Im Gonna Die MY Way

My wife says I have the strangest taste in movies. You see, there are movies I can watch again and again, which she couldn't sit through once. One of them is Rhinestone, starring Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton.

Dolly plays a country-and-western singer from Tennessee (I know, big stretch, right?) and Sly plays a New York City cabbie.

Dolly is under contract to one Freddie Ugo, a low-life with only two things on his mind (speaking of stretch, you guys have to see the dress she's wearing to start the film). After an argument, Dolly bets Freddie that she can turn any ordinary person into the next "Rhinestone cowboy."

The stakes are high. If Dolly wins, she gets the last years on her contract voided. If F.U. wins, Dolly extends the contract by three years and Dolly has to sleep with him. So let's say both are very motivated.

Now, wouldn't you know, Freddie doesn't play fair. He parades a variety of street people past Dolly as potential candidates. Finally, they agree on Stallone's cab driver.

Dolly figures out that the only way a New York cab driver can become a country singer is to start with the basics. He has to learn to walk, talk, eat and breathe country. So she loads him on the bus and they head for the hills. Of Tennessee.

Stallone goes through some serious culture shock in the Smoky Mountains. After some funny misadventures, Dolly finally gets him on stage in her home town to break the ice. The crowd responds, and Sly is hooked. Goodbye cab driver, hello country crooner.

The night before Stallone's big debut in New York, he has the requisite big fight with Dolly. Then comes the big scene, and the whole reason I'm telling you this story...

To win the bet, Stallone has to make it through one song during the nightclub's amateur night...

Remember Freddie? He's the owner of the Rhinestone, and he's packed the audience with the worst hecklers he can find. As Dolly finishes the warm-up for Amateur Night, the crowd starts to chant...

"Meat! Meat! We want fresh meat!"

Dolly introduces Sly. Sly walk on stage in an Elvis-like black glitter suit. He starts doing exactly as Dolly taught him to do-- strumming his guitar, bobbing gently in time to the music...

And gets heckled into silence before the first chorus!

Oh. No. Dolly goes pale. Freddie starts rubbing his hands together and licking his chops. Sly stares at the crowd, and turns away...

He puts down the guitar. Tells the band to pick up their tempo. Pulls the microphone from the stand and looks out at the rowdy crowd...

"If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die MY way!"

The band kicks in, up-tempo...

"If you all want to act up a little, let's act up a little..."

Moments later, the crowd is completely on his side. Sly sings the song, his way. By the end, the crowd is stomping and clapping and whistling.

You can probably guess the ending...

Every time I feel like I'm following the right steps, working a formula that has worked for others, and I'm not getting the results I want, I pop that tape into the machine.

At the end, I'm ready to turn around and face the crowd. If I'm going to fail at something, I'm going to fail my way. I urge you to do the same.

Learn the basics, the mechanics of whatever you attempt. Whether that's taking on rabid hecklers at Amateur Night at the Rhinestone, or building a business on the Internet. Then stamp your own unique personality on whatever you do. Take a cue from Stallone's character, face the crowd and say...

"If I'm going to fail, I'm going to fail MY way..."

Here's what you get with John McCabe's Success Letter: Original articles that accelerate your business growth... Proven tools and resources to explode your success... Special offers that make your life and work More and Better... Part of John McCabe's Web Guides.

In The News:

---

Curbing the Public Nuisance (Part 1)

He's been around since the dawn of humanity. His profession... Read More

An Easy Way to End The Year

As a healthy business owner or independent professional, how do... Read More

Ten Ways to Make New Years Resolutions That You Can Actually Keep!

Are you one of the millions of people who make... Read More

Personal Core Values: Your Key to Success and Happiness

Each of us has our own set of personal values;... Read More

Use a Journal for Self-Discovery and Self-Expression

As a therapist, I often suggest to clients that they... Read More

If I Only Had a Heart

I know you probably have heard of the movie, "The... Read More

Good Communication is Easy - Isn?t It?

My name is Steve Brummet and my business is to... Read More

Becoming An Information Filter And A Knowledge Sponge

As the title states, "Become an Information Filter and a... Read More

How to Deal Effectively with Anxiety

Every human feels anxiety on occasion; it is a part... Read More

Beware of Psychic Vampires

I am often asked how I stay happy and motivated... Read More

Forget Resolutions - Craft A Life Theme That Works

How many people do you know who, in January, enthusiastically... Read More

Coaching Skills

IntroductionThe question for leaders in organizations today is how do... Read More

Make Progress Now: Take the Hand Brakes Off Your Life!

Do you find yourself striving upward in life yet making... Read More

Developing Will Power and Self Discipline

Most people admire and respect strong individuals, who have won... Read More

The Power of Online Memberships

Have you ever noticed geese flying overhead, whether that be... Read More

Why Bosses Dont Get All the News

Not long ago, a friend who works in television complained... Read More

Grow Through It

It's past bedtime for most working men. It's not unbearably... Read More

How to Get a Grip on Your Money

Most people have no idea where their money goes. They... Read More

Personal Strategic Planning

I have a few questions for you ---What if we... Read More

Embracing Excellence

Joey rises before dawn to pack his lunch, eager for... Read More

Five Steps to Vocational Passion: A Disciplined Plan for Major Mid-life Changes

There's a famous song lyric that asks: "Is that all... Read More

Become More Self-Confident

Signs of Self-ConfidenceLet's explore the meaning of self-confidence by taking... Read More

Masterminding Success - How to Start a Masterminding Meeting?

Masterminding is about a group of like-minded, achievement-oriented individuals who... Read More

Is Coaching Everything That It Is Cracked Up To Be?

Personal or business coaching has helped thousands change their lives... Read More

Get Out What You Put In!

During a recent coaching session with Mark, I was briefly... Read More

Mentors and Coaches: How to Be a Great Mentee or Learner

When you invest your time in being a mentee you... Read More

The Need to Feel Special

From the time Jennifer was a little child, she was... Read More

Body Language Speaks Louder Than Words

Has it ever occurred to you how much you are... Read More

The American Dream ? Are We Really Free?

The promises of THE AMERICAN DREAM (to have it all... Read More

Are You Worth Investing In?

Do you realise that if you're green you're growing and... Read More

The Mid-Life Challenge: Make a Plan to Re-ignite Vocational Passion

Nobody will stop you in the hallway at work to... Read More

How to Jump-start Your Emotional Health

You've probably heard the expression: "It's not what you're eating.... Read More

A World of Possibility

When I started my sales career over 25 years ago,... Read More