How Arnold Schwarzenegger Used a Vision to Become Mr. Universe

"I had this fixed idea of growing a body like Reg Park's.  The model was there in my mind.  I only had to grow enough to fill it.  The more I focused in on this image and worked and grew, the more I saw that it was real and possible to be like him." (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Reg Park, Mr. Universe 1951, courtesy http://www.strength-oldschool.com/tag/reg-park/.

Arnold Schwarzenegger had a vision.  One day, he picked up a magazine with Reg Park, the star of Hercules, on the cover.  It hit him:  "He was going to follow in Reg Park's footsteps, become a body building champion and a huge movie star."

Growing up in rural Austria in the 1950's, Arnold's father had other ideas.  He pushed for his son to enter the Army and then become a police officer, as he had done.  His father frowned on bodybuilding which was not popular at the time.  Even so, Arnold began training in earnest to pursue his dream.

At 18, Arnold's father insisted that he join the Austrian Army.  Arnold did so, but still with his vision fixed firmly in his mind.  Each night, when the cadets fell into bed exhausted, Arnold would devote three additional hours to strength training.  Each morning he woke up early to get in his push-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups before the mandatory 5 am run.  The other cadets thought that he was foolish, but Arnold had a vision:  "I had this fixed idea of growing a body like Reg Park's.  The model was there in my mind.  I only had to grow enough to fill it.  The more I focused in on this image and worked and grew, the more I saw that it was real and possible to be like him." (http://www.willpowered.co/learn/arnold-schwarzeneggers-vision)

Arnold's opportunity to prove himself came in the form of the Mr. Junior Europe Championship in Stuttgart, Germany.  He sneaked out of the military base early and hopped a freight train.  Arnold generated huge applause from the audience and captured first prize.  In 1966, Arnold attended the Mr. Universe competition for the first time and impressed one of the judges, Charles Bennett, so much that he offered to coach him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Iaz_r2t-g).  The following year, Arnold clinched the title of Mr. Universe.  "The Mr. Universe title was my ticket to America," explained Arnold. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger).  

But Arnold's dream hadn't completely come to fruition.  He frequently told his English coach, Roger C. Field, when he lived in Munich, "I'm going to become the greatest actor."  The vision became a reality when Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in The Terminator (1984) launching his career as the top action film star of the 20th Century.

What is your vision?  What is your "Aha!" moment?  Have you discovered a picture on a magazine cover?  Fix the image in your mind and dwell on it daily.  Ignore the naysayers.  Believe in yourself. Do the "heavy lifting" to make it happen.  You, too, will be standing on top of the podium.  

Arnold Schwarzenegger (right) Mr. Universe 1967 courtesy http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=252107.0.

Create Your Future

"Where there is no vision, the people will perish." (Proverbs 18:29)

In his book Goals, Brian Tracy highlights a study of 3300 successful leaders.  The number one quality that they all possessed was vision.  Their long term perspective led to financial and personal success.  

Tracy recommends that you envision a five-year plan.   Idealize what your business or family life will be like five years from now.  Practise "blue sky thinking":  just as the sky seems limitless, so too are your plans for the future.  Imagine anything is possible.  Write down what your job situation will look like:  your co-workers, tasks, level of responsibility, goals and status.  Estimate what your finances will look like: your salary, mortgage, bank account, investments, retirement.  Envision your family life:  spouse, children, extended family.  How will your health fare ex. appearance, weight, diet, exercise?  Will you be involved in the community ex. charity, volunteering?  Will you practise self-improvement strategies ex. go back to school, update your skills?  The author maintains that often people overestimate their yearly goals and yet underestimate their five-year plan. 

I remember back  to the Christmas of 1997:  my sister Lisa had us all do a visualization exercise at my parents' house.  She handed out pieces of paper and asked us all to write down ten goals and put them in an envelope to be examined five years hence.  My number one goal was having a child, as was Lisa's, I suspect.  At the time we had both been married for several years and yet remained childless.  Well, we didn't have to wait five years.  The following Christmas, I brought my bundle of joy to my parents' house and my mom snapped a picture of him under the Christmas tree.  Two years after the goal writing session, Lisa brought her bundle of joy to my parents' house and my nephew and son played together by the foot of the Christmas tree.  

Have a long term vision.  Write it down.  The sky's the limit!  Watch how God acts in your life.

Note:  For more information about visualization, read my post "Conceive, Believe, Achieve" at 

http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2015/01/conceive-believe-achieve.html.

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