Page 74 - Arts Management Magazine Future Issue

have a long sustained career, one must stay strong and continue to help explore the inner workings and soul of his inspiring and
to reinvent themselves. Sylvester Stallone has remained relevant iconic Rocky character. A 40-year retrospective of 300 of Stal-
over his career, becoming the only person to star in films opening lone’s paintings, titled “Real Love” were on exhibit in France in
atop the box office charts for five consecutive decades from 1970 2015. In a review of the show by Blouinartinfo.com, Stallone
through 2010 and now nominated as a best supporting actor in explained, “There is a public face and a private face, and I feel
Creed. From the Rocky to Rambo to The Expendables, Sly con- the same way about art. It’s a collage of emotions. And when
tinues to bring exciting heartfelt action films to the big screen. He you can transfer that onto the canvas, it’s an amazing feeling,”
has also lent his voice to a number of animated characters and
made his mark on reality TV as co-producer of The Contender. In another interview with inquistir.com, he said, “My art isn’t
I was fortunate to meet with Sly several times. I fondly remember one that educates, you know. It’s not making social statements.
being invited to the premier of Rocky Balboa, when Sly gave a It’s not drawing conclusions. It’s not declaring what is right.
very uplifting speech, helping the crowd see the film as more than It is not political. It’s just one man’s struggle and success and
a story about a fighter. Rather, it was about a man who still had all emotions you go along in life, ups and downs.” Stallone’s
something left – who still had something in his tank, who wanted sensitive side doesn’t end on the paint canvas; he is a strong
to remain relevant. “A lot of people reach a certain age and think supporter of a variety of charities including diabetes, autism
it’s over,” he explained. “But it’s not over until you say it’s over.” and pediatric epilepsy.

Early in his career, Sylvester Stallone bet on himself and won. Connors still scuba dives everywhere she can with her friend
He has created a legacy of inspiration for future generations and model and singer Barbi Benton, who holds the title for
to come. But maybe most important, he has shown us all that most Playboy covers, along with Pamela Anderson, who she
if you believe in yourself, being the underdog is not always the calls her mermaid buddy. Together they have been all over the
worst thing in the world. Some people would say that being world endorsing ‘Body Glove Wet Suits’. She also dives with
a 4’11” woman in the male-dominated music industry would Jean-Michel Cousteau in Fiji where they help in a huge endeav-
classify Carol Connors as an definite underdog, but she has per- or to save the Reefs around the world.
severed and continued to be relevant.
She also has a passion for The Wounded Warrior Project. Last
Long before Rocky, when Connors was still in high school, Phil year, Connors conducted a 117-piece orchestra at the Kennedy
Spector fell in love with her voice and she became the lead sing- Center in a benefit concert for the Wounded Warrior chari-
er of the Teddy Bears in 1958. Her first record, “To Know Him ty. Despite all her life experiences, she calls that concert “my
Is to Love Him,” (the one she borrowed $10 to produce) is the Rocky moment and the highlight of my career.”
reason Elvis Presley became her first love...He too fell in love
with her voice and they fell in love with each other. So what’s “the common thread” of success that we can all learn
from...for those in The Arts who want to experience true suc-
Connors is one of the woman pioneers of music for film and cess, maintaining and practicing the right mindset should not
TV. She has been nominated twice for an Academy Award for be a part-time job – it is actually a lifestyle. It is the under-
Best Original Song, as well as nominated for five Emmys, one standing that there is nothing to regret—only experiences from
Grammy and two Golden Globes. Connors has built a niche which to learn and grow.
for herself in the music world and hasn’t slowed down one bit.
She is currently writing the music for Angels in the Sky, a mul- Stallone and Connors both operate on the understanding that
timillion-dollar documentary about the birth of the Israeli Air commitment, dedication and belief in yourself, combined with
Force and the 155 pilots from around the world that came to old-fashioned effort and diligence, is still the right formula to
Israel to fight in the War of Independence. gain the knowledge required to truly make a significant im-
pact on your life and the lives of others. They leave nothing
Exploring Passions and Giving Back to chance or luck. They have taken the necessary steps to solve
Creativity, passion, perseverance – Stallone and Connors have problems that others have not; they have the “stick to it” atti-
all three, but what they also have is a desire to follow their person- tude and the mindset to expect more from themselves.
al passions through their own unique outlets. Stallone paints and
Connors is an avid scuba diver aka also known as a mermaid. As Carol Connors says, “You must have laser beam clarity. Make
your dream a priority. No one will do it for you. If you don’t eat
Stallone find his peace through painting. Stallone says he paints it, sleep it, think it, drink it, need it - forget it! Forgot working
every day. An avid art collector and owner of pieces by Claude 24/7 - make it 25/8 that’s how focused you need to be!”
Monet and Francis Bacon, Stallone began appreciating art and
started to paint at 8 years old. Since childhood he has identified
his true calling as a visual artist and has even stated that if he
had a choice, he would spend his life painting and sculpting Jerry Gladstone is the author of the international best selling book, The
instead of starring in action movies. Common Thread of Overcoming Adversity and Living Your
Dreams. Jerry is a success and life coach as well as a corporate speaker.
While writing Rocky, he painted a picture, “On Finding Rocky,” TheCommonThreadGroup.com

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