Words Into Works #096 | The Seven Tools for Life

In Be Useful, Arnold Schwarzenegger outlines seven fundamental principles for finding one’s true purpose, drawn from his diverse and successful career as an athlete, actor, and politician.

Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of clear vision, hard work, effective communication, and resilience, all underpinned by his father’s advice to always be useful.

Let’s discuss each principle in turn.

1. Have a Clear Vision

In Chapter 1, Schwarzenegger discusses the lack of direction and fulfillment in many people’s lives. He notes that many individuals are dissatisfied with their jobs, relationships, and overall well-being, feeling lost and helpless. As such, Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision for one’s life, arguing that vision provides purpose and meaning.

This vision involves an idea of what one wants and a concrete plan to realize that vision. Schwarzenegger shares his experiences, including his upbringing in Austria and his journey to America, to illustrate the power of vision and choice. He suggests that everyone has the potential to redirect their life’s path, regardless of their background.

The key to change, according to Schwarzenegger, is creating a clear vision and making consistent choices aligned with that vision. He stresses the significance of self-awareness and active decision-making in shaping one’s future and avoiding a sense of aimlessness and dissatisfaction.

2. Never Think Small

Next, Schwarzenegger reflects on his journey from being an action movie star to a leading man in Hollywood. By the end of 1987, he had become a prominent action star, but he aspired to show his versatility by transitioning into comedic roles. Despite skepticism from journalists, studio executives, and agents, Schwarzenegger pursued this goal.

He collaborated with director Ivan Reitman and actor Danny DeVito to create Twins, a comedy about twins separated at birth, which became a massive success despite initial doubts from Hollywood. The chapter underscores the importance of ignoring naysayers and fully committing to one’s vision without backup plans.

Schwarzenegger also shares his experiences as the Governor of California, where he tackled gerrymandering despite initial resistance. He emphasizes the power of big thinking and persistence in overcoming challenges and achieving success and encourages dreaming big, fully committing to one’s goals, and inspiring others through repeated actions.

3. Work Your Ass Off

Here, Schwarzenegger emphasizes the irreplaceable value of hard work for success. He dismisses the notion of shortcuts, highlighting that only persistent effort leads to actual accomplishment. To illustrate this principle, Schwarzenegger uses examples from various fields, including his experiences in bodybuilding, acting, and politics.

He notes that many who gain wealth without effort, like lottery winners, often find themselves unhappy and unfulfilled, lacking the satisfaction of striving toward a goal. Schwarzenegger reflects on his rigorous training routines, dedication to learning new skills for his movie roles, and thorough preparation for political challenges.

The message is clear: regardless of one’s starting point, consistent hard work, facing challenges head-on, and embracing the lessons from struggles are essential for success and personal growth. This philosophy has been a guiding principle throughout Arnold’s diverse career, demonstrating that effort, not circumstance, determines one’s achievements.

4. Sell, Sell, Sell

In Sell, Sell, Sell, Schwarzenegger reflects on his early experiences in America, particularly the lack of awareness around bodybuilding, a sport he was deeply passionate about. He observed a stark contrast between the sport’s niche community and its minimal recognition in mainstream media, which often stereotyped bodybuilders in a negative light.

Schwarzenegger recognized the need for better communication and promotion of bodybuilding to change public perception. As such, he emphasizes the importance of selling and promoting one’s vision, drawing from his diverse experiences in sales, acting, and politics. This is how we reshape narratives shared in the media and public and challenge stereotypes.

Arnold’s journey illustrates the power of self-promotion and communication in realizing dreams, changing public opinion, and achieving success across various fields. His message is clear: to make a significant impact, we must effectively communicate and sell our vision, overcoming initial obstacles and misconceptions.

5. Shift Gears

To illustrate how to “Shift Gear,” Schwarzenegger recounts his experience during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shocked by the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators in the U.S., particularly in California, he took action. Schwarzenegger recalls a strategic reserve he built as governor, which was later neglected and unusable.

Frustrated with political inaction, he leveraged his connections and resources to source PPE from China, collaborating with the logistics company Flexport and the Frontline Responders Fund to distribute masks to needy hospitals. Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from negativity to positivity, citing his own experience of life-threatening heart surgery.

6. Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind

This chapter details Schwarzenegger’s early inspiration and guidance from Fredi Gerstl, a significant mentor. Gerstl, who survived WWII by concealing his Jewish identity and later became a prominent figure in Austria, taught Schwarzenegger and other young boys about resilience, learning, and open-mindedness.

Emphasizing the importance of mental and physical training, Gerstl instilled in Schwarzenegger a lifelong love for learning and curiosity, greatly influencing his bodybuilding career and beyond. Schwarzenegger discusses the value of real-world experience over traditional education, using his own life and the story of Mary Shenouda, a successful self-taught chef, as examples.

He critiques the one-size-fits-all approach of pushing every young person into a four-year university, advocating instead for discovering one’s purpose and vision through diverse experiences. Schwarzenegger explains that we must develop a thirst for knowledge and use that knowledge constructively to shape our fate and contribute to society.

7. Break Your Mirrors

In the final chapter, Schwarzenegger challenges the notion of being a “self-made” man, attributing his success to numerous influences and mentors throughout his life. He emphasizes the significance of collective effort and support in achieving personal goals, underscoring the importance of acknowledging and giving back to those who have contributed to one’s journey.

He believes in the American Dream’s accessibility to everyone yet stresses that it requires the societal and communal framework to become a reality. Schwarzenegger also shares his experiences, from bodybuilding to Hollywood and politics, to illustrate how cooperation and mutual support lead to success.

Schwarzenegger urges readers to recognize their responsibility to assist others, highlighting the joy and fulfillment of being helpful to society. His final message is clear: actual achievement involves acknowledging the collective effort behind individual success and actively giving back to the community, which enriches both personal life and the lives of others.

Conclusion

Be Useful navigates through the essential tenets of a fulfilling and impactful life: vision, resilience, hard work, communication, adaptability, open-mindedness, and community.

By embracing these principles, we can achieve personal success and contribute meaningfully to the world around us.