Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most successful personalities of all time. And it is not because of his tremendous wealth, his quintessential action-hero image, or his status as the 38th Governor of California. What makes the Austrian Oak truly successful is his journey, which serves as an inspiration to countless individuals. From his humble beginnings in a war-ravaged state to making all his life’s visions come true, Schwarzenegger is a success story that needs to be told again and again. 

One principle that the former bodybuilder followed in his life was to never give up on dreams until they become a reality. Owing to his desire to be a legendary actor, Schwarzenegger once even turned down a hefty paying job, which he thought could be a hindrance to his dream. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger did not waver in his dream for anything 

Schwarzenegger has been busy promoting his upcoming book, Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life. After opening Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show following a hiatus of five months, the actor appeared on The Howard Stern Show. While promoting his book, Schwarzenegger recalled the time when an organization offered him a salary of $200,000 to manage a chain of gyms. Stern asked the 76-year-old about how he gathered the courage to turn down such an offer when he was just starting off in the industry. 

His answer was simple: he had a clear vision. Schwarzenegger always wanted to be as successful as Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson. With the job as a gym operative, he would have not been able to attend the classes that were crucial for his career in Hollywood. The job would have also been a cause of concern in his movie-related work if he landed a part. And most importantly, it could have taken the edge off his hunger and drive to become a successful movie star. And therefore, he turned down the $200K job offer.

Clearly, Schwarzenegger has learned much from the difficulties he has faced in life. However, lessons from his father also helped him see life in a different light. 

Gustav Schwarzenegger’s valuable lessons for his son

There has been a great deal of discussion about the Commando star’s relationship with his father after the documentary Arnold. Being a Nazi soldier and an Austrian Police Chief, Gustav Schwarzenegger was pretty tough on his children. However, recently The Terminator actor shared that the name of his upcoming book has a connection to his late father. 

Schwarzenegger’s father was against bodybuilding because he wanted his son to do something for the well-being of others. The late soldier always highlighted the importance of being “Useful” in life; not only for oneself but also for others. Schwarzenegger shared that his father gave the example of European Boxer László Papp, who was not only a boxing champion but also helped people by chopping wood in the forest. This is where the seven times Mr Olympia drew the inspiration for his upcoming book. 

What do you think about Arnold Schwarzenegger declining his hefty paying job for his dream? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!