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Thinking big has been a consistent theme throughout Arnold Schwarzenegger's life. From his early days in bodybuilding, he pushed himself to compete in bigger competitions, aiming for Mr. Europe instead of just Mr. Austria. In his acting career, he set his sights on becoming a leading man, not settling for character roles. Thinking big allowed him to achieve greater success and surpass the expectations of others.
Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of selling oneself and one's ideas. He learned the art of selling at a young age, working as a salesman and realizing that it plays a vital role in achieving success. He recognized that no matter how talented or accomplished one is, if others don't know about it, one's achievements are meaningless. Schwarzenegger's understanding of selling has allowed him to promote himself, his movies, his ideas, and his art, opening up opportunities and creating his own path to success.
Throughout his life, Arnold Schwarzenegger has displayed the ability to quickly adapt and shift gears when faced with unexpected situations. Whether it was recovering from heart surgery or transitioning from bodybuilding to acting, he has mastered the art of improvisation and adjusting to new challenges. Schwarzenegger attributes this skill to being able to think on his feet and not getting stuck on a predetermined path. Shifting gears has allowed him to seize new opportunities and continue progressing in his various pursuits.
Arnold Schwarzenegger recently experienced the loss of his close friend Franco Columbu. He shares that his reaction to grief differs from others, as it is not so much the initial shock but the ongoing absence that is difficult. Schwarzenegger recounts the everyday reminders of his friend's presence, such as an empty chessboard where they used to play. He expresses the heartbreak of seeing these reminders and missing the deep conversations they shared. Their longtime friendship has left an indelible mark, and the loss of Franco has left a void in Schwarzenegger's life.
The podcast discusses the importance of taking care of your physical health and fitness as you age. Arnold Schwarzenegger shares his own experiences with aging, such as dealing with chronic pain and the impact of heart surgery on his physical abilities. He emphasizes the need to adapt and be disciplined with exercise and nutrition to prevent and manage age-related issues like back pain and joint problems. Schwarzenegger encourages people to set goals, have a purpose, and continue to challenge themselves physically, while also recognizing the importance of listening to your body and seeking help when needed.
Another key theme discussed in the podcast is the power of failure and the importance of giving back. Schwarzenegger highlights the role of failure in success, drawing parallels between weightlifting and embracing failure as a means of growth. He encourages listeners to overcome the fear of failure and approach challenges with a positive mindset. Additionally, Schwarzenegger emphasizes the responsibility to help others and give back, recognizing that success is often a result of the support and guidance received from others. He urges individuals to look beyond themselves and find ways to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Brought to you by Wealthfront high-yield savings account, Eight Sleep’s Pod Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) is an Austrian-born bodybuilder, actor, businessman, philanthropist, bestselling author, and politician. He served as the thirty-eighth governor of California. His new book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, is out October 10th, and his daily email newsletter Pump Club recently hit more than 500,000 subscribers and continues to grow as a positive corner of the Internet.
Schwarzenegger has made it his mission to give back. Since his time in the Governor’s house, he’s been working diligently to combat climate change, anti-semitism, ensure fair voting practices, help youth, work with Veterans, and inspire healthy living.
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This episode is brought to you by AG1! I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG1 further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
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This episode is also brought to you by Wealthfront! Wealthfront is an app that helps you save and invest your money. Right now, you can earn 4.80% APY—that’s the Annual Percentage Yield—with the Wealthfront Cash Account. That’s more than eleven times more interest than if you left your money in a savings account at the average bank, according to FDIC.gov.
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This episode is also brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
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[06:37] Recovering from heart surgery.
[11:19] Age 10 entrepreneurship.
[15:38] Arnold's dad and the importance of being useful.
[21:02] Arnold and his brother: same upbringing, different outcomes.
[27:53] Building ladders and never thinking small.
[34:49] When Arnold's self-bet to be a comedic lead paid off.
[41:26] We're all in sales.
[46:43] The significance of shifting gears.
[50:24] Grieving Franco Columbu.
[54:53] Aging.
[1:02:17] Arnold's current state of self-identity.
[1:05:07] What Arnold hopes readers take away from Be Useful.
[1:12:18] Parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors
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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.
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