Why is a Vision Important?
Arnold Schwarzenegger has repeated many times a vision is his secret to success. By having a vision or a goal for your future, you have a sense of purpose. Flexibility is important, but vision removes distractions. Life has many of them and many opportunities often come out of sequence. An example of this is is when I painted an expressionist painting of Arnold Schwarzenegger: Venice. Parts of the painting came into view in no particular order, or sequence. A vision of the finalized work kept me from quitting.
A vision compels a person to make strategic decisions rather than flippant ones. Arnold is a big-time chess player. He plays the game of life the same way by positioning himself to coincide with his vision. If you don’t have one, you’re just making moves.
“What is the point of being on this Earth if you are going to be like everyone else?”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger
Success Principles
Below are a list of success principles I’ve learned from Arnold Schwarzenegger:
- Stay hungry about life.
- Don’t listen to those who tell you “No.” There’s always another way if you look for it.
- Use your uniqueness and gifts to your advantage.
- Let time position you for success.
Visiting Michigan
In 2018, I read Arnold was visiting Lansing, Michigan to support, “Terminate Gerrymandering.” It felt like he was coming to visit me! Long before he was to appear, I rode my bike to the plaza. I positioned my bike in the front near the TV cameras. Just before he made his entrance, a cameraman late to the event came and told me to move. I firmly told him, “No.” He called me a name, and just walked away. Don’t let people distract you from your vision.
