I've read the books and autobiographies of many successful people over the years. I'm fascinated with the journeys they've been on and the mindset they have developed for achieving their goals. I've learned from Richard Branson, Sir Alan Sugar, Donald Trump, Gordon Ramsay, Jack Welch, Chris Guillebeau, Bill Marriott and lots of others.
I've yet to read one about / by Arnold Schwarzenegger, but watching his commencement address to the University of Southern California (where he was made an honorary doctor!), I'm a big fan of his 6 Rules for Success. They are simple, can be applied equally to the sporting world and the working world - whether you are an employee or a business owner. They are every bit as applicable as the insights shared by the business gurus listed above.
With humility and humour - both hugely important for success in their own right - he instructs the graduates as follows (I've included a couple of choice excerpts under each rule):
Rule 1: Trust yourself.
'Who do you want to be; not WHAT, but WHO? What makes you happy?'
Rule 2: Break the rules.
'It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules. You have to think outside the box'
Rule 3: Don't be afraid to fail.
'You can't always win, but don't be afraid of making decisions. You can't be paralysed by fear of failure. You keep pushing yourself because you believe in yourself and in your vision and you know that it is the right thing to do and success will come'
Rule 4: Don't listen to the naysayers.
'I love it when someone says that no one has ever done this before, because then when I do it, that means that I am the first one who has done it. I always listen to myself and say 'yes, you can'
Rule 5: Work your butt off.
'While you're partying, horsing around, someone out there at the same time is working hard. Someone is getting smarter and someone is winning, just remember that.None of my rules for success work unless YOU do'
Rule 6: Give back.
'Give something back to your community, or to your state, or to your country. Reaching out and helping people will bring you more satisfaction than anything you've ever done'
At 25 minutes, the full address is fairly long, but you can watch an edited version HERE, which gives you everything you need and has some music and inspirational Arnie pictures too :-)
What do I take from it? 3 main messages:
1. Be who you want to be: You don't have to settle for wearing a mask or playing a part. Don't compromise and accept misery now for happiness later.
2. Do what you want to do: Don't hold yourself back. Don't imagine that other people and other things are holding you back either - you set your own limits.
3. Never give up: If you are determined and focused, success will come.
Need a little guidance or a gentle shove to get started on your journey? My door is always open!
