6 ms·

This is why he decided to be a body builder > actor > politician of course, makes perfect sense (people usually profess the beliefs their actions contradict the

• jawerty 3y ago
  true the most useful people I know you'll never hear in NPR they're typically highly skilled workers who just do their job everyday.
• neontomo 3y ago
  Entertaining people can be useful to society, without fun we'd simply be worker drones living miserable lives. That said, I also struggle to see how how this guiding principle of "being useful" led him to take these actions. More likely, his real principle is, "be successful" in the dominant media view of "be famous, by doing anything you can to get there". He's selling a book with the same title as his "philosophy" so there's the real answer. I don't mean to be negative towards him, but this article reads like bullshit to me.
  • detourdog 3y ago
    Being useful is another way to express moving through life in a way that doesn’t cause more effort from those surrounding you. I see that as a path to success.
• booleandilemma 3y ago
  people usually profess the beliefs their actions contradict the most Why is that?
  • hardlianotion 3y ago
    And is it true?
• marc 3y ago
  Arnold kept inspiring people from all walks of life that through hard work you can, in the case of body building quite literally, shape your own reality. I’d call that being useful.
  • rafaelmn 3y ago
    Bodybuilding is something where you cannot shape your reality - no matter how hard you work - if you don't have the right build for it (genetics). Any elite BB will tell you as much (I've heard multiple give advice to guys that don't have the right built to not even bother with the sport). It also built a fitness industry that sells steroid gains as "hard work". I was shocked recently talking to my coworkers about Arnold, they didn't know he was on roids... The perception of what an average person thinks is achievable with "hard work" is highly distorted in this regard.
    • asynchronous 3y ago
      Realizing just how much of Hollywood is the result of pharmacology genuinely depressed me as a male for a bit, knowing those results are actually unattainable naturally
      • SoftTalker 3y ago
        As GP said, you need the genetics, and to get the sort of body that Arnold or other top bodybuilders have you can't do it naturally. However none of those things stops you from lifting weights for strength training, which is good for your body, your skeleton, your appearance, and your mental health. If your goal is to get strong, that is attainable naturally by anyone. You just need to do it.
      • rafaelmn 3y ago
        If the physique is all you are after then it shouldn't be depressing since the solution is easily attainable (unlike many other physical attributes)
    • grecy 3y ago
      > Bodybuilding is something where you cannot shape your reality - no matter how hard you work - if you don't have the right build for it (genetics). I am a tall, very thin male who struggles to gain weight. I can eat 5,000 calories a day while working out hard and barely gain a pound every month. I was made fun of in highschool and university for my body, and that made me very self conscious and shy. Typical "computer nerd" stuff. From about age 20 onwards I've enjoyed and benefited from Bodybuilding immensely. It has changed how I view myself, how I view the world and changed my personality. I gained a lot of confidence, and I gained a perspective on the world I never had - doing difficult tasks and slow and steady improvements were important lessons for early 20s me. I'll never compete, I'm not "huge" and was rarely even "big". (A few times people asked if I compete...) but I got stronger, fitter and for sure my body became a lot nicer to look at. I'm 41 now and I'll never stop. I don't have incredible genentics, but I didn't let that stop or even slow me down. Yes, you absolutely can shape your reality through bodybuilding.
• koonsolo 3y ago
  I think there is a lot to learn from studying Arnold's life. You will learn more than reading this book.