#696: Be Useful — Arnold Schwarzenegger on 7 Tools for Life, Thinking Big, Building Resilience, Processing Grief, and More | TED Radio Hour

Intro

In this episode of the TED Radio Hour, Arnold Schwarzenegger shares his insights on life, resilience, and personal growth. He discusses his new book, “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life,” and reflects on his experiences as a world-class performer, bodybuilder, actor, businessman, philanthropist, bestselling author, and politician. Schwarzenegger also opens up about his recovery from open heart surgery and the lessons he learned along the way.

Main Takeaways

Building Resilience

• Arnold Schwarzenegger’s positive attitude and determination helped him recover from a challenging open heart surgery.
• Exercising the lungs is crucial to prevent pneumonia after open heart surgery.
• Setting small goals and working towards them can lead to successful recovery.

Thinking Big

• Arnold Schwarzenegger’s success came from setting big goals and not holding back.
• Having a clear vision and taking steps to achieve it can lead to success.
• Arnold’s success in real estate provided him with financial stability to pursue his dream of being a leading man in movies.

Overcoming Challenges

• Selling is an art that requires improvisation and adapting to different audiences.
• Shifting gears and adapting to unexpected situations is essential for success.
• Failure is a necessary part of growth and success.

Helping Others

• Arnold Schwarzenegger believes in being useful and using his talents to help others.
• Recognizing the support of others and giving back is important for success.
• Arnold’s new book, “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life,” provides practical advice for personal growth and helping others.

Summary

Building Resilience

Arnold Schwarzenegger shares his experience of recovering from open heart surgery and emphasizes the importance of a positive attitude and determination in overcoming challenges. He highlights the significance of exercising the lungs to prevent pneumonia after surgery and setting small goals for successful recovery.

Thinking Big

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s success can be attributed to his ability to think big and set clear goals. He shares his journey from bodybuilding to becoming a leading actor and highlights the importance of having a vision and taking steps to achieve it. Arnold’s success in real estate provided him with financial stability to pursue his dreams in the entertainment industry.

Overcoming Challenges

Arnold Schwarzenegger believes in the art of selling and emphasizes the importance of improvisation and adapting to different audiences. He shares the significance of shifting gears and quickly adapting to unexpected situations. Arnold also acknowledges that failure is a necessary part of growth and success.

Helping Others

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s upbringing and his father’s advice to “be useful” influenced his attitude towards bodybuilding and life in general. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the support of others and giving back. Arnold’s new book, “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life,” provides practical advice for personal growth and helping others.

Conclusion

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey is filled with lessons on resilience, thinking big, overcoming challenges, and helping others. His experiences, from recovering from open heart surgery to achieving success in various fields, serve as inspiration for personal growth and making a positive impact on the world. Through his new book and motivational speeches, Schwarzenegger aims to empower individuals to embrace their potential and fulfill their dreams.