Imagine, more than 80 million copies of Think and Grow Rich<\/em> have been sold. There\u2019s Rich Dad, Poor Dad<\/em> with 26 million, and even Norman Vincent Peale\u2019s 1952 tome, The Power of Positive Thinking<\/em>, continues to inspire. The number of copies sold shows there are a lot of people searching for answers.<\/p>\n One of the newest books and perhaps one of the most motivational ones to be published is by an unlikely self-help guy: Arnold Schwarzenegger and it’s titled,\u00a0Be Useful. Seven Tools for Life.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Why would the man known for such notable roles in over 40 films like The Terminator<\/em> with his catchphrase, \u201cI\u2019ll be back,\u201d Predator<\/em> (\u201cStick around!\u201d), True Lies<\/em> (\u201cYou\u2019re fired\u201d), and Kindergarten Cop<\/em> (\u201cIt\u2019s not a tumor!\u201d), write a self-help book?<\/p>\n The truth: Everyone faces adversity or calamity in their lives \u2026 some more catastrophic than others. Schwarzenegger is no exception.<\/p>\n \u201cI had dramatic losses in my bodybuilding career, I had movies that went in the toilet \u2026 but I wasn\u2019t even close to rock bottom. And it wasn\u2019t the recession that brought my world crashing down. I did that to myself,\u201d Schwarzenegger said. \u201cI blew up my family. No failure has ever felt worse than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t look here for the gory details of his fall from grace. This book is not about recounting his biggest life failure. As he says, you can Google it to find out the details. Nor is it a memoir of his many accomplishments, although he draws upon them to point out how he overcame setbacks or succeeded in reaching the next level.<\/p>\n \u201cI was at the bottom. I\u2019d been here before. But this time, I was facedown in the mud, in a dark hole, and I had to decide whether it was worth it to clean myself up and start the slow climb out or to just give up,\u201d Schwarzenegger said.<\/p>\n Schwarzenegger shares his rise from what he describes as rock bottom, even though he had accomplished more than most mere mortals do in a lifetime.<\/p>\n And, as he would say in his 1984 role in The Terminator<\/em>, \u201cI\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, he\u2019s back, and this time with his new book, Be Useful. Seven Tools for Life<\/em> to be released on October 10, 2023 in hardcover, Kindle and audio versions (Penguin Press).<\/p>\n With millions of people falling into depression, wondering how to move forward, the time is perfect for Schwarzenegger to offer a tool kit for others to rescue themselves.<\/p>\n Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Photo: Gage_Skidmore. Wikimedia. Licensed under the Creative Commons<\/p><\/div>\n Schwarzenegger will tell you he is a product of many experiences and people.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a rule. You can call me Schnitzel \u2026 you can call me Schwarzie, but don\u2019t ever call me a self-made man.\u201d<\/p>\n He believes that anyone can reach their goal. And that no one does it on their own. Everyone is surrounded by others who influence them \u2013 for better or worse.<\/p>\n Arnold Schwarzenegger before defending his title for his fifth Mr. Olympia contest in 1974. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org<\/p><\/div>\n Schwarzenegger is considered one of the world\u2019s greatest bodybuilders, highest-paid, and well-known movie stars. His impressive trajectory from modest means in a rural Austrian town to the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and the Mr. Olympia title seven times is extraordinary in itself.<\/p>\n He said his success was fueled by how he learned to dream big at an early age and came to the United States to fulfill it as a bodybuilder and an actor. Bodybuilding was always a part of his life even as he forayed into the world of on camera star. Who can forget the infomercials that preceded many of his films where he would say: “If you exercise, you energize!”<\/p>\n Why would a successful actor like Schwarzenegger, who reached what most people thought was the top of his game, keep pushing for more? He notes he killed 283 people in his movies by the end of 1987 in eight films.<\/p>\n Arnold Schwarzenegger being filmed for Pumping Iron<\/em>. Photo: Wikimedia Commons<\/p><\/div>\n But, he wanted to show everyone he was more than a muscleman action figure. He wanted to do comedies. Who would have thought he could do it?<\/p>\n How unlikely was it for him to pair up with Danny DeVito in Twins<\/em>? Pretty unlikely but the 1988 film was a huge success. The duo and producer Ivan Reitman ditched the regular salaries and opted for taking 40% of the box office and rental returns, which proved to be a wise decision. Sales were over $216 million worldwide at that time.<\/p>\n Schwarzenegger wanted to prove he could do comedy, so he did so with follow-up films like Kindergarten Cop<\/em>, Jingle All the Way<\/em>, and Junior<\/em>.<\/p>\n Arnold Schwarzenegger on Capitol Hill for a 1991 event related to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Photo: Library of Congress<\/p><\/div>\n During the George H. W. Bush administration, Schwarzenegger was the President\u2019s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports<\/a> chair.<\/p>\n In the early 90s, Schwarzenegger helped with the initial development of After-School All-Stars<\/a>, one of the country\u2019s largest nonprofit organizations with 19 chapters working to close the opportunity gap for low-income youth. The programs operate in 725 school-year sites and summer camps in 78 cities nationwide.<\/p>\n Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California, visits Old Town Eureka to survey earthquake damage, 2010. Photo: Wikipedia, Bob Doran<\/p><\/div>\n In a 2003 special election to replace Gray David, the Governor of California, Schwarzenegger beat his closest opponent by 1 million votes and served until 2011.<\/p>\n Schwarzenegger\u2019s desire to reach the public with his fitness message did not stop after he retired from politics.<\/p>\n In 2012, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy<\/a> was created to help advance the common cause of cooperation between political parties to find the best ideas and solutions to benefit the people they serve.<\/p>\n He continues to sell his gospel through a daily fitness email, Arnolds Pump Club<\/a>, and produces Arnold Sport Festivals<\/a> an annual multi-sport event consisting of professional bodybuilding, strongman, fitness, figure, and bikini weekend expo. The 2024 Arnold Sports Festival Will Be Held Feb. 29 – March 3, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>\n Arnold Schwarzenegger. Photo: Michael Schwartz<\/p><\/div>\n In addition to Schwarzenegger\u2019s other accomplishments, he has written eight books in various genres, such as bodybuilding, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding<\/em>, memoir (Total Recall<\/em>), Arnold: The Education of a Body Builder<\/em>, and a children\u2019s book, Arnold\u2019s Fitness for Kids, Age 11-14.<\/em><\/p>\n But Schwarzenegger never thought he would become a \u201cself-help\u201d guy.<\/p>\n He called upon tools that he has used his entire life to become successful in whatever goal he had, whether it was a bodybuilder champ, a successful actor, or a governor. The book is called \u201cBe Useful. Seven Tools for Life<\/em>.\u201d He says he chose the title to honor his father and his philosophy that everyone needs to be useful.<\/p>\n It all starts with a plan, a vision of where you wish to be. Schwarzenegger advises creating little goals and working at achieving them\u2014small stuff, even like organizing your home.<\/p>\n Schwarzenegger lays out his seven rules in seven chapters. His rules form a tool kit he outlines in his new book. No spoiler alert here — you\u2019ll need to grab the book to follow his plan. In the meantime, intertwined within his tools are excellent tips such as:<\/p>\n He cites numerous success stories that were achieved by people who wouldn\u2019t give up such as the Founders of Airbnb who were rejected by seven investors when they first tried to raise money and how Walt Disney\u2019s first animation company went under.<\/p>\n Thinking big and achieving something spurs people on to go to the next level. \u201cFulfilling a dream gives you the power to see further and deeper \u2013 further out into the world toward what is possible, and deeper into yourself to what you are capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n He notes that Elon Musk didn\u2019t stop after founding Pay Pal. Michelangelo didn\u2019t quit after sculpting David \u2026 the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was waiting.<\/p>\n Hard work for Schwarzenegger helped him achieve his goals. He says he\u00a0 worked out twice a day for four or five hours as a bodybuilder to become a success.<\/p>\n After retiring from bodybuilding, he applied the same work ethic to learning his acting craft. He signed up for acting, English, speech, dancing, and improv lessons. For Terminator<\/em>, he spent hours learning how to do the gun stunts blindfolded and practiced shooting without blinking. He even took \u201caccent removal\u201d classes (although he jokes he wants his money back!).<\/p>\n He has appeared in over 40 films from, who can forget, Conan<\/em>, The Terminator<\/em>, Total Recall<\/em>, Last Action Hero<\/em>, True Lies<\/em>, Kindergarten Cop<\/em>. And, now in 2023, his latest Fubar<\/em><\/a> and the Netflix documentary series, Arnold<\/a>.<\/p>\n He makes a great case for those who gripe about not having enough time in a day to accomplish their goals. He dissects the 24-hour day with his \u201c24-Hour Countdown.\u201d Calculating how much time the average person needs for sleep, work, commuting, family time, eating, television, and physical activity in a 24-hour day, he concludes there are two hours left! Two hours to reach your goals.<\/p>\n \u201cRest is for babies, and relaxation is for retired people. Which one are you?\u201d Schwarzenegger said. \u201cIf you want to do something special\u2026 I believe you\u2019re going to have to put relaxation aside for a while. But fine, you want some relaxation, take half of the remaining time for your little nap. That still gives you an hour each day to work toward your goal.\u201d<\/p>\n So \u2026 Listen to Schwarzenegger \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cTurn your TV off. Throw your machines out the window. Save your excuses for someone who cares. And get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are ready to get going on remaking your future, Schwarzenegger will motivate you through Be Useful. Seven Tools for Life<\/em>. Follow his guidance: Reframe failure, have a purpose, a vision.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Jacket.Be-Useful-650.jpg\")
<\/a>Why A Self-Help Book Now?<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Arnold_Schwarzenegger_by_Gage_Skidmore_wikicommons.650.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cI Am Not a Self-Made Man\u201d<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Who is the Real Arnold Schwarzenegger?<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Foray into National Fitness and Politics<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Be Useful Seven Tools for Life is Published<\/h3>\n
Seven Rules Are in Schwarzenegger\u2019s New Book<\/h3>\n
Ignore the Naysayers<\/h3>\n
Think Big<\/h3>\n
Work Your Ass Off<\/h3>\n
Use Your Time Wisely<\/h3>\n