Be Useful! Great advice from a great man!

Title: Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life

 Author: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Reviewer: Richard Sesek (educator, wantrepreneur)

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Topic/Intent of book: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Be Useful summarizes Schwarzenegger’s many experiences into seven life principles for both success and fulfillment. He leans heavily on his bodybuilding career for examples and metaphors to illustrate his points. His intent is to inspire others to reach their full potential and, in so doing, make the world a better place.

I selected this book because: As an educator, I always interested in guidelines and

frameworks to help bring one’s goals to fruition. In recent years, I have become increasingly impressed with Schwarzeneggar’s positive influences from commencement speeches (“The Myth of the Self-Made Man”) to his support for the Special Olympics (with his time, resources, and eloquent defense of the athletes themselves).

Recommendation: Absolutely! I highly recommend this book for anybody seeking actionable advice for self-improvement as well as discovering and pursuing their own life’s purpose. For me, this book was incredibly motivating. It focuses on real-world applications and not “10-cent psychology.” He quotes real psychology studies along with the practical ramifications of those studies. He is clear that not everyone can become Mr. Olympia, but he is also clear that you can never achieve your potential without striving for your best.

This book is full of great quotes and anecdotes all delivered with “ruthless positivity.” “Don't fake it till you make it, live it.” He’s not perfect, nor does he pretend to be. He even tells you at that beginning of the book to google his mistakes if you are so inclined. He acknowledges that his actions have hurt others (e.g., infidelity, etc.) and he apologizes for this. For the audio version, he reads it himself, which is a real treat. He doesn't mince words and calls bullshit on bullshit. He is self-deprecating (he wants his money back for lessons on losing your accent) and genuine.

Major lessons from this book: Develop a clear vision. Clarity of purpose should drive every decision. Never think small. He encourages audacious goals that stretch both your imagination and effort. Work like hell! Reaching your full potential requires extraordinary effort. Learn to communicate (and sell) your vision. Get others to buy into your vision. Do so with authenticity and enthusiasm.

Adaptability is important. Be willing to “shift gears” as reinvention helps you to remain relevant and continue to grow (i.e., from body builder, to action star, to politician, to philanthropist, …). Stay humble and receptive. Your learning never ends, be able to accept criticism and advice. Focus less on yourself and more on serving others. True success lies in the contributions that you make to others and to society as a whole.

Book Inspirations: Wow! I really enjoyed this book and have told many people about it. I consider him to be an “action hero,” not because he has portrayed many “action heroes”, but because his actions have often been heroic. His desire to lift up others is genuine and noteworthy. This book has inspired me to work harder, particularly for the success of others. I’ve added a goal: interview Arnold about this book! He is way more badass then the characters he has portrayed.