PodcastsThe Tim Ferriss Show#696: Be Useful — Arnold Schwarzenegger on 7 Tools for Life, Thinking Big, Building Resilience, Processing Grief, and More
#696: Be Useful — Arnold Schwarzenegger on 7 Tools for Life, Thinking Big, Building Resilience, Processing Grief, and More
The Tim Ferriss ShowMon 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.