What’s Your Worth!

The toy company Hasbro owns the string of action figures called G.I. Joe.

G.I. Joe action figures popularity is universal.

In fact, G.I. Joe led to the discovery of the term ‘action figures’.

Hasbro and Donald Levine (executive at Hasbro) are credited as the fathers of G.I. Joe.

But, this is not true.

Stan Weston, a toy maker had a curiosity in him that he needed to answer.

He wanted to craft dolls for boys.

What kind of dolls would grasp the interest of boys?

Boys love action; they love guns and weapons.

So he mixed the concept of dolls and action and came up with a soldier with guns.

He named this doll soldier as G.I. Joe, and presented to Hasbro.

Hasbro offered him two choices: a small share in profits perpetually, or a one-time payment of $75,000.

Weston negotiated the offer and demanded one-time payment of 1, 00,000.

Hasbro accepted his demand and bought the rights of G.I. Joe.

Weston went home with 1, 00,000 in his pocket and Hasbro struck a pot of immeasurable gold.

In the past 50 years, Hasbro earned billions of dollars from G.I Joe.

From comics, cartoons, movies, and video games; G.I. Joe attractiveness never seemed to decline.

Stan Weston came up with an exceptional idea, but he failed to evaluate its worth.

Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay of 'Rocky'.

Producers offered him a decent prize for the screenplay, but they did not want him to play the role.

Instead of Stallone, they wanted to offer the role to biggies of that time.

Stallone who was living in rags used the power of NO and declined their $300,000 offer for the script rights.

He was firm in his decision. If someone has to be Rocky, then it had to be him.

Eventually, his stubbornness and determination got him the role.

Rocky was the highest grossing movie of 1976, earning more than $117 million in the US alone.

It also grabbed 3 academy awards.

The movie was a turning point for Stallone’s career.

He realized his worth and became a star.