ARNOLD’S “SECRETS” TO SUCCESS.
First of all, there are no secrets. There are only rules. Some are societal, some are biological, some are physical but they exist.
There are pathways to success that are so time-tested, and often proven that they become rules in and of themselves. But unlike science rules, the outcomes are not guaranteed.
Because we are human.
We are told to work hard for success, but we all know people who work very hard and never succeed. So there is no guarantee that it will work. The guarantee is that if you do not work hard, you will not succeed. Period. Done.
I am not a gambler. I work too hard for my money to put it at risk. And when you see those opulent casinos, with the owners driving Bentley’s you instantly know the house always wins in the long run.
But I do buy one lottery ticket. Just one.
I know the money is being used for some purpose (Hopefully good) and it is only a buck.
I do not buy the ticket with any expectation of winning. The odds are overwhelmingly not in my favor.
1 in 292 million, to be semi-exact.
But the chances of me winning without buying one ticket is zero. And that is a pretty finite number, zero.
So I tend to think that if people are telling me that they have some rules for success, I tend to listen. If it worked for them, there is a chance it will work for me.
Arnold Schwartzenegger has had a very interesting and quite successful life. I will let you watch the video to hear his story.
These are his Five Rules for Success:
- Find Your Vision
As creatives it is imperative that we know what we want to do, how that fits into the wider narrative of our own story, and how we want to present our work to the world. Whether it is a new photography portfolio, a mixed media piece, or a book of ideas we need to have that vision to help lead us to where we want to go. - Never Think Small
This is sometimes manifested in our belief that if we are just starting out, our ideas, photographs, creative work is not worth as much as someone who has been around for a while. WRONG. It has its own value, and that value is what YOU say it is. Thinking small, thinking cheap, thinking that you are worth less is a terrible way to see your vision. - Ignore the Naysayers
Some will do it because they love you, and some will do it out of jealousy, and some will do it because they live a dark and pitiful life and eschew all those who try to escape it. But the truth is, people will try to stop you from attaining your vision. All along the journey, you will have to be ready for the Naysayers to swoop in with their message of doom and failure. Just remember that they are looking at your vision with their negativity, while you are seeing it with a great deal of positivity. - Work Your Ass Off
It will not guarantee success, but failure to do so will guarantee failure. How hard is it to fail and admit that you did so because you simply didn’t work hard enough? That has to be devastating. But the reality is that when you are working hard, you are creating an energy. One that is inescapable by those around you and then they start getting energized as well. This spreading energy can propel you through situations that should be showstoppers because you are working right through the pain. - Give Back
No matter where you are on your journey, there is someone behind you faltering a bit. Reach out. Help them up. Teach, mentor, involve yourself in the community of creatives you so want to be a member of. Engage with the greater community and give back to help those who are less fortunate. And there are always those less fortunate – just look around and see. This rule is one of the most important of all. When we give back, we are working hard, ignoring the naysayers, seeing our vision, and thinking really big.
It is not an easy thing to do, to become a creative in a world that often times seems as though it doesn’t value us as we think it should. But at the same time, there are millions of people doing it, making a good living, and excelling in their craft or art.
Easy is for those who do not seek something extraordinary. Easy means the value is less. Easy is working a job with no challenges.
I do not wish that on anyone.
Be challenged, work hard, find a vision, leave the naysayers sitting in front of their TV’s, and help those who need what you can give.
Watch the video, and remember… “I’ll be back…”