Arnold Schwarzenegger has a simple rule for handling workout setbacks: Missing is not failing. The 7-time Mr. Olympia, Schwarzenegger, follows the rule of giving back to society, and what could be more valuable to society than his wise suggestions?

So, this time he has talked about something that many people often struggle with: considering setbacks as a failure.

On July 25, the Instagram account of Arnold Pump Club shared a post in which Schwarzenegger clearly stated, “Missing is not failing.”

Often, we all need a little advice. People are just a little desperate and want some motivation to find their way. However, some people often complain that life is unfair because they did not get what they wanted, and they refuse to consider that there may have been a lack of hard work.

According to the Instagram post, Arnold said, “The missed rep, bad workout, lost opportunity, or unproductive week gives you information—provided you are willing to use it.”

Arnold said, “Before you start another week, ask yourself:

• What worked?
• What broke down?
• What will I adjust next time?

He is not asking to erase the bad time or the work. He is just asking to learn from the mistake and work harder.

Schwarzenegger said, “Save this reset for Sunday. Send it to someone who is being too hard on themselves. Then tell us: What is one adjustment you are making next week?”

Schwarzenegger not only suggested this topic, but he also went through a situation that was hard to handle.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s experience with failure

In an edition of Arnold Pump Club, Schwarzenegger shared his own experience with failure. After winning his 2nd Mr. Universe contest in 1968, he came to America at the invitation of Joe Weider, the godfather of bodybuilding.

At that time, his confidence was through the roof, and he competed in Mr. Olympia in 1968, where he lost to Frank Zane.

Talking about the defeat, he said, “I was shocked, I was depressed, and I was all alone. I had just left everyone I knew and everything I had in Europe for this. All of the thoughts you can imagine went through my head. First, the denial: how did that little guy beat me? 

Then, the mental beating and the worst-case scenarios: I’m a loser, why did I ever think this was a good idea? Weider won’t want to work with a loser. I’m going to end up back in Austria yodeling by next week.”

He even cried all night, and in the morning Arnold gathered his emotions and, instead of denial, realized that Zane was more conditioned and cut than he was. So he started working hard.

In the next move, Arnold moved to Venice, joined Gold’s Gym, and invited Zane to train with him. Arnold wanted “to learn from the person who beat” him.

He said, “I went on to win 10 more world championships. Frank and I became friends, and Joe Weider became a mentor and father figure. None of that would have happened if I had gone along with the horror stories my brain was telling me and given up and gone home.”

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil