The Rock has been through a lot during this career, and he made himself one of the most famous faces on the planet. Still, even the People’s Champion needs someone to keep him grounded.
Dwayne Johnson opened up during a recent appearance on the Artist Friendly with Joel Madden, and the discussion centered on drive, legacy, and what keeps him pushing forward. Even after decades of success across wrestling, movies, and business, Johnson made it clear that hunger doesn’t fade. It just changes shape.
“When I got cut from the CFL, the Canadian Football League, I had seven bucks in my pocket. I had like a five, a one, and some change. I always like to say, at least I rounded up. I was optimistic like, ‘Hey, I got seven bucks.’”
That moment connects directly to trauma from his teenage years. Johnson talked about being evicted at 14 and how that experience never fully left him. He admitted that the fear of losing everything still creeps in, even now, and it fuels his inability to slow down.
“We were evicted when I was 14… That [stuff] messes you up. And in my mind — I know it’s crazy chat here — but there’s times where I think, ‘Oh, I’m right around the corner from getting evicted, man.’”
“I can’t stop.”
The Rock shared that his wife often has to pull him back when that fear takes over. While he knows the anxiety isn’t logical, it still hits hard, and those moments at home help ground him and remind him that he’s not actually on the edge of losing it all.
As he’s grown in the entertainment industry, The Great One has worked to redirect that fear into something more useful. He said he no longer chases material rewards and tries to focus on being consistent and putting in the work. The results show up when they’re supposed to.
“Try your best not to focus on the shiny thing. The shiny thing will come… but focus on being really good at something. Focus on putting in the work.”
The Rock also explained that there is no finish line. Every time he reaches what feels like the top, the goal moves. That constant climb is what keeps him engaged and motivated rather than complacent.
“Even as we’re climbing the mountain, I always say, ‘Mountain changed.’ There it is, up there now. We gotta keep going. You never arrive.”
When it comes to balance, Johnson said the answer is family. He described the “small life” as the anchor that makes everything else possible. Without it, the big life doesn’t work.
“The small life is the anchor… that’s what really matters.”
“There was a time where I was running and gunning… I had this idea: let me go get established, then the family can come out… but I had this clear separation.”
“Then you realize, oh no — the thing I really need is my anchor. The small life allows big life to really happen.”
Now, when The Rock travels, he brings his entire family with him, including the dog. He wants his kids involved and aware of what’s happening, not kept at a distance. For him, the work isn’t a solo mission anymore. It’s something everyone shares.
“I don’t want them to feel on the outside. I want them to feel like they’re on the inside… even down to making decisions. It’s an adventure for everyone.”
We will have to see what kind of travels The Rock makes in the future. At this point, he is likely to show up anywhere, because his work requires him to make any stop needed to get the right shot. If anything, we know that Dwayne Johnson has a solid support system around him, one that he doesn’t want to leave behind.
What’s your take on The Rock’s statement about staying grounded? Do you think that you’d made the right decision if you were in his shoes? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
December 24, 2025 4:52 pm