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#696: Be Useful — Arnold Schwarzenegger on 7 Tools for Life, Thinking Big, Building Resilience, Processing Grief, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show

Mon Oct 02 2023



Shift Gears:

  • Arnold quickly adapts to new situations and is able to shift gears when necessary.
  • He learned this skill from experiences like waking up from heart surgery with complications and needing to stay positive and focused on recovery.
  • Shifting gears allows him to thrive in different areas of his life, such as transitioning from bodybuilding to acting.

Never Think Small:

  • Arnold always aims high and sets big goals for himself.
  • He wanted to compete in the Junior Mr. Europe competition instead of just the Mr. Austria competition because he thinks bigger.
  • This mindset propels him towards success and helps him achieve his dreams.

Be Useful:

  • Arnold's father taught him the importance of being useful and helping others.
  • Being useful means using one's talents to serve others and make a positive impact.
  • This mentality shapes Arnold's approach to various aspects of his life, including bodybuilding and public service as governor of California.

Sell, Sell, Sell:

  • Selling is an art that Arnold believes is crucial for success.
  • He learned about selling early on when working as a salesman during career education.
  • The ability to sell oneself or a product is essential for getting noticed and achieving success.

Grief and Emotion:

  • When experiencing grief, Arnold focuses more on missing the person rather than being shocked by their passing.
  • Losing Franco Columbu was particularly difficult because they had been close friends since they were 18 years old.
  • Memories of shared experiences with Franco evoke emotions every time Arnold sees reminders of their friendship.

Aging and Physical Limitations:

  • After heart surgery, Arnold felt vulnerable and realized there were limits placed on him by doctors regarding heavy training.
  • He became aware of his vulnerability when doing stunts for movies post-surgery.
  • Over time, he experienced knee pain and back cramps, leading to adjustments in his physical activities.

Self-Identity and Future Goals:

  • Arnold sees himself as someone who continuously looks towards the future rather than dwelling on the past or being fully present in the moment.
  • He aims to combine his various interests and create synergy between bodybuilding, show business, public policy, environmental causes, fitness promotion, motivational speaking, and writing books/newsletters.

The Impact of "Be Useful":

  • The book aims to help people live better lives and fulfill their dreams by providing practical advice like creating goals/vision, overcoming fear of failure, recognizing the need for giving back, etc.

The Importance of Goals and Overcoming Fear:

  • Arnold emphasizes the importance of having goals and a clear vision in life.
  • He encourages people to overcome their fear of failure by accepting failure as part of the process.
  • Drawing from his experience in bodybuilding, he highlights how pushing oneself to failure is necessary for growth and improvement.

Giving Back and Helping Others:

  • Arnold believes that recognizing one's own dependence on others is essential in understanding the responsibility to help those in need.
  • He urges people to look beyond themselves and see the millions of people who could benefit from their support.

Closing Remarks:

  • Arnold expresses gratitude towards his supporters throughout his career
  • Thanks America for providing opportunities and everything he has accomplished.