Arnold

I do not engage in hero worship nor am I impressed by publicity hounds or personalities.

I am, however, impressed by people who develop a vision for their life, who succeed against all odds, and whose stories and views inspire me. 

A few days ago, I underwent such an experience when I watched “Arnold” on NETFLIX. “Arnold” is a three-session biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger narrated by the man himself.

I came away impressed with the production and with the messaging.

Born into postwar Austria, Arnold grew up in a poor family and in a demoralized country shattered by the second world war and its aftermath. He saw his fellow Austrians as demoralized and defeated, yet he refused to think like them.

From his youth he mapped his future with a remarkable vision. Inspired by the actor who played Hercules, he became interested in body building. He first saw himself as Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia, and by the time he turned 20, he won the world body building championships. He saw himself succeeding, and never wavered from that vision while doing the work necessary to succeed.

His second dream was to live and prosper in the United States.

He arrived in the U.S. with no English but with the same determination he demonstrated with his body building. He continued with bodybuilding, winning a few more competitions before reinventing himself as an actor.

With his thick Austrian accent and huge physique, few expected him to succeed as an actor, much less as a leading man. During the hiatus between bodybuilder and actor he had obtained a university degree in business and wisely invested his savings in real estate – becoming a millionaire before ever becoming an actor.

This way, he could forgo minor roles to concentrate on the right opportunities and roles that eventually led to his stardom as the world’s most marketable actor. 

As he grew used to his global fame and success, he identified his third goal – politics.

This was born out of his father’s advice to always be useful. 

Leveraging his fame, Arnold joined the Republican party in California which, was then, very divided and governed by a weak leader. When popular discontent sought a recall election, Arnold won it handily. 

He won two gubernatorial terms and succeeded in governing as a moderate Republican by bringing in many Democrats into his administration. This was the golden age of Republicanism, before the party succumbed to the politics of division. 

His ability to create a consensus as a progressive Republican aiming at the future rather than focusing on the past could well serve as a guiding principle for today’s Republican leadership.

As he made his way up the ladder of success in the United States, he had married Maria Kennedy Shriver and became a associated with the Camelot mystique. 

The most poignant moment of the program came when he discussed his marriage with Maria Kennedy Shriver. To his eternal regret, he cheated on her, and this cost him his marriage, although they remain friendly. 

He fathered a child with his maid, loved and supported his son financially when he realized his fatherhood, and has had a good relationship with him and his other four children. 

So, you may ask why I chose to write about this imperfect man.

For three reasons.

His ability to visualize his goals and work towards them relentlessly, with strength of character and discipline, underscores a lesson for us all. In order to succeed, we must not wait for fate to play its hand. We must identify our goal, visualize our reaching it, and put in the work while making it part of our being.

His ability to reinvent himself and seek out new challenges beyond his comfort zone is an essential element in always moving forward and succeeding at new opportunities. 

Finally, his ability to achieve consensus between opposing factions and succeed in creating forward movement in which all feel included underscored his political success in a time of great division.

Despite his obvious flaws, Arnold’s is an example of how we can program ourselves for success and be useful (to quote his father). He is also an example as to how we must assume responsibility for our actions and mistakes, acknowledge them, and rectify them and manage them in the best possible way.

I found that the messages contained in this program resonated significantly with my philosophy of life, and I strongly recommend “Arnold” to all of you as a positive example of what discipline and a strong connection with your intuition can achieve in a world that often challenges our dreams and aspirations.

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Edition: Estefanía Cardeña