Arnold Schwarzenegger Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches Ever

Summary

In this inspiring speech, Arnold Schwarzenegger shares the secrets to his success, emphasizing the importance of having a vision and setting clear goals. Born in post-war Austria, he was determined to break free from a mundane life and found his purpose in bodybuilding and acting, inspired by Reg Park. Schwarzenegger's unwavering belief in his vision, despite naysayers, led him to become a champion, a successful actor, and the Governor of California. His story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the ability to turn perceived liabilities into assets.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The importance of having a vision and goal in life to avoid aimless drifting.
• 🏆 The speaker's personal journey from Austria to America, driven by a vision of success.
• 💪 Discovering a role model in Reg Park, who inspired the speaker to pursue bodybuilding and acting.
• 🎖 The realization of a clear goal in life, which brings relief and motivation to work hard.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The joy and eagerness to train hard towards a defined goal, like becoming Mr. Universe.
• 🎥 The transition from bodybuilding to acting, showing the speaker's adaptability and persistence.
• 🗳️ The political ambition to become the leader of California, demonstrating a clear and achievable vision.
• 🚫 Ignoring naysayers and proving them wrong by achieving what was thought to be impossible.
• 🎬 The speaker's experience in the film industry, where initial failures did not deter from the ultimate success.
• 🏆 The recognition of personal attributes, like body and accent, as assets rather than liabilities.
• 👂 The lesson to not listen to those who discourage or belittle one's ideas and dreams.

Q & A

What is the first rule of success mentioned in the script?

The first rule of success is to have a vision, which provides direction and purpose to one's life.

What did the speaker feel about Austria when he was growing up?

The speaker did not like Austria when he was growing up and couldn't wait to leave, as he felt he was meant for something special and unique.

What sparked the speaker's interest in America?

The speaker's interest in America was sparked by a documentary he saw at school when he was 11, showcasing the skyscrapers, high rises, and infrastructure of the country.

Who was Reg Park and how did he influence the speaker's life vision?

Reg Park was a three-time Mr. Universe and an actor who played Hercules. Seeing him on the cover of a bodybuilding magazine inspired the speaker to become a bodybuilding champion, an actor, and to achieve wealth and fame.

How did the speaker describe his experience of working out in the gym during the 'Pumping Iron' days?

The speaker described his experience as enjoyable and fulfilling because he saw every workout as a step closer to achieving his goal of becoming Mr. Universe.

What was the speaker's goal when he was 20 years old and went to London?

The speaker's goal was to win the Mr. Universe contest as the youngest Mr. Universe ever, driven by his clear vision and goal.

What is the speaker's view on having a purpose in life?

The speaker believes that having a purpose is crucial in life, as it makes work enjoyable and gives direction, contrasting with the majority who drift without a goal.

What was the speaker's vision in politics?

The speaker's vision in politics was to become the leader of California, which he saw as the ultimate accomplishment given he could not run for president due to not being born in America.

What was the speaker's response to people telling him something was impossible?

The speaker would take 'impossible' as a challenge and a motivation to prove it could be done, drawing inspiration from Nelson Mandela's belief that everything is impossible until someone does it.

How did the speaker deal with the initial failure of his movie 'Hercules in New York'?

The speaker was not discouraged by the failure of 'Hercules in New York' and continued to pursue his vision, eventually leading to greater success in his acting career.

What did the director of 'Conan the Barbarian' say about the speaker's body in relation to the movie's success?

The director, John Milius, stated that if they hadn't had the speaker's body, they would have had to build one, highlighting how his physique became an asset for the movie's success.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Pursuing a Vision for Success

The speaker begins by emphasizing the importance of having a vision for success. He shares his personal story, starting from his birth in post-war Austria in 1947, and how he was determined to leave the country to pursue something greater. The turning point was when he saw a documentary about America, which inspired him to aim for the land of opportunity. His vision became clear when he encountered a bodybuilding magazine featuring Reg Park, a three-time Mr. Universe, igniting his desire to become a champion, an actor, and a wealthy, famous individual. The speaker highlights the joy and relief of having a clear goal, which motivated him to work tirelessly towards his dreams, even in the face of long gym hours. His determination led him to become the youngest Mr. Universe at the age of 20 and to eventually achieve his vision.

05:01

🚀 Overcoming Naysayers and Achieving Political Aspirations

In the second paragraph, the speaker discusses the second rule of success: ignoring naysayers. Despite being told that his goals were impossible, he remained steadfast in his vision. He recounts his journey in bodybuilding, acting, and eventually politics, where he became the Governor of California. The speaker shares anecdotes from his acting career, including initial failures and the success of 'Conan the Barbarian,' which proved his critics wrong. He also mentions 'Terminator,' where his unique attributes, once seen as liabilities, became assets to his success. The speaker's message is clear: hard work and perseverance in the face of doubt and rejection are key to turning one's vision into reality.

Keywords

💡Success

Success in the context of the video is defined as achieving a set vision or goal. It is the overarching theme of the speaker's narrative, illustrating his journey from a young boy in Austria to various accomplishments in America. The speaker emphasizes that having a clear vision is the first rule of success, as it provides direction and purpose.

💡Vision

Vision, as used in the script, refers to a clear mental image of what one wants to achieve or become in the future. The speaker's vision of moving to America and becoming a bodybuilding champion like Reg Park is a driving force behind his actions and eventual success. It is the foundation upon which he builds his goals and aspirations.

💡Goal

A goal is a specific, achievable aim that one sets to work towards. In the video, the speaker's goal is to become Mr. Universe, which he uses as a motivational tool during his rigorous training. The concept of goal-setting is integral to the narrative, as it helps the speaker to stay focused and committed to his vision.

💡Drift

To drift in the context of the video means to move or live without a clear direction or purpose. The speaker contrasts those who drift with those who have a vision, highlighting the importance of having a clear path to follow in order to achieve success and avoid aimlessness.

💡Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is the sport of developing one's musculature and physical appearance through weight training and other forms of exercise. The speaker's interest in bodybuilding is sparked by seeing Reg Park, and it becomes a central part of his life and a stepping stone to his later achievements in movies and politics.

💡Blueprint

In the script, a blueprint is a detailed plan or guide for achieving something. The speaker sees Reg Park as a blueprint for his life, providing a clear path to follow in order to become a bodybuilding champion, an actor, and a wealthy, famous individual.

💡Naysayers

Naysayers are individuals who express doubt or disbelief in one's ability to achieve a goal or vision. The speaker advises not to listen to naysayers, as they can discourage progress. Instead, he encourages turning their negativity into motivation, as he did in his own journey to success.

💡Hard Work

Hard work is the concept of putting in significant effort and dedication to achieve a goal. The speaker emphasizes the importance of hard work in his journey, from bodybuilding to acting, and even in politics. It is portrayed as a key ingredient in turning his vision into reality.

💡Purpose

Purpose refers to the reason for which something is done or created, or for which something exists. The speaker stresses the importance of having a purpose in life, as it makes the pursuit of goals enjoyable and meaningful, contrasting with the majority who dislike their jobs due to lack of purpose.

💡Accomplishment

Accomplishment is the act of completing a task or achieving a goal. The speaker uses the term to describe his achievements, such as becoming the youngest Mr. Universe and later the Governor of California. These accomplishments are the tangible results of his vision and hard work.

💡Assets

Assets in the video are the positive attributes or qualities that contribute to one's success. Initially, the speaker's body and accent were seen as liabilities, but they eventually became assets in his acting career, particularly in roles like Conan the Barbarian and the Terminator.

Highlights

The first rule of success is having a vision and a clear goal.

Growing up in post-war Austria, the speaker had a vision of something special and unique for himself.

Inspired by a documentary about America, the speaker aspired to go there and achieve big things.

A bodybuilding magazine featuring Reg Park inspired the speaker's life goal of becoming a champion and entering movies.

Knowing one's direction in life brings relief and motivation, as opposed to aimlessly drifting.

The speaker's dedication to bodybuilding was fueled by his vision of becoming Mr. Universe.

Having a clear goal makes hard work enjoyable and purposeful.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a purpose in life, contrary to the majority who dislike their jobs.

A clear vision in politics led the speaker to become the governor of California.

The second rule of success is ignoring naysayers and their negative predictions.

The speaker turned perceived liabilities, such as his body and accent, into assets in his career.

Hard work and persistence are key, as demonstrated by the speaker's journey in acting and bodybuilding.

The director of 'Conan the Barbarian' acknowledged the speaker's unique body as essential to the role.

In 'Terminator', the speaker's accent became a character trait that contributed to the movie's success.

The speaker advises not to listen to those who discourage your ideas or vision.

Nelson Mandela's quote about impossibility until someone achieves it inspires the speaker's mindset.

Transcripts

i'm here to talk about success

[Music]

the first rule of success is to have a

vision

you see if you don't have a vision of

where you go and if you don't have a

goal where you go

you drift around and you never end up

anywhere

i mean as you know i was born in 1947 in

austria after the second world war

so i was very fortunate

that i stumbled under my vision

and i didn't really like austria when i

grew up

i couldn't wait to get out of there

i couldn't see myself becoming a farmer

or a worker in a factory

or anything like that

even though my parents wanted me to stay

there and have a normal life

but that was their vision not mine

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

was 11 years old

and they showed a documentary about

america

there they showed this documentary the

huge skyscrapers

the high rises

the huge bridges

the six lane freeways

and all of this stuff in this emissive

that's where i want to be

[Music]

i don't want to be around here with

these little farm houses and these

little buildings i want to be in america

one day after school i walked by a store

in graz

so i went inside and i looked around and

then i saw a magazine

there's a bodybuilding magazine that had

reg park on the cover

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 rage park

i want to get into movies just like rich

park

and i want to make millions of dollars

and be rich and famous

just like reg park

do you know how great it felt

that i knew where i was going

imagine the majority of people don't

know where they're going

i knew where i was going

that i'm going to become this

bodybuilding champion just like him

so it was just a question of how do you

do it

i was so relieved

because when you have a goal when you

have a vision everything becomes

easy so people always ask me when they

saw me in the gym in the pumping iron

days

they say why is it that you're working

out so hard

five hours a day six hours a day and you

have always a smile on your face

and i told people all the time i said

because to me

i'm shooting for gold

in front of me is the mr universe title

so every rep that i do gets me closer to

accomplishing that chord to make this

core this vision turn into reality

every single set that i do

every repetition every weight that i

lift will get me a step closer to turn

the score in the reality

so i couldn't wait to do another 500

pound squat i couldn't wait to do

another 500 pound bench press i couldn't

wait to do another 2 000 reps of sit-ups

i couldn't wait for the next exercise

with the age of 20 i went to london and

i wanted to miss the universe contest as

the youngest mr universe ever

and it was because

i had a goal

[Applause]

so let me tell you something visualizing

your goal and going after it makes it

fun you've got to have a purpose no

matter what you do in life you've got to

have a purpose

[Music]

74 percent

hate their job in america

now there's not much different when you

come to europe

the majority of people don't like what

they're doing

because they're really not doing it

because they didn't have a goal and they

followed the score they just aimlessly

drift around and then all of a sudden if

there's a job opening so they get their

job because you have to work

but then when you work it's a chore

it's work

it's not fun so if you think about only

a quarter of the people really enjoy

what they're doing in life

that is unbelievable if you think about

it so i felt so blessed that i knew what

i was doing

it's like a medical student that studies

and knows he wants to become a doctor

you know where to go

and the same thing is also in politics

i remember that in politics i had a very

clear vision

[Music]

that i will be the leader of california

this is as far as i could go because i

was not born in america so i could not

run for president

so being the governor of the fifth

largest state

of i should say the largest state the

fifth largest economy in the world

was for me really

the ultimate title the ultimate

accomplishment in politics

so even though people came up to me and

says why don't you go

and run for something smaller you're

never gonna make it

i ran for governor and then two months

later i became governor of the state of

california

again because i had a very clear vision

what i'm gonna do with california

[Applause]

so that's rule number one

have a vision

rule number two is

don't listen to the naysayers

don't listen to the naysayers

everything i ever did

the thing that they heard out of

people's mouth was that's impossible

[Music]

that can't be done

or no

that is exactly what i heard and of

course i proved to the people that it

can't be done

so whenever someone said to me

it can't be done i heard it can be done

when they said no i heard yes

and when they said it's impossible i

heard it is possible

i'm a strong believer what nelson

mandela said

that everything is always impossible

until someone does it

well i'm gonna be the one who said to

myself i'm gonna do it and i'm gonna

show it to them maybe it has never been

done before

that's perfectly fine with me

but i'm gonna do it

and i did not listen to the naysayers

it's all about the hard work that you

put in

i said i must have been bodybuilding i

worked

out five six hours a day i'm gonna do

the same thing now for acting

and of course i went to college to study

english

i studied the

accent removal

acting classes

and all of this stuff

all day long

i worked and i worked in the work

[Music]

and within a short period of time i made

one movie called hercules in new york

which of course went right into the

toilet

but it didn't discourage me i still had

the same vision

and then all of a sudden i did streets

of san francisco

i did stay hungry and pumping on

and the villain and then all of a sudden

i was asked by dino de laurentiis at the

universal studio to star in conan the

barbarian

and after i did conan the barbarian the

director at the press conference said to

the press

the director was john millius

he said to the press if we wouldn't have

had arnold we would have had to build

one

so think about that

the very body

that they said

can never be sold because the time is

wrong

a few years later

i'm doing conan the barbarian and it was

the number one hit at the box office

when it came out

in the summer of 82.

think about that and the director says

if we wouldn't have had his body we

would have had to build one

so all of a sudden

my body became an asset not a liability

and the same thing was with terminator

after we were finished filming

terminator jim cameron said to the press

if arnold wouldn't have had that accent

and talked like a machine

i think the movie wouldn't have

worked so think about that

the body and the accent that they

attacked was an asset

but i didn't listen to those losers

i didn't listen to them at all it's just

the reality of it is that you cannot

listen to the naysayers so this is a

very important lesson for all of you so

when someone says no this is a stupid

idea

you in your mind you don't have to say

but your mind to say this of you you saw

what do you know

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Music]

you