In Be Useful, Arnold Schwarzenegger shares his blueprint for success and meaningful impact, beginning with defining your goals and using your accomplishments to benefit others. According to Schwarzenegger, “being useful” brings personal fulfillment, builds strong relationships, and creates a sense of purpose.

Drawing on his diverse career as a bodybuilder, actor, and politician, Schwarzenegger offers a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed. This guide distills his insights on finding purpose, maintaining a positive mindset, and committing fully to your work. We’ll also explore how his experiences shaped his success and his belief in public service, while comparing his ideas to those of other personal development experts.

Embrace a Positive Mindset to Overcome Obstacles

The journey toward achieving your dreams will inevitably present challenges. Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of cultivating a positive mindset, especially in the face of adversity. It’s natural to focus on the negative—an evolutionary instinct geared toward survival—but for growth and progress, it’s essential to see struggles as opportunities to develop. Rather than complaining about difficulties, Schwarzenegger encourages reframing them as potential learning moments.

This perspective aligns with psychologist Carol Dweck’s concept of the “growth mindset.” People with a growth mindset understand that their abilities can be improved through effort, while those with a fixed mindset believe their talents are static. By adopting the mindset that challenges are chances to grow, you can shift your thinking from seeing obstacles as threats to viewing them as valuable experiences.

Schwarzenegger’s own health scare following a heart surgery is an example of his resilient mindset. After the initial shock, he refocused on the goal of making a full recovery, turning a potential crisis into a motivation to push forward. Like others who have faced life-altering setbacks, such as Jill Bolte Taylor’s recovery from a stroke, Schwarzenegger’s tenacity and goal-setting allowed him to triumph over the odds.

Master Your Time for Maximum Productivity

Just as you need to reframe challenges, Schwarzenegger believes it’s vital to reconsider how you view time. Many people feel they don’t have enough time to pursue their aspirations, but Schwarzenegger argues that by critically evaluating how you spend each day, you can identify opportunities to repurpose wasted time. By cutting out distractions and committing just an hour or two each day toward your goals, you can make significant progress over time.

This approach is echoed by time management experts Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, who recommend prioritizing one key task each day and setting firm boundaries to focus your energy on it. By being intentional about how you spend your time, you can ensure that your daily actions align with your long-term goals.

Challenges Are Opportunities for Growth

Schwarzenegger teaches that life is not something that happens to you; it’s how you respond to its challenges that shapes your path. Failure, he explains, is simply an invitation to improve. For example, in weightlifting, it’s when your muscles reach their limit and fail that you know you’ve put in enough effort. The same applies to any area of personal growth—struggle signals that you’re pushing beyond your comfort zone and improving yourself.

Psychologist Jo Boaler’s research confirms that struggling with problems helps build mental resilience. When you encounter difficulties, your brain is working harder, which makes learning more effective. Thus, Schwarzenegger’s advice on physical exertion and failure in bodybuilding applies equally to intellectual and personal growth.

Lifelong Learning Is Essential

For Schwarzenegger, learning doesn’t end with formal education—it continues throughout life, driven by curiosity and a willingness to learn from anyone. Every experience offers lessons, and real-world challenges teach valuable skills that can’t be acquired in a classroom. Schwarzenegger believes that like muscles, knowledge must be applied regularly, or it risks becoming stagnant.

In today’s rapidly changing job market, lifelong learning is more crucial than ever. As technology and automation evolve, the traditional link between education and career success is weakening. By staying curious and continually updating your skills, you ensure that you remain adaptable and relevant in an increasingly dynamic world.

Commitment and Hard Work: The Keys to Success

Once you’ve identified your goals, the only way to achieve them is through sustained, hard work. Schwarzenegger stresses that this effort is not just a means to an end—it is a source of pride and self-respect. He explains that it’s the struggle to achieve that makes success meaningful. Without challenges, accomplishments lose their value.

However, hard work isn’t enough on its own. Schwarzenegger argues that you must also fully commit to your goals. This means not only giving your best effort but also setting ambitious targets and resisting the temptation to fall back on backup plans. If you aim high and don’t reach your ultimate goal, you’re still likely to accomplish something significant.

Lift Others as You Climb

True success, according to Schwarzenegger, isn’t achieved alone. Our accomplishments are the result of collective effort, and we should give back by helping others along the way. By lifting others, you create a cycle of mutual support that elevates everyone involved. This perspective challenges the notion of success as a zero-sum game, advocating instead for cooperation and shared progress.

Schwarzenegger discovered the power of helping others during his time working with the Special Olympics. Witnessing the determination of the athletes he coached showed him that the greatest success lies in unlocking the potential in others. This commitment to uplifting others not only enriches their lives but also deepens your own sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Conclusion: Make a Meaningful Impact

Schwarzenegger’s challenge to live a useful life by helping others may seem daunting, but even small gestures can make a significant difference. Whether it’s sharing your expertise or offering your time to those in need, you can create a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond yourself. By following Schwarzenegger’s principles—embracing hard work, fostering lifelong learning, and uplifting others—you not only achieve personal growth but also contribute to the betterment of society.