He has inspired millions throughout his life, and that number keeps growing every day. However, few know what truly motivated a teenage boy from Austria to become the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger.

On August 12, 2020, MotivationHub shared that specific moment when the 7-time Mr. Olympia revealed his journey to the spotlight and when the young Schwarzenegger said, “Wow, this is the blueprint for my life.”

In the YouTube video, the Austrian Oak revealed that he did not see himself as a farmer or factory worker. Instead of shaping his life around his parents' vision, he chose to stay stubborn with his own ideas.

He said, “My vision was totally different. I felt that I was born for something special, for something unique, for something big. Then one day I went to school. I remember I was 11 years old and they showed a documentary about America.”

After seeing the skyscrapers, huge bridges, and high-rises, he only said to himself, “That’s where I want to be.”

However, the turning point happened when he saw a photo of former Mr. Universe, Reg Park, on the cover of a magazine.

According to Schwarzenegger, “Reg Park was then a three-time Mr. Universe, and I saw him on the big screen as Hercules. I read that, and I said to myself, Wow, this is the blueprint for my life.

This is exactly what I want to do. I want to become a bodybuilding champion just like Reg Park. I want to get into movies just like him. And I want to make millions of dollars and be rich and famous just like Reg Park.”

So, it was Schwarzenegger’s determination and the confidence that came from knowing where he was headed.

He said many people are unsure about their path, and that's what holds them back. He said, “I was so relieved, because when you have a goal, when you have a vision, everything becomes easy.”

So, the bodybuilding legend may have wanted to be like three-time Mr. Universe Park, but in reality, he outdid his idol. He is a three-time Pro Mr. Universe and a one-time amateur Mr. Universe, and all of this has been achieved through hard work.

Besides hard work, Schwarzenegger also believes in 6 secrets for success.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Secret to Success

A few years ago, Schwarzenegger attended the graduation ceremony of the University of Southern California's graduating class, where he discussed the 6 rules he follows for success in his life. The rules are:

• Trust yourself: According to the legend, people need to trust themselves. They need to understand what they want to do, like Schwarzenegger himself knew he wanted to be a bodybuilder.
• Break the rules: To achieve success, one must break the rules. Schwarzenegger admitted that he drew inspiration from Franco Columbu, who, despite being 5’5”, became Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia by breaking the rules.
• Don't be afraid of failure: Risk-taking ability is essential for success. However, those who aren't afraid of taking risks tend to achieve success in life.
• Avoid the naysayer: Schwarzenegger believes people always try to hold you back by saying no to everything. For example, if he had listened to the people in Austria, he wouldn't have been able to achieve success.
• Work hard: Above all, hard work is irreplaceable. Everyone must work hard to achieve their goals.
• Give back to society: One must recognize the importance of giving back. They need to assist others in their journey.

So, Schwarzenegger’s story proves that success comes with vision and hard work.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil