Over the holidays, I read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. It is a fantastic book filled with wisdom, tools, and stories that are easily applicable to anyone’s life.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Life and Career

Before we get into the book, Arnold Schwarzenegger's life and career is amazing. It can be divided into four distinct phases, each where he dominated the field: .

1. Bodybuilding Career (1968-1980):

Arnold Schwarzenegger's journey to fame began in the world of bodybuilding. Born in Austria in 1947, he started lifting weights at an early age and became the youngest Mr. Olympia at the age of 23. Schwarzenegger's dominance in bodybuilding continued with six more (seven total) Mr. Olympia titles, establishing him as one of the greatest bodybuilders in history. His relentless work ethic and dedication to sculpting his physique laid the foundation for his subsequent success in other fields.

2. Hollywood Acting Career (1980-2003):

After conquering the world of bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger transitioned to a successful career in Hollywood. He became an international movie star, achieving fame with iconic roles in films such as "Conan the Barbarian," "The Terminator" series, "Predator," and "The Running Man." Known for his imposing physique, charisma, and memorable catchphrases, Schwarzenegger became one of the highest-paid and most recognizable actors in the industry.

3. Political Career (2003-2011):

The third phase of Schwarzenegger's life saw him make the shift from Hollywood to politics. In 2003, he ran for and won the gubernatorial recall election in California, becoming the 38th Governor of the state. Serving two terms from 2003 to 2011 as a Republican, Schwarzenegger tackled issues such as the state budget, environmental policy, and infrastructure. His time in office was marked by both successes and challenges, and he left a lasting impact on California politics.

4. Giving Back (2012-Present):

After completing his term as governor, Schwarzenegger returned to acting with films like "The Expendables" series and "Terminator Genisys." More importantly, he engaged in philanthropic efforts, including supporting after-school programs and initiatives related to climate change awareness. Schwarzenegger continues to be a prominent voice in environmental advocacy and an inspiration for personal and professional success.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's four phases represent a remarkable journey of constant reinvention and adaptation. From bodybuilder to Hollywood icon, governor, and beyond, his story is a testament to resilience, versatility, and the pursuit of excellence in diverse fields. Schwarzenegger's impact extends beyond his roles — he is an enduring figure whose legacy spans bodybuilding, entertainment, politics, and philanthropy. If you’d like to learn more about Arnold, there is a wonderful 3 episode documentary on Netflix.

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life
When Arnold Schwarzenegger was growing up in Austria, his father’s catchphrase to him was always “Be Useful, Arnold.” Schwarzenegger uses that phrase as the title of the book. Each chapter explains one of the seven tools which helped him and others lead a useful life. The seven tools are:

1. Have a Clear Vision

2. Never Think Small

3. Work Your Ass Off

4. Sell, Sell, Sell

5. Shift Gears

6. Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind

7. Break Your Mirrors

I especially liked three of the chapters — Never Think Small, Work Your Ass Off, and Shift Gears.

In the chapter on Never Think Small Schwarzenegger relays a German saying “Wenn schon, denn schon,” which means If you’re going to do it, do it. In other words, go all in on whatever you are doing. He also advocates “No Plan Bs” by saying that Plan Bs are dangerous to every big dream.

In Work Your Ass Off, Arnold advocates that “work works. That’s the bottom line.” He also is a fan that work enables you to seize opportunities that present themselves. Finally, he admits that he is a follow-through fanatic. This dedication to following through propelled him to the top in three different endeavors.

Finally, in Shift Gears, Schwarzenegger says that he has a rule — no complaining about a situation unless you are prepared to do something about it. He also talks about his bodybuilding career helped him in the other three phases of his life. He relates that in the gym, failure is success because it indicates that you have pushed the muscles as far as they can go and they are going to grow and develop because you pushed to failure. He also talks about how you should reframe failure as just one more way that didn’t work. Arnold used this growth mindset to get to the top of the movie industry and the governor of California.

Conclusion

Executive coaching with TFCG can help make you 5% more useful in 2024. Interested in being 5% better than you were in 2023? Then hit one of the buttons and submit the form or the email to start the conversation and see if TFCG’s executive coaching program can help you over the next six months.

In the meantime, go on the offensive and use the seven ideas from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, to improve yourself.