything is straightforward as one side presents events, so I try to remain open to learning both sides to get a clearer picture.

It isn’t likely that one side is entirely right or wrong in events, but I think it’s important to try and learn each side to understand how events unfolded.

You don’t have to make judgments on history, but you can learn from them and decide how you would like to move forward as you contribute your own story to history.

Learn from the past, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Arnold H. Glasow, On Writing, Rocky, Escaping Ordinary, and a Japanese Proverb

Arnold H. Glasow, On Writing, Rocky, Escaping Ordinary, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 25, 2022

Sunday Supplement #72 (September 25th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”

– Arnold H. Glasow

Book of the Week:

On Writing – Stephen King

Stephen King’s On Writing is a part memoir part masterclass by one of the bestselling authors of all time.

The book is divided into five sections, one narrating his life “C.V.,” one explaining “What Writing Is,” one describing a writer’s “Toolbox,” one giving advice “On Writing,” and the last discusses King’s thoughts on the accident where he was struck by a van “On Living: A Postscript.”

While the book tends to be viewed as a go-to manual for writers, the book offers more than just a writing guide.

King became one of the most successful writers in history, and it’s interesting to see that was his goal when he was young.

The first chapter is worth reading just to see the background King gives on his life growing up and his early journey as a writer.

On Writing should be on every writer’s shelf, but it is also worth checking out for readers looking for life insights from a prolific author.

Movie of the Week:

Rocky

The movie Rocky has become a part of American pop culture over the years but often for the iconic character’s underdog story and a classic score.

Many haven’t seen the film or forgotten how brilliant the original movie was. Sylvester Stallone wrote a phenomenal script that has wonderful depth in its characters.

A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a lottery chance of fighting the world heavyweight champion when the champion’s original opponent drops out.

The film beautifully captures the struggling Rocky Balboa as he navigates his life to the best of his abilities while receiving little respect from those around him.

Once the opportunity to face the champ comes to his doorstep, people from the neighborhood pay attention. Rocky isn’t fooled but strives to fight for his self-respect.

The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture. Rocky should be on any movie lover’s list, and the extraordinary story behind the film deserves a look too.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Become 37.78 Times Better at Anything (Atomic Habits Summary) | Escaping Ordinary (B.C. Marx)

In Sunday Supplement #8, I highlighted James Clear’s Atomic Habits. The New York Times bestseller is one of my favorite tools for self-improvement.

In this YouTube video, B.C. Marx breaks down the book with an engaging presentation. The animation and voice-over on the video are excellent.

In the book, Clear reveals practical strategies that help form good habits, break bad ones, and master tiny behaviors that lead to massive change.

Clear explains how your daily systems and routines, as well as how you view yourself, control how effective you are at building good habits or promoting bad habits.

In the video, B.C. Marx summarizes Atomic Habits, breaks down the habit-building system in it, and explains how he uses the book in his life.

B.C. Marx’s channel only has eight videos, but he has over 500 thousand subscribers because of the quality of his content. See if you like this video, and check out Escaping Ordinary.

Remember to check out James Clear’s Atomic Habits as well!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain.” (ちりも積もれば山となる)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb reminds me of the power of consistently making good decisions for yourself.

Whether deciding to exercise for ten minutes or devoting a half hour each day to a hobby or goal, the long-term results are often staggering.

Tim Ferriss often says on his podcast, “People overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in ten.”

Conversely, letting your ship stray slightly without correction can land you far off from where you want to go.

This Japanese proverb is an excellent reminder of how our decisions over time can be something that let us down or bring us great benefits.

Think of the decisions you can make or habits you can build that will help you benefit in the long term, and have a blessed week ahead!

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