Arnold Schwarzenegger - Global Transformation Forum 2015

From being a poor Austrian teenager to a successful bodybuilder, Hollywood actor and former governor, Arnold Schwarze­negger has indeed gone through a truly transformative life.

Arnie spoke candidly about his success secrets.

“The secret is to have 22-inch biceps, wrestle predators with bare hands, travel back in time to save the human race, and have a great, charming Austrian accent,” he joked.

He shared his six rules of success with a packed Hall.

 “In my bodybuilding days, people asked me why I was smiling when pumping iron, while others looked miserable or were in pain. I knew every rep and set got me one step closer to becoming Mr Universe, and it worked. The 1st rule is to know your vision. He became the youngest ever Mr Universe at age 20, going on to win the title a record 7 times .

“Never, ever think small” is Schwarzenegger’s second rule, which he applied when he entered politics in 2003 and aimed for the highest position he could hold as an immigrant – as Governor of California, the greatest state in the US.

Arnie urged listeners to ignore the naysayers as rule 3, like he did when movie agents told him he could never be a leading actor because of his accent and poor English .

Instead he took up English language, acting and speaking classes, proving his critics wrong and even earning praise from his film directors for turning his liabilities into his greatest assets.

For rule 4, forget about plan B as it develops doubts of our own abilities. Rule 5 was to "work your ass off".

The final rule, he said, was to give something back and leave a mark on the world. When he was Governor for 2 terms spanning a total of 7 years, he did not accept any salary preferring to give back to the country that ad made him a global superstar.

Of course he ended his talk with his classic "I'll will be back” eliciting loud cheers from the audience.