He came to America with nothing and barely spoke the language. But Arnold Schwarzenegger got to work and conquered every field he entered, from bodybuilder to movie star and politician. I think he may be the most successful human being of our lifetime. So, I was inspired to read the lessons in this book, from a man who learned them by living them. Schwarzenegger calls his book a tool kit for “knowing where you want to go and how you’re going to get there, as well as having the willingness to do the work . . . [and] the capacity to shift gears when the journey hits a roadblock.”
Schwarzenegger has made many mistakes, some of which were devastating to those around him, and he doesn’t shy away from them here. But whatever you think about the man, you have to admire his determination in learning from his mistakes so as not to repeat them. It’s one of the reasons I recommend this book to anyone who wants to guide a young person starting out in life, whether you’re their parent or their employer. It also can have value for someone established in their career; as Schwarzenegger himself demonstrates, it’s never too late to learn something new or adjust one’s attitude.
Of all the rules Schwarzenegger sets out, I came away with three takeaways that resonated even more than others:
Takeaway #1: Have a Clear Vision
This is Schwarzenegger’s first rule, and I agree; everything starts with knowing what you want and where you want to go. Most people are not as clear in their vision; they have too many different options and they can’t focus on one specific life plan. Focus is critical; the fewer options you give yourself, the easier it is to realize the vision. Imagine if Schwarzenegger had set his sights on all three of his career goals at once. How could he fully devote himself to one if he was already thinking of the next career?
Takeaway #2: Hard Work Works
It’s the only tactic that always works for any goal you attempt, writes Schwarzenegger, who clearly believes in it. He trained five hours a day, every single day, for 15 years to become the world’s top bodybuilder. When he retired from bodybuilding and decided to become a top movie star, he put in the same amount of time to study acting and later devoted those same daily hours to politics.
I’ve always believed hard work can make up for a lack of experience and knowledge. You may not be able to match the competition in experience, but you can outwork them every day and eventually match them or even surpass them. If you want to be great at something, you have to put in the time and do the work.
Takeaway #3: Plan B Is a Plan to Fail
People make Plan B as a fallback when Plan A doesn’t work. They’re planning to fail – why would anyone plan to fail? “The second you create a backup plan,” he writes, “not only are you giving voice to all the naysayers, but you are shrinking your own dream by acknowledging the validity of their doubts.”
A contingency plan is different; it’s your strategy for dealing with things beyond your control, like a recession or a kink in the supply chain. You’re allowing for unexpected setbacks, not failure.
The Bottom Line: The Simple Formula for Success
It’s a matter of having a clear vision, fully committing to it and working hard to bring it to life. Arnold Schwarzenegger started at the bottom of each career he tried, sold people on his value when many were literally laughing at his ambitions, and came out on top every time. And here we are, looking back at his amazing career in fitness, entertainment and politics and ahead to what he calls his “fourth act” of helping the world – starting with this book.
Bonus Read: Laws of Inevitability: How You and Your Family Can Benefit from These Down-to-Earth Basics
I’d brag that I live by many of the core values Arnold Schwarzenegger promotes, but our beliefs have been the foundation of society since long before either of us thought of them. We just wrote them down and explained how we follow them in our daily lives – Schwarzenegger in Be Useful and I in Laws of Inevitability.
The first of many books I’ve published over the years, Laws of Inevitability is a short book with 42 concise rules you can read in one sitting. My intent was to provide a list of essential behaviors and beliefs that the reader can work on one at a time until they become ingrained. These laws are “inevitable” because sooner or later, everyone will encounter them. I simply observed them and wrote them down: “Complainers Lose,” for instance, “Be the Bigger Person” or “Change Is Not a Four-Letter Word.”
Embracing change; that’s the big one. Many of the principles in these two books will require people to branch out of the norm – to change. Schwarzenegger did it. So can you. So can we all.
Ray Titus, Founder and CEO of United Franchise Group, a family of affiliated brands with more than 1600 locations spanning 60 countries