Easily-Applied Practices to “Rock” Your Career

1/07/2020 by Mike Ammons, Ed.D

As you enter the workforce, there are a variety of ways in which you can advance in your career. There are a countless number of books to provide advice and guidance on how to climb the ladder of success and to ensure that once you reach the top of the ladder that you do not discover that the ladder is leaning against the wrong building. In your career, moving beyond the financial rewards, you want the ability to have flexibility, mobility, and recognition for your talents and the value you bring to an organization.

As a movie enthusiast, I have examined the life and career of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and have discovered success habits that you can apply to your career from day one, regardless of your profession.

Work Hard

We all have heard the saying that fortune favors those who work hard. Nowhere else is the statement any truer than in the career of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who often states that he is the hardest worker in the room. His hard work has paid off for him throughout the duration of his career, being able to make the difficult transition from sports entertainer to arguably the biggest entertainer of our time. Having success on both the small and big screen with television shows like Ballers and a host of successful movies such as the Fast and Furious franchise, Jumanji, and Central Intelligence

Part of The Rock’s daily habits include waking up every morning at 4am to go to the gym to complete several hours of training. He follows this by spending the time throughout the day reading over scripts and potential projects. To give an example of how hard The Rock works, he has starred in over 14 movies the last five years that have grossed upwards of $2 Billion at the box office. He currently has major projects underway for 2018 –Rampage, Skyscraper, and Fighting with My Family.

· Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) – $400 Million
· The Fate of the Furious (2017) – Over $231 Million
· Moana (2016) – $259 Million
· Furious 7 (2015) – $376 Million Work Smart

We are all given the same numbers of hours and minutes in a day and are all prone to give in to the inertias of life. But, by beginning your career with possession of the fundamental procedures that lead to success, you can make the most out of those minute moments.

The Rock understands his brand even though he is constantly expanding the borders of what defines his consumer base by levering his success and network of collaborators. Not only does he serve as the lead actor in a variety of films but he recently launched a production company called Seven Bucks Production. By using his notoriety in Hollywood, he has positioned himself for long-term sustainable success in the industry even if he decides or is not offered as many starring acting roles as he is receiving at the moment. Currently, The Rock is Ranked #2 on Forbes World’s Highest Paid Actors at $65 Million in 2017.

Projects include:

· Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
· Baywatch
· Ballers

Work Together

There is a tendency for people to choose to work with people that they like. The Rock has been able to work with some of the greatest talents in the industry. Dating back to his WWF days when he worked with Vince McMahon, arguably one of the greatest business men of our time. Now, The Rock collaborates with young and innovative directors, writers, and producers to not only stay inspired honing his craft, but also to reenergize his passion from the drudgery that comes along with the day to day grind of striving to be the best.

The Rock, understanding the value of familiarity and ability, starting a production business with his ex-wife Dany Garcia. When you built up the success equity that The Rock has, there will be opportunities to work with other people without sacrificing who you are and not depriving you of the joy that comes from working in a context that allows you to strive while simultaneously challenging you.

There is no one unified definition for success so whether you are looking to increase your money-earning potential, gain recognition in your field, or achieve mastery over your skillset, these practices will help position you favorably to accomplish your end game.