In a recent Instagram post on the occasion of his father’s birthday, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared the two most important life lessons he learned from his father, legendary pro wrestler Rocky Johnson. These lessons set Johnson on a path to becoming one of the world’s highest-paid and hardest-working entertainers.
Dwayne Johnson credits his father’s real-life lessons as the foundation that allowed him to build his entertainment empire. Getting beat on the mat and learning hard work beats natural talent stuck with Johnson long after his wrestling days.
Losing Fights Taught Dwayne Johnson the Value of Hard Work
Johnson recalls his father deliberately losing to him in wrestling matches as a boy. His father wanted to teach him that natural talent means nothing without hard work and perseverance.
“What’s the biggest lesson my dad taught me? He taught me two. Respect is given when it’s earned, so get (your a*s) out there and earn it. He made sure I was at the gym every day. Even at 5 years old, he was kicking my a*s on the wrestling mat. I always rememmbered that…
There’s also a lesson he inadvertently taught me… Don’t let arguments linger with loved ones, because you never know when it could be your last.”
“He beat that lesson into my head that I gotta put in the work,” Johnson said. Losing fight after fight drove home the value of outworking opponents, a mindset Johnson carries today.
Never Forget Where You Came From
Johnson emphasizes the importance of remembering your roots, something his father always stressed. Despite being one of the world’s biggest stars, he makes sure to give back to the communities that shaped him.
“Get above the emotion, get face to face and take care of the issue. When you’re face to face, there’s nothing you can’t solve and take care of.”
“Always remember where you came from. It grounds you and never let that go,” he said. Johnson credits this lesson from his dad for keeping him in touch with what matters most, even with his massive success.
Stay Hungry and Humble
Despite his massive success, Johnson stresses the importance of staying hungry and humble – another lesson from his father. “Remain hungry, remain humble, and always be the hardest worker in the room,” he said.
“My father always stressed humility and being grateful for every opportunity. Remaining down to earth and approachable to others is important to me even with the level of success I’ve achieved.”
Johnson makes sure to express gratitude for his opportunities and takes time to interact with fans, keeping him grounded even as a global superstar.
Embracing the grind and outworking everyone else around him enabled Johnson to excel in multiple arenas. He took the competitive spirit and will to succeed ingrained in him and achieved unprecedented success in sports and entertainment. Johnson remains grateful for those early lessons that put him on the path to becoming perhaps the hardest-working man in show business.
Source: Instagram
