Book Summary: Be Useful

Introduction

• Schwarzenegger's Post-Governor Challenges:
  • Schwarzenegger discusses the difficulties he faced after leaving office in 2011, including the fallout from the global financial crisis and personal struggles.
  • He acknowledges the impact of the recession on California's budget and the public's frustration with the government's response.
• Personal and Professional Setbacks:
  • Schwarzenegger reflects on personal failures, including the breakdown of his family, and professional setbacks, such as cancelled movie projects.
  • He emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to overcome challenges.
• Finding Purpose and Usefulness:
  • Schwarzenegger describes his journey of reinvention and finding purpose in various endeavors, including fitness, policy work, and entertainment.
  • He highlights the unexpected role he has taken on as a self-help figure, inspiring others through his experiences.
• Addressing Negativity and Promoting Positivity:
  • Schwarzenegger expresses concern about the prevalence of negativity, pessimism, and self-pity in society, despite overall improvements in global well-being.
  • He emphasizes the need to counteract these negative forces and promote positivity and self-sufficiency.

Have a Clear Vision

• The Importance of Vision:
  • Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision for one's life, as it provides purpose, meaning, and direction.
  • He argues that people who feel lost often lack a clear vision and a plan to achieve it.
• Developing a Vision:
  • Schwarzenegger suggests two approaches to developing a vision: starting small and building out or starting broad and zooming in.
  • He shares his personal experience of having a broad vision of America at a young age, which later led him to focus on bodybuilding as a path to achieve his dream.
• Creating Space and Time for Inspiration:
  • Schwarzenegger acknowledges the challenges of finding time and space for inspiration in a busy world.
  • He encourages individuals to create small goals and routines that open up space for inspiration to flow in.
• The Power of Visualization:
  • Schwarzenegger highlights the importance of visualization in achieving goals, drawing examples from elite athletes and his own experiences.
  • He emphasizes the need to clearly visualize both success and failure to make informed decisions and avoid distractions.

Never Think Small

• Expanding Goals and Evolving Visions:
  • Schwarzenegger discusses his transition from action star to comedic lead and the challenges he faced due to others' limited perception of his abilities.
  • He emphasizes the importance of expanding one's goals and allowing visions to evolve beyond initial achievements.
• The Importance of Commitment and Attention to Detail:
  • Schwarzenegger highlights the significance of going all-in on projects and paying attention to both big and small details, drawing examples from his bodybuilding career and James Cameron's filmmaking approach.
  • He emphasizes the need to commit fully to goals, regardless of their size, to achieve greatness.
• Ignoring Naysayers and Embracing Challenges:
  • Schwarzenegger encourages individuals to ignore naysayers and use their doubts as motivation, citing examples of successful individuals who faced rejection and skepticism.
  • He shares his own experience of being doubted and ridiculed when he expressed his desire to become an actor.
• The Power of Persistence and Avoiding Backup Plans:
  • Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of persistence and avoiding backup plans, highlighting his efforts to pass redistricting reform in California despite initial failures.
  • He argues that having a plan B is a recipe for failure and undermines the commitment to achieving one's vision.
• Inspiring Others through Big Dreams:
  • Schwarzenegger believes that achieving big dreams inspires others and unlocks their potential, as it demonstrates the possibilities of human achievement.
  • He shares his own experience of inspiring people from his home country to pursue their dreams in America.

Work Your Ass Off

• The Value of Hard Work:
  • Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication in achieving goals, arguing that there are no shortcuts or substitutes for effort.
  • He contrasts the experiences of lottery winners and those who have earned their wealth, highlighting the lessons and rewards that come from working towards goals.
• Dedication and Consistency:
  • Schwarzenegger shares his own rigorous training regimen as a bodybuilder and his commitment to continuous learning and improvement in acting and politics.
  • He emphasizes the importance of consistent effort and preparation to be ready for opportunities and challenges.
• The Power of Repetition and Attention to Detail:
  • Schwarzenegger highlights the significance of repetition and proper form in building a strong foundation for success, drawing examples from his own experiences in bodybuilding, acting, and public speaking.
  • He emphasizes the need to focus on quality over quantity and to pay attention to details to avoid mistakes and setbacks.
• Embracing Pain and Sacrifice:
  • Schwarzenegger acknowledges that hard work often involves pain and sacrifice, but emphasizes that pain is temporary and serves as an indicator of growth and progress.
  • He shares his experiences of enduring pain during filming and after surgery, highlighting the importance of resilience and the pursuit of meaningful goals.
• Following Through and Taking Responsibility:
  • Schwarzenegger stresses the importance of follow-through and taking responsibility for ensuring that plans are executed effectively, drawing examples from his experience managing the California wildfires in 2007.
  • He emphasizes the need to be proactive, ask questions, and ensure that tasks are completed thoroughly.
• Time Management and Prioritization:
  • Schwarzenegger challenges the notion of busyness and encourages individuals to prioritize their goals and make time for the work that matters.
  • He provides a breakdown of a typical day to demonstrate that there is often more time available than people realize.

Sell, Sell, Sell

• The Importance of Selling and Promotion:
  • Schwarzenegger discusses the lack of awareness and understanding of bodybuilding when he first arrived in America and his efforts to promote the sport and change its image.
  • He emphasizes the importance of selling and promoting one's vision to gain exposure and support.
• Knowing Your Customer and Understanding Their Needs:
  • Schwarzenegger highlights the importance of identifying and understanding one's target audience, drawing examples from his experiences in Hollywood and his early sales job in Austria.
  • He emphasizes the need to tailor one's message and approach to resonate with the specific needs and interests of the customer.
• Communicating Your Vision and Building Momentum:
  • Schwarzenegger encourages individuals to speak their vision out loud and publicly commit to their goals to build momentum and attract support.
  • He suggests removing the phrase "will be" from one's vocabulary and speaking about goals as if they have already been achieved.
• Leveraging Underestimation and Bridging Conversations:
  • Schwarzenegger advises individuals to leverage underestimation to their advantage and use bridging techniques to steer conversations towards their agenda, drawing examples from his experience in the 2003 California gubernatorial debate.
  • He emphasizes the importance of controlling the narrative and using others' doubts as an opportunity to exceed expectations.
• Owning Your Story and Taking Responsibility:
  • Schwarzenegger reflects on the importance of owning one's story and taking responsibility for both successes and failures, citing his experience with the 2005 California special election.
  • He emphasizes the need for authenticity and transparency in building trust and credibility.

Shift Gears

• Responding to Challenges and Finding Solutions:
  • Schwarzenegger discusses his frustration with the shortage of masks and PPE during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and his decision to take action instead of complaining.
  • He emphasizes the importance of shifting gears and finding solutions to problems instead of dwelling on negativity.
• Overcoming Negativity Bias and Finding the Positive:
  • Schwarzenegger acknowledges the human tendency towards negativity bias but advocates for focusing on the positive aspects of situations.
  • He shares personal experiences from his childhood and his recovery from heart surgery, highlighting the importance of resilience and a positive mindset.
• Embracing Failure and Learning from Mistakes:
  • Schwarzenegger emphasizes that failure is not fatal and can be reframed as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone towards success.
  • He shares his experience of losing his first bodybuilding competition in America and how he learned from his mistakes to improve and eventually win.
• Challenging the Status Quo and Breaking Rules:
  • Schwarzenegger encourages individuals to challenge the status quo and break rules that hinder progress, citing examples from his time as governor of California.
  • He emphasizes the importance of being willing to do things differently and to ignore those who resist change.
• Reframing Risk and Embracing Challenges:
  • Schwarzenegger argues that risk is a perception and encourages individuals to assess the potential rewards of success against the consequences of failure when considering taking risks.
  • He shares his own experiences of taking risks in his career and emphasizes the importance of minimizing downside and being willing to gamble for big rewards.

Shut Your Mouth, Open Your Mind

• The Importance of Lifelong Learning:
  • Schwarzenegger reflects on the influence of his mentor, Fredi Gerstl, who instilled in him the importance of lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity.
  • He emphasizes the value of being open to new ideas and experiences and the power of knowledge in achieving success.
• The World as a Classroom:
  • Schwarzenegger challenges the emphasis on four-year universities as the primary path to success and highlights the value of vocational training and learning through real-world experiences.
  • He shares his own experiences of learning through apprenticeships and his observations of successful individuals in various trades.
• The Power of Curiosity and Humility:
  • Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of curiosity and humility in attracting opportunities and building relationships with influential people.
  • He shares his experience of meeting and learning from prominent figures, highlighting the importance of asking good questions and being a good listener.
• The Value of Being a Sponge:
  • Schwarzenegger encourages individuals to be like sponges, absorbing knowledge and information from various sources, and shares his experience of learning and applying knowledge during his time as governor.
  • He emphasizes the importance of connecting information and building a comprehensive understanding of systems and problems.
• Putting Knowledge to Good Use:
  • Schwarzenegger stresses the importance of putting knowledge to good use and actively applying it to solve problems and create positive change.
  • He shares his experience of using his knowledge and network to expand the Inner-City Games and create the After-School All-Stars program.

Break Your Mirrors

• Rejecting the Self-Made Myth and Embracing Interdependence:
  • Schwarzenegger challenges the notion of the "self-made man" and emphasizes the role of others in shaping our lives and contributing to our success.
  • He expresses gratitude for the people who have supported him throughout his journey.
• The Importance of Giving Back:
  • Schwarzenegger highlights the importance of giving back to others and paying it forward, emphasizing the positive impact it has on both the giver and receiver.
  • He argues that giving back is not a zero-sum game and that everyone can benefit from a culture of generosity and support.
• Finding Fulfillment through Service:
  • Schwarzenegger shares his experiences with the Special Olympics and the President's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, highlighting the joy and fulfillment he found in helping others.
  • He emphasizes that giving back is not just a responsibility but a source of happiness and purpose.
• Breaking Mirrors and Shifting Focus:
  • Schwarzenegger reflects on the evolution of his vision from a focus on personal success to a focus on helping others.
  • He shares Sargent Shriver's advice to "break your mirrors" and look beyond oneself to find happiness and fulfillment in serving others.
• The Power of Small Acts of Kindness:
  • Schwarzenegger encourages individuals to start with small acts of kindness and emphasizes that everyone has something to offer, regardless of their circumstances or skills.
  • He provides examples of individuals who have made a difference through simple acts of service.
• The Addictive Nature of Giving Back:
  • Schwarzenegger shares his own experience of becoming "addicted" to giving back, describing how the joy and fulfillment he found in helping others motivated him to do more.
  • He discusses the scientific basis for "helper's high" and encourages others to experience the positive effects of giving back.

A Final Thank-You

• Expressing Gratitude and Acknowledging Influences:
  • Schwarzenegger concludes the book by expressing gratitude to the individuals who have influenced and supported him throughout his life.
  • He encourages readers to create their own lists of people who have made a positive impact on their lives.