Mindset and Success: A Lesson From Arnold Schwarzenegger

If you had to name only one thing that made success not only possible but likely, what would that one thing be? As I was listening to an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it became more and more obvious that it wasn’t his big muscles or talent that made him so successful; it was his attitude.

A lot has been written on the subject of attitude, but Arnold Schwarzenegger takes it to a whole new level. In the beginning of his career in bodybuilding, he realized that there was practically no difference between the top five athletes competing for the title of Mr. Universe; hence, to pick a winner, judges were forced to look at something beyond the physical appearance of the contestants. Young Schwarzenegger noticed that the judges tended to pick the bodybuilder who looked relaxed and comfortable, like he was having fun. That’s not to say that Schwarzenegger didn’t have to make any effort to win — that wouldn’t be true. But the point is that once you reach a certain level where you know you are one of the best, it’s your attitude that makes you different from everyone else.

“I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win,” says Schwarzenegger of his early competitions. What an attitude! Compare that to what most people say when they start a new endeavor:

• I will give it a try.
• I am going to test things out.
• I will see how it goes.

This way of thinking puts you at a disadvantage before you even begin. There is a world of difference between just trying and committing to making things work. When you are just trying, your foundation is wobbly; anything — even a minor remark from a competitor — could throw you off balance.

Interviewed by author Tim Ferriss, who may be just as fascinating as Schwarzenegger himself, the 38th governor of California admitted to using emotional manipulation to disorient his competitors in bodybuilding. His strategy involved the following:

• find a weak spot — a receding hairline, extra weight, or even a completely made-up imperfection;
• mention it to the competitor to make him anxious during the competition;
• win.

Because there was very little difference between the top guys, the only way he could gain an advantage was by appearing to be in a better psychological condition than his competitors. While there is no doubt that many people will find this tactic objectionable, we can probably agree that one of the decisive factors was Schwarzenegger’s confidence. His attitude gave him such a solid foundation that even the meanest remark couldn’t have thrown him off balance.

As we all know, bodybuilding is not Schwarzenegger’s only achievement. Armed with his unusual confidence and commitment to success, he began investing in real estate and became a millionaire even before his film career took off. It was his self-assurance that carried him all the way to celebrity status when everyone was saying he didn’t have what it took to succeed in the film industry. Later on, he became the 38th governor of California — quite an impressive turn of events, particularly for someone who was born and grew up far away in a small Austrian village. Be it bodybuilding, business, acting, or politics, Schwarzenegger didn’t intend to just try; he intended to win.

And now it’s all about you: What type of player are you? Are you competitive? Do you intend to win? Or do you expect to fail?

Written by E.G.
Photo by Gage Skidmore