Arnold's Book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life

 

Learn the seven life-changing rules that guided Arnold Schwarzenegger's incredible rise. This book is like a recipe for becoming the best version of yourself, packed with practical advice everyone can use. Don't miss out – get your hands on a copy!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's book, Be Useful, outlines seven essential tools for achieving success and fulfillment in life, drawing from his personal experiences and challenges. The tools emphasize the importance of having a clear vision, working hard, promoting oneself, embracing positivity, and giving back to others.

Welcome to Have You Read It, the channel where we bring books to life, one summary at a time. Today, we're diving into Arnold Schwarzenegger's Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. This isn't your typical celebrity memoir; it's a surprisingly insightful and practical guide to navigating life's challenges and finding fulfillment, drawing on Arnold's extraordinary journey from a small Austrian village to bodybuilding champion, Hollywood icon, and political leader.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Arnold opens the book with a candid account of hitting rock bottom after leaving the governor's office in 2011. He describes the fallout from the financial crisis during his second term but emphasizes that his biggest failure was personal—blowing up his family. He uses this low point as a springboard to discuss the importance of having a clear vision for your life, which is the first tool he introduces.

Tool 1: Have a Clear Vision

Arnold emphasizes the significance of a clear vision, describing it as the cornerstone of purpose and meaning in life. He explains how having a vision, that mental picture of where you want to be, coupled with a roadmap of how to get there, is essential for navigating life's choices. He shares his own early vision of America, a fuzzy but powerful image that propelled him forward. While it's okay to start with a broad vision, like his childhood dream of simply being in America, it's crucial to eventually zoom in and focus on specific goals.

He uses the analogy of a camera lens, starting wide and gradually sharpening the focus to capture a clear picture. Arnold discusses two ways to develop this vision: starting small with achievable daily goals and gradually expanding, or beginning with a broad concept and progressively refining it. He shares anecdotes from the gym, highlighting how many people aimlessly wander from machine to machine because they lack a defined fitness goal. He urges listeners to find their why—what are they getting in shape for?

Arnold recalls how his vision clarified when he saw Reg Park, a bodybuilder turned actor, as his path to America. He encourages finding inspiration in childhood passions, citing figures like Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters as examples of individuals who channeled early obsessions into lifelong pursuits. He underscores the importance of creating space for inspiration, whether through walks, gym time, or quiet contemplation in a jacuzzi.

Tool 2: Never Think Small

Moving on to the second tool, Arnold emphasizes the importance of never thinking small. He recounts how, after achieving action star status in the late 1980s, he set his sights on becoming a leading man and comedian. Despite widespread skepticism, he teamed up with Ivan Reitman and Danny DeVito for Twins. They took a risk, forgoing upfront salaries for back-end profits, and the film became a massive success, proving his naysayers wrong.

He shares the German saying, "Wenschön, denschön"—if you're going to do something, go all out. Arnold cites James Cameron as the embodiment of this philosophy, recounting Cameron's meticulous attention to detail in recreating the Titanic for his film. He connects this to bodybuilding, emphasizing the importance of focusing on both big goals and small details, like his obsessive focus on his midsection and calves, which ultimately helped him win Mr. Olympia.

Arnold encourages listeners to aim high, regardless of their dream's size, using examples of striving for the dean's list in college or becoming a great role model as a parent. He acknowledges the inevitability of naysayers and encourages ignoring these doubters, even using their negativity as fuel. He strongly advises against having Plan Bs, asserting they are plans for failure and shrink your dreams.

Tool 3: Work Your Ass Off

The third tool Arnold discusses is the necessity of hard work. He states frankly that hard work is essential for achieving anything worthwhile, citing the unhappiness often seen in lottery winners and the generationally wealthy as evidence of the emptiness of unearned success. He details his grueling bodybuilding routine, working out five hours a day, and how he transitioned that work ethic to acting and politics, dedicating hours to learning his craft and preparing for every role and challenge.

Arnold emphasizes the importance of repetitions in any field, whether physical training or memorizing a script. He stresses the quality of reps, emphasizing proper form and maximum effort. He recalls memorizing every scene in Twins and acknowledges that hard work often involves pain, sharing anecdotes from the filming of Conan the Barbarian. He quotes John Milius, "Pain is temporary; this film will be permanent," arguing that productive pain, the discomfort associated with growth, is necessary for achieving greatness.

Tool 4: Sell, Sell, Sell

The fourth tool Arnold introduces is the importance of communication and promotion. He shares his experience arriving in America and realizing that bodybuilding wasn't as mainstream as he'd imagined. He took it upon himself to become an advocate for the sport, emphasizing that even the best ideas are worthless if no one knows about them. Arnold details his early efforts to promote bodybuilding, from appearing on talk shows to hiring a publicist and leading seminars.

He underscores the importance of educating the media and the public about bodybuilding. Arnold recounts how he used bridging, a communication technique learned from Jim Lorimer, to control interviews and debates during his gubernatorial campaign. He emphasizes the importance of being yourself and owning your story, arguing that authenticity is more valuable than trying to maintain a phony image.

Tool 5: Shift Gears

Arnold recounts his frustration with the mask shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and how he took action by donating a million dollars to secure PPE for hospitals. He introduces the concept of negativity bias, acknowledging its evolutionary roots but arguing against its usefulness in modern life. He emphasizes the importance of positivity and finding the good in any situation, recalling his difficult childhood and how he found motivation to escape and achieve his dreams.

He shares the stoic concept of amor fati, or love of fate, urging listeners to embrace their circumstances. Arnold encourages reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and taking control of your response. He emphasizes that failure is not fatal but rather a beginning and an opportunity to grow.

Tool 6: Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind

The sixth tool is about the importance of learning and curiosity. Arnold recalls Freddy Gerstel, a mentor from his youth, who emphasized the importance of learning. He challenges the notion that a four-year university is the only path to success, highlighting the value of vocational training and learning by doing. Arnold shares his own experiences learning from other bodybuilders and how he approached his time as governor as a learning opportunity.

He highlights the importance of soaking up information and listening over speaking. Arnold encourages listeners to put their knowledge to use, sharing his experience as chairman of the President's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports.

Tool 7: Break Your Mirrors

The seventh and final tool is about giving back. Arnold explains his aversion to being called a self-made man, emphasizing the role of others in his success. He highlights the importance of giving back and paying it forward, arguing that helping others can create a positive feedback loop that benefits everyone. Arnold shares his experience working with Special Olympics athletes and how it sparked his passion for giving back.

He concludes by urging listeners to find ways to be useful, emphasizing that it will make them happier and the world a better place. The main takeaway is that usefulness is the ultimate measure of a life well lived. Find your vision, work hard, be open to learning, and give back to the world.