Arnold Schwarzenegger needs no introduction. As a professional body builder Arnold won a total of 22 titles, placing 1st in 19 competitions; starred in over 40 films and even directed a few; served 2 full terms as the governor of California; and currently serves as a Californian statesman and as Netflix's Chief Action Officer. When it comes to incredible careers Arnold has one of the most inspiring stories. In this blog I will try and break down what made him so successful, and where better to start than during his childhood.
Arnold's childhood
Most kids that grow up in a family where showing emotions is seen as sign of weakness end up developing social and behavioral problems. Arnold's father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, former chief of police of Austria, didn't allow his son's to show emotions and ruled the house with extreme authority and discipline. Moreover, Arnold was forced to compete with his older brother in almost anything they did. According to Arnold this was the only way his father knew how to show love. Fast-forward 25 years and Arnolds brother, Meinhard, died after hitting a telephone pole while drunken driving (A problem assumed to develop due to his father's harsh parenting style). Whereas Arnold was enjoying a very successful body building career, thanks to the discipline and competitiveness his father taught him as a child. What was it about Arnold that made him thrive in such a harsh environment where his brother clearly failed? If you have ever watched a documentary about Arnold, or heard one of his motivational speeches, then it becomes obvious that he thinks in ways that seem more machine than human. In my opinion he truly had one of the most distorted yet powerful mindsets in history.
Arnold's Mindset
Arnold as a child, teenager, and adult moved from one obsession to the next. Due to his harsh upbringing, Arnold developed an incredible ability to supress his emotions, has incredible discipline, and once he sets his sights on a goal, he does everything in his power to achieve that goal. Although this might sound extreme, this behavior is commonly seen in soldiers all around the world. However, for a soldier to truly reach such a point, they are "broken" by their commanders. In a similar fashion Arnold was "broken" by his father, and adopted this extreme mindset as a child. He did what his father commanded without question, he made sure when he was competing with his brother he won, he also did not stop until he completed what was asked of him. Some may argue that Arnold was robbed of his childhood, he never experienced the simple joys of life that most children yearn for. However, a big differences between other children and Arnold is that he didn't let his emotions get in the way of what needed to be done.
Arnold's first obsession
When Arnold was 15 years old he saw a movie titled Hercules, featuring the current Mr. universe at the time, Reg Park. Reg park's physique, his heroic status, and the women who were attracted by such status put Arnold in a trance. His mission was to become Reg Park at all costs. What I find incredible is that even during his teenage years when emotions are virtually uncontrollable, Arnold almost completely suppressed them. He did not care about hanging out with friends, he felt no need to belong, he felt no urge to be popular, all he wanted to do was achieve his goal.
"Because of this abnormal desire to turn a goal into reality, the word obsession more accurately captures Arnold's desires."
This obsession motivated him to workout so much that 3 years later he won the Junior Mr. Europe competition in Germany. Because he wanted to be the best, he saw this first victory as just the beginning! The absolute scariest thing is that he was completely controlled by this obsession of being the best bodybuilder, that for the next 25 years it was all he could think about, and he committed his entire life to achieving it, which he did.
Arnold's second obsession
During school Arnold was fascinated by America, especially by the skyscrapers and broad highways. Being born in Austria, he felt as if he was born in the wrong country and knew that he wanted to leave as soon as he got the opportunity. In 1968 Arnold was presented with such an opportunity and was invited to train in California. Just like that, he dropped everything and left without giving the consequences a second thought.
Arnold's third obsession
In 1980 after winning his 19th body-building championship, Arnold got bored of winning and needed a new obsession. He already made his first two obsessions a reality, and now for the first time since seeing that movie of Hercules in 1961, Arnold's life suddenly become meaningless, empty, and without direction. Like a heroine addict craving a fix, Arnold craved a new mission, a new direction, a new obsession. He remembered that as a child part of what put him in a trance while watching that movie, was the idea that Reg Park was this famous actor. Then it suddenly hit him! his new obsession was to become a famous actor just like his idol Reg Park. In the same way that he achieved becoming the world's greatest body builder, he had that tremendous drive to become the world's most famous actor. Needless to say, although not becoming the worlds most famous actor, he definitely manged to star in a few classics which will not so easily be forgotten. Unfortunately, after several years of being a famous actor and director, the third obsession faded similar to the first and second. Once again, Arnold's life started to lack direction.
Arnold's final obsession
During the 1990's California was faced with multiple natural disasters, including societal, political calamities. These problems inspired Arnold to become the mayor, as he thought he could solve many of these problems. Interestingly enough, despite the extreme amount of adversity and negativity he got from the public after expressing this idea, he went for it anyway and won! After winning the election and becoming mayor he was very quick to call out the "naysayers" and even admitted that it fueled his obsession in becoming mayor.
Putting it all together
Instead of crumbling under the harsh childhood as his brother did, Arnold weaponised his father's extreme parenting style and used it to achieve whatever he set his mind to. If Arnold was a product that could be described in three words those words would be: obsession, focus, and resilience.
Obsession
Arnold's obsessions served as his rudder and provided him with direction. All he knew is that he needed to move towards making his obsession a reality. Once he had the direction fixed towards his obsession, that's all that mattered, and that's all he could think about.
Focus
Distractions definitely came up, but that was no problem for Arnold as his direction was sound. His incredible ability to supress his emotions, thanks to his father, allowed him to stay focussed. Even when his father passed away in 1972 Arnold did not allow it to affect him emotionally, and kept on moving into the direction of his current obsession at the time. Some may say this is pathological, but in the way in which Arnold used this ability, I would say it is more of a strength, and an amazing ability to stay focussed.
Resilience
Besides withstanding his awful childhood, his resilient nature is something spectacular that could be seen as an adult. So many times he was told :
"You will never become the best bodybuilder."
"You are horrible at acting, you will never make it."
"Rather run for city council, you will never be chosen as mayor of California."
Instead of listening to the negativity, he used it as firewood for his flames. It fueled his obsessions, and made his focus clearer than ever. Arnold made it his life's goal to prove the "naysayers" wrong, and that is exactly what he did.
Most inspirational quotes
I would like to end with three inspirational quotes from Arnold that truly inspired me. These quotes also reflect his winning mindset.
"Whatever you do, be useful!"
"If you don't have a goal, something to provide you with direction, you are just like a nomad, floating around aimlessly. As soon as you have a goal and start moving towards it, you are moving with direction and a purpose, this is called progress."
"When somebody tells you it can't be done, you don't have to say it, just think it, think... screw you **** what do you know?"
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