There’s a scene from the movie Rocky Balboa that I’ve watched so many times I could probably recite it to you verbatim.
In this scene, Rocky listens as his son grumbles over the pressures of being the son of a boxing legend. The younger Balboa feels like he’s living in a “big shadow”, plagued by the lore of his last name.
If his aged father goes forward with his next fight against a much younger opponent, the shadow would get even larger. He and his family could become the laughingstocks of a nation.
If only he could convince Rocky to quit, to give up on his dream to win one last fight.
Rocky looks at his son and says…
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place. And I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. THAT’S HOW WINNING IS DONE!
Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”
I get goosebumps every time I hear that. Though I try not to believe that the world is a mean, nasty place, Rocky’s words still ring true.
Life happens. Good happens. Bad happens.
We can give life permission to bring us to our knees, to make us the victims of our circumstances. Or we can put up our dukes and keep moving forward, no matter how many punches we take.
Because life is in constant motion. We’re either moving forward or backward. The choice is ours.
Lisa Nichols, author of Abundance Now and today’s special guest on The Sessions, had every opportunity to go down for the count, sprawled out at the feet of racism, neighborhood gangs, the college that sent her home, the incarceration of her son’s father, or the fiancee that physically assaulted her.
Lisa didn’t have a boxing legend in her corner, however she had someone just as strong and just as courageous. Her grandmother.
And it was her grandmother who taught her then-teenage granddaughter that “winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
On today’s episode, Lisa shares her incredibly moving story, a rousing example of how winning is done.
Be sure to stick around until the end of the session to hear my top takeaways from this episode.
Pick the PLAY button above to listen!
Please take a minute to let me know what you think by leaving a comment below or a review on iTunes. Thanks!
Enjoy today’s session, friends.
Never really have listened to Lisa before. Thanks for sharing her with me. “I have nothing to prove, nothing to protect, nothing to hide, nothing to defend. Great interview.
love the inspiring story and yours too. thanks
I have loved every episode of The Sessions, this by far my favorite, to date. More than the interview subjects though, I love hearing the excitement and happiness in Sean, doing what he loves and clearly what he is meant to be doing at this point in his life. The fact that the people you are interviewing are continually surprised and even grateful for the experience to be interviewed by you – there are just no words to explain how much joy that gives me! Bob Proctor was emotional when you brought up the book written for him by his family – so surprised that you not only knew about it but had read it – and Lisa almost speechless at some points because of the details you knew and cared about – it’s amazing to hear you get such positive feedback because it’s so, so deserved. Well done Sean – virtual standing ovation to you!
Sean, enjoyed this v much and Lisa’s story is palpable..as we move forward it is critical we do not forget our stories that inform our subject in formation!! Peeps today need a hands up not a hand me down and you bring this out beautifully in this interview..life is simple and it is to be enjoyed..loving kindness and being fully present to all those and that which shows up is important….be fully present in the moment as our authentic selves!
Lisa says it astutely we are all winners and need to cultivate and align ourselves with empathy..we humans are relational and need one another to live a life well lived!
Thank you Sean!!
Amazing interview Sean! Thank you for asking Lisa questions that pertain to what most people are going through at the moment. Sometimes we get buried under the daily grind of life.
I learned a lot from your interview with her. I especially like the swimming story because It’s true. Changing your mindset to a positive one will equal great results. I tried it myself when I was in my twenties a few times, not knowing what it was called then and I wasn’t aware that I was doing it. I had a goal to study abroad in France but I didn’t know how everything would come together, especially financially. I told myself that I was going to France even though I didn’t know how. I saved up as much money as I could in a year from my just above minimum wage job and I was able to finance the study abroad program the following year.
I also applied this positive mindset notion to getting out of debt, $10,000. I laid out my goal, to be debt free within a year, and I did it within a 1 year and three months. People around me were negative about it but I knew if I took the necessary steps, I would achieve my goal.
Changing ones mindset from a negative to a positive one is not going to be easy but a daily practice of it will make a world of a difference.
I am relearning this concept all over again. Again, thanks Sean for an incredible interview with Lisa Nichols.
Just beautifully moving and inspiring.
Best Sessions yet Sean!
Keep them coming.
Thank you, you are a blessing.
Thank you thank you thank you. I love the direction you are heading, perfect timing. The sessions are amazing.
Another wonderful interview Sean! My weekly dose of inspiration and ideas. I love the energy between you two and am excited to read Lisa’s books. I’m also enjoying your summary points at the end. Great idea! I have been putting your ‘how to’ tips into play, and seeing a marked return in my life after just a few weeks! More great wisdom to add to my life overhaulsing ‘to-do’ list this week. Awesome. Thank you.
Sean, Once again, this was terrific! The stories you ask to be told truly pull me in and drill the lessons home… I’m loving the takeaways as well, especially asking to serve people to learn from them. Yes! Many many thanks, I’m hooked! Congrats on this fabulous-ness! You rock, Judy Landis Setting
Had not heard of Lisa before, but thoroughly enjoyed this interview / podcast.
Keep them coming!
Well, if Lisa didn’t know that she had that much cash in the “Dream” bank account all those years…I guess accounting really wasn’t her “calling” after all. Good thing she got out of that profession early on!