Arnold Schwarzenegger changed the face of bodybuilding not only in America but also around the world. When he first appeared in Pumping Iron, people and fitness enthusiasts were mesmerized. Arnold also showed the world that with a perfect body, one can not only achieve success in professional bodybuilding but also in other fields, such as acting.

His life story was an inspiration to people in the 80s and 90s, and it still motivates millions. One such inspired individual is Mike O'Hearn. On July 29, O'Hearn shared a post on Instagram in which he praised the 7-time Mr. Olympia for his impact on his life. He said,

“Arnold @schwarzenegger is the definition of an outlier. Most people see the physique. They see the seven Mr. Olympia titles. They see the movies, the fame, and the success. As a kid, the physique is what first caught my attention.”

In the Instagram post, O'Hearn admitted that it is not the muscles that make Arnold special. It is his mindset.

Born in a small Austrian village, Arnold faced skepticism about pursuing bodybuilding, Mr. Olympia, or emigrating to America. But he thought outside the box. And, despite many issues, including restrictions from his family, Arnold chose the path of bodybuilding.

That's why O'Hearn said, “He refused to think like everyone else. He refused to live an ordinary life.”

O'Hearn also talked about how the Austrian Oak, “built, adapted, learned and reinvented himself over and over again.”

And no one can deny that when Schwarzenegger first came to America, he was criticized in many ways, specifically for his English. However, he overcame that challenge too and even worked as a main actor in Hollywood movies like The Terminator, and finally became a politician.

O'Hearn also said, “I've spent decades competing in bodybuilding, powerlifting, martial arts, football, television, and movies. The longer my own journey has been, the more I've realized that a great physique may open the first door—but it's an outlier mindset that carries you through every door after that.

Mike O’Hearn himself began competing at age 14, winning the Teenage Washington State title. He claimed multiple natural titles, including four Natural Mr. Universe wins (notably 1997 INBA), plus NPC Superheavyweight victories, competing mainly in natural federations for over 40 years.

With that mindset, Schwarzenegger still trains regularly and proves to everyone that age is just a number.

Apart from mindset, what other philosophies must every person follow to achieve success in life?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rule for success

On July 11, the YouTube channel Moonshots Podcast talked about 6 vital rules that can be linked to Schwarzenegger’s philosophy and life experience, which helped him achieve success.

The rules include:

• Set Clear Goals: Schwarzenegger always led his life with a clear goal. Whether it was setting a goal to become a bodybuilder and Mr. Universe after seeing Reg Park as Hercules, or getting determined to change the lifestyle he used to live because of financial constraints, he always had a goal.
• Take Risk: Arnold showed the world that if you are determined enough, with proper preparation, one must take risks. He took a risk when he went absent without leave from the Austrian military in 1965 at age 18 to compete in the Junior Mr. Europe bodybuilding contest, which he won.
• Work hard: Work ethic is another thing that makes him different. The person who turns 79 on July 30 and still trains daily in a gym knows the value of hard work.
• Learn from failure: In an Arnold Pump Club newsletter, the bodybuilding legend said, “screw-ups are part of the process, which means thinking they are not actually screw-ups can change your perception and lead to more success.”
• Be disciplined: Arnold once said, “Do you have to discipline yourself to have breakfast, lunch or dinner? Of course not; and so discipline - the usual concept of it - doesn't apply here. I had to discipline myself to learn English, but never to train”.
• Give back: Arnold always believed that he could not achieve so much in his life without the support of others. For instance, during his early days in the USA, he got support from Joe Wider. So Arnold said We must give back to society.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta