One of Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s greatest qualities is that he’s not only a jack of all trades, but a master at all of them as well. He was one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, became an instant Hollywood star, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and was one of the most popular California governors.
Most people would shudder at the thought of tackling just one of these, whereas Arnold welcomed the opportunities and tackled them head-on. So how was it that he was able to accomplish all of this without going crazy?
Easy — throughout his lifetime Arnold has learned many invaluable lessons, and has used each of them to further himself. Not once in his life has he remained stuck; He’s always looking for a way to become better.
Here, we run down 12 of Arnold’s greatest lessons and how he used them to become the legend he is today.
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Trust Yourself
“I was determined to be unique.” No matter what anyone else said, Arnold believed he could make his bodybuilding dreams come true.
Arnold knew a strong and knowledgeable partner could assist and motivate him. So he teamed with powerhouse Franco Columbu for workouts. He later applied this success secret to business.
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Gene Mozee
Learn from Mistakes
When a smooth, 250-pound Arnold lost the 1968 Mr. Universe to a lean, and polished Frank Zane, he learned a valuable lesson. Afterwards, he paid careful attention to every detail.
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Profit from mentors
Joe Weider taught Arnold about training, posing, promoting, and business. Throughout his diverse careers, Arnold has benefitted from the wisdom of experienced advisers.
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Gene Mozee
Choose a nourishing environment
In fertile soil, a seed can grow into an oak. Training in Gold’s Venice twice daily amid his fellow Mr. Universes exposed Arnold to positive reinforcement, constructive criticism, and practical knowledge.
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Gene Mozee
Break the rules
Early in his career, Arnold’s calves lagged. After consulting with Reg Park, he worked them six days per week — an unorthodox approach that helped turn a weakness into a strength. “You have to think outside the box,” Arnold states.
Competing with some of the all-time best bodybuilders, including the legendary Sergio Oliva (the only bodybuilder ever to best Arnold on the Olympia stage), is one of the things that led Arnold to become the icon that he is today. Here, Arnold poses with Sergio Oliva, Jr.
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Gene Mozee
Work your butt off
Arnold knew that if you wanted something, you had to work for it — no excuses.
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Stay hungry
When Arnold had nothing left to prove in one field, such as bodybuilding, he set out to prove himself in another — movies, and later, politics. He has continuously challenged himself.
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Gene Mozee
Don’t be afraid to fail
Arnold was advised against putting his immense reputation on the line in the 1980 Mr. Olympia. But, as always, he reveled in the challenge and refused to let fear of defeat dissuade him.
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Gene Mozee
Ignore the nay-sayers
This applies to those who cautioned him against entering the 1980 Olympia, and the chorus that claimed he would never be more than a B-movie actor. “Pay no attention to people saying it can’t be done,” Arnold instructs.
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Give something back
“Whatever path you take in your life, you must always find time to give something back,” Arnold says. “Reaching out and helping people will bring you more satisfaction than anything else you have ever done.”
