Lessons from “Arnold”: The Mastery of Life Part 1

There was a very rough weekend with the family during the summer and this documentary came at a good time. Arnold was a Netflix documentary that did a great job encapsulating and showing Arnold Schwartneggers rise in bodybuilding, building his real estate wealth, Hollywood movies and politics.

He is the ultimate example of a self made man, a boy from rural Austria growing up in an abusive family that ended up becoming HUGE in America in multiple realms. He married into the Kennedy family of all things. He ended up dominating in three different realms career-wise. I’d say 4 as you also need to include his real estate empire.

It showed his unrelenting drive, personality and success but also his deep failures. Many times in his own words. I highly recommend watching it as it’s not just a great story but holds many lessons for our own lives.

“My whole life I had this unusual talent that I could see things very clearly in front of me. If I can see it, then it must be achievable.The idea was to sculpt the body to your will. But it also can be used to shape your mind, to do the things that everyone calls impossible. That gives you the will and no doubt that you can make your visions, not only become a reality, but go beyond your dreams. I had a fire in the belly for more. Much, much more.”

Destined for more than a regular life where he grew up in an impoverished and very small village called Thal in Austria. He never fit in.

“Growing up, I learned “You work your ass off.”’

His father made him compete against his eldest brother all the time, even on stupid things. And I think this is part of what made him so competitive. His father told him: “Whatever you do Arnold, be useful”

Entranced by an American movie Hercules starring Reg Park who was a big muscled actor. This set him off on his path and became his blueprint for his life. It’s good to have positive models and aspirations in life

“I would be working out in my house. And there was no noise. And I could think and concentrate and visualize how I could become a bodybuilding champion. How I was going to move to America and get into movies. How I could make millions of dollars.”

This coupled with community seemed to be the key to his success. He was great at joining the right crews. First time in the community of wrestlers, body builders, men with muscles who adopted him into their clique as their kid. “I think every since then, I celebrated this camaraderie. And because I admired it so much I created it wherever I went.”

One of the big points was his willingness to move. He had to get out and be around others who are better. From Thal to Graz, then Munich, then London, to Miami and then Los Angeles, specifically Venice Beach. The Mecca of Bodybuilding. Gold’s Gym on Venice Beach was the center of action where Arnold built his community. He was great at making friends and building allies who helped him as he helped them. Community and environment matters.

As Arnold said, success is a team sport.

“The only thing that is self is kind of my motivation and my visualization and all of this stuff. There were endless amounts of people that were helping me…..don’t ever call me a self made man, because I am not.”