The Bridge of Dwayne Johnson

May 2021

Well, not literally but figuratively.

The Rock from the TV Series called “The Hero” (Source: IMDb)

Los Angeles Lakers, were listening carefully to the man on the stage in their “Genius Talk” series.

All the players, staff and coaches was deeply focused, trying to understand what he is sharing.

Everybody in that conference room knew that, this speaker had a unique perspective and he was fundamentally different from his competition.

“I keep my back against this wall. Everyday. It’s against this (leaning his back against the closest wall on the stage).

Because that’s what I believe in. And when my back is against the wall, there is nowhere to go, but that way (pointing forward).”

Fantastic Camera Work 101 (Source: The Rock YouTube)

On the stage that day was Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, is one of the most successful and highest paid actors of our time.

He is mostly acknowledged with the movies like “Fast & Furious, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Moana”

Although widely known as an actor (IMDb), The Rock didn’t started out as one. He was a football player for the University of Miami initially, where he mostly played defensive tackle.

(Source: Twitter)

Dream-shattering events for him was, getting cut from the team, with only $ 7 in his pocket. He had to build a life for himself from scratch.

If only he knew then, he would start his production company called “Seven Bucks Productions” after this defining moment.

With the closing of the page as a football player, Dwayne took the footsteps of his father Rocky Johnson and decided to become a professional wrestler. As one of the best to ever do it, he wrestled for the WWE for eight years prior to pursuing an acting career, with 10 World Championships under his belt.

Today, almost anyone can recognize him as the man in the studio, with multiple billion $ movies he’s starred.

So, how did The Rock achieved excellence in all of these areas?

Well, in his words, he had two pillar rules that applied to everything.

Just like a suspension bridge.

Golden Gate at Sunset (Source: Sam Goodgame)

Arguably, most iconic suspension bridge in the world, is the Golden Gate in San Francisco.

First use of suspension bridge extends to prehistoric times. However, the general principals of construction changed tremendously.

Nowadays in a suspension bridge, Towers carry the main cables, suspension cables & the deck; so basically everything is depending on them to stay upright.

One of the Most Beautiful Bridges in the World (Source: Smithsonian Channel)

These two 227 meter long towers, are at the heart of the archetypal international orange bridge, from a structural standpoint.

In the life of The Rock, there are also two towers that shoulder all.

1) Being the Hardest Worker in the Room

Whatever Dwayne Johnson did, he made sure he was doing more than his rivals.

He required an anchor for this approach. It was his unshakable morning routine that did the trick for him.

For me, the anchor is getting up at four o’clock in the morning every day, before anybody else. Grounding my thought process as, in the “no one will outwork me”.

No one.

2) Not messing the opportunity up

The Rock saw every platform as an opportunity to make global impact.

Seeing time as a finite source that it is, he wanted to feel everyday, he gave 100%.

In 2020, Rock has been named the highest-paid male actor for a second year in a row, having made an estimated $87.5m.

More importantly, he’s touched millions of people’s lives around the globe.

He tweeted about his pillar rules almost 7 years ago.

It seems like he has been holding on to them to this day.

Unlike George C. Parker, who quite literally tried to sell Brooklyn Bridge to other people, Rock gave us his bridge for free.

Well, the metaphorical one anyway.

What do you think should be the principals of someone trying to impact the world?

You can listen to the “Genius Series” The Rock spoke, from here.