What separates an ordinary life from an extraordinary one? How do you pick yourself up from a low point in life? And what does it take to live an impactful life—one that feels meaningful and fulfilling? 🌟
Arnold Schwarzenegger answers these questions in his book, Be Useful. Drawing from his life story and experiences in bodybuilding, politics, business, and acting, he shares his “toolkit for life”—a set of principles developed over 60 years of personal experience—for living a happy, successful, and meaningful life. In this Be Useful summary, we’ll learn his key insights on the transformative power of purpose, resilience, and growth, and how to be genuinely useful to others.
The Story Behind Be Useful
Arnold Schwarzenegger is well known for his stratospheric success as a body-builder and movie star, followed by his transition into politics. After leaving the governor’s office in 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger faced a series of personal and professional setbacks that brought him to his lowest point. But he turned his life around by relying on the principles and mental tools he had developed through decades of hard work, persistent effort and determination. 🏋️
As he worked through these challenges, recovered and transformed himself, Arnold was surprised to find others turning to him for motivation, inspiration, and practical advice. He realized that, despite the progress in human civilization—with less war, disease, and poverty—we’re now grappling with a social epidemic of negativity, with a sharp rise in depression, anxiety, and addiction worldwide. He decided to share his personal experiences and insights in this book to help people thrive despite life’s challenges.
In this free summary, we’ll explore the seven essential tools he used to overcome adversity, make a positive impact, and build a meaningful life. These mental tools can serve as a guide for anyone striving to achieve their personal goals.
The 7 Tools for Life 🛠️
1. Vision: Define Your Path with a Clear Vision
Having a clear vision means having a clear mental picture of what you want your life to look like, as well as what you don’t want. It provides you with a purpose and meaning, serving as a compass for decision-making and helping you stay on track toward your goals.
Without clear vision, you may feel lost as you find it hard to take meaningful actions. You might feel like you don’t have control of your life, so you get stuck in unfulfilling jobs or routines.
To start creating a vision, imagine what success looks and feels like for you. Ask yourself honestly: “Does the person I envision align with who I truly want to become?” Do regular self-reflection to ensure your actions stay true to your vision.
In our full 12-page summary with text, graphic and audio formats, we explain in detail the 2 ways you can build a vision from scratch, even if you’re unsure of what success means to you right now.
2. Ambition: Think Big, Act Relentlessly
Small thinking leads to small outcomes. To achieve greatness and fulfill your true potential, you must think big from the start. This means expanding your vision and pushing boundaries. Once you’ve set a new meaningful goal, give it your all and do it right.
In our full Be Useful summary, we’ll dive into details of Arnold’s journey, including:
- How Arnold achieved his success in bodybuilding, film, and political career by thinking big;
- His advice on how to counter naysayers; and
- How to commit to goals and standards that deliver genuine breakthroughs.
For example, Arnold made the leap from bodybuilding to action movies in Hollywood, with his first breaks from films like Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator. But he didn’t stop there—he expanded into comedy with hits like Twins and Kindergarten Cop, even though he was surrounded by naysayers who told him it was unwise (and virtually impossible) to shift from action movies to comedy.
3. Work Ethic: Unlock Success Through Hard Work
Consistent, focused hard work is non-negotiable for personal development and long-term success. This means spending hours on repeated practice, embracing discomfort, and consistently delivering on your commitments.
Our complete Be Useful summary details how to apply all these elements to consistently progress towards your goals, no matter how difficult.
4. Influence: Sell Your Vision with Impact
No matter how great your idea is, it doesn’t truly exist if nobody knows about it. That’s why, to achieve your goals and dreams, you must sell your vision. This means effectively communicating your vision so others understand its value.
In our full 12-page summary, we share the strategies to sell effectively by tailoring your approach to your audience or “customers”, sharing your vision with conviction and sincerity, and exceeding expectations.
5. Resilience: Shift Gears and Bounce Back
When pursuing ambitious goals, you will inevitably face challenges and failure. But instead of dwelling on negativity, blame, or complaints, the best approach is to shift to a positive mindset and approach.
Find out how you can reframe failure, successfully shift gears to turn difficult situations into stepping stones, maintain a positive focus, manage risks, and break away from convention.
6. Growth Mindset: Stay Open and Keep Learning
A learning mindset beats paper qualifications any day. When you see the world as your classroom, you can find endless opportunities for lifelong learning and growth. Arnold’s curiosity and passion for continuous learning attracted many mentors like Joe Weider and James Cameron who helped him tremendously in his career.
7. Giving Back: Break the Mirror and Serve Others
No one is truly “self-made”, since every success is built upon someone else’s ideas, efforts, and support. In other words, no one succeeds alone. Arnold Schwarzenegger recognizes that there are many people behind his success, including his parents and mentors.
Having benefited from others’ contributions, each of us has a social responsibility to give back and help others. Arnold encourages us to “break the mirror”—stop focusing on ourselves, start focusing on others’ needs, and making a meaningful impact. Only when we uplift and serve others will we experience true fulfillment.
Getting the Most from Be Useful
A major theme in this book is this: True fulfillment comes not just from achieving personal success, but also from being useful to those around you. The tool kit in this book will empower you to live a life of real impact and fulfillment.
Ready to start incorporating these 7 tools for success into your life? Check out our full book summary bundle for more details, actionable tips, and examples. This includes an infographic, a 12-page text summary, and a 26-minute audio summary.
This self-help book is packed with personal stories and actionable advice that will guide you toward becoming the best version of yourself—while making a lasting impact on others. You can purchase the book here or visit beusefulbook.com for more details.
For more resources on how to live a purposeful and successful life, feel free to check out our summaries for Can’t Hurt Me (to develop mental toughness, resilience, and overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges through discipline and hard work), Grit (to learn the importance of perseverance and passion in achieving long-term success), and Man’s Search for Meaning (to explore the importance of finding meaning in life, even during the darkest times).
About the Author of Be Useful
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life was written by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is a famous actor, bodybuilder, businessman, philanthropist, author, and politician who grew up in a small Austrian village. He served as the 38th governor of California. Over the course of his career, Arnold became a prominent figure in multiple industries, from bodybuilding (where he set records and won prestigious titles like Mr. Olympia), to becoming one of the highest-grossing actors in Hollywood. When his career extended into politics, he led initiatives and reforms as the governor of California. Throughout his life, he has remained committed to public service and giving back to the community.
Be Useful Quotes
“It’s the struggle that makes success, when you achieve it, taste so sweet.”
“Everything good, all great change, starts with a clear vision.”
“It’s no harder to think big than it is to think small. The only hard part is giving yourself permission to think that way.” “
“Naysayers are a fact of life. That doesn’t mean they get to have a say in your life.”
“I don’t compromise. There is no plan B. Plan B is to succeed at plan A.”
“Working your ass off is the only thing that works 100 percent of the time for 100 percent of the things worth achieving.”
“You work to make a dream come true, you don’t whine it into existence.”
“Failure has never killed a dream; quitting kills every dream it touches.”
Click here to download the Be Useful infographic & summary
