Book SummaryBe Useful, by Arnold Schwarzenegger

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Be Useful

For each of us to live up to our full potential, we need to give ourselves a direction—an ideal that we strive for by honing our abilities and pushing ourselves to our limits and beyond. Though at first we may define success in terms of ambition and material gain, Arnold Schwarzenegger suggests an alternative path—one that’s ultimately focused on service, contribution, and lifting up the people around you. By being useful to others, he argues, you'll find deeper satisfaction, build stronger relationships, and lead a more purposeful life.

In Be Useful, published in 2023, Schwarzenegger lays out his principles for meaningful success and making a positive impact on the world, first by defining your personal ambitions and then using your achievements as tools to help...

Be Useful Summary Define Your Goals

It’s hard to get anywhere in life if you don’t know where you want to go. Schwarzenegger argues that clearly defining your major aspirations is key to aligning your decisions and your goals. A concrete picture of the future you want will lay out the steps you need to follow for success. Schwarzenegger suggests that your childhood dreams often hint at what aspirations you should follow, but if you’re unsure what you're striving for, setting small goals can also spark your motivation.

Schwarzenegger says that having a clear vision of your goals is crucial to steering your life toward the right path. Just as athletes visualize success to fuel their progress, you need to imagine, in vivid detail, what your desired future looks like. This mental image will clarify what decisions you should make to bring your aspirations closer, as well as create a benchmark against which you can measure your progress. Keep in mind, though, that even if circumstances dictate that you have to redefine success or change direction, that's all right. After all, the experiences and lessons gained on your journey are just as valuable as reaching your destination.

To choose what you want your future to...

Be Useful Summary Adopt a Positive Mindset

To sell yourself and others on the idea of your dream, you have to truly believe it without giving in to negativity. Schwarzenegger's story shows that adopting a positive mindset, viewing hardships as opportunities, and managing time efficiently are powerful tools for achieving your dreams.

The road to achieving your dream is full of challenges, which is why Schwarzenegger insists that you shift toward a positive mindset. You're bound to encounter obstacles, but it's beneficial, if not essential, to view your struggles as opportunities to develop your skills. We all tend to focus on the negative—an instinctive remnant from our ancestors who were primarily concerned with survival. However, this instinct is less useful if we want progress instead of mere survival. Adopting an optimistic outlook helps you engage constructively with your circumstances, so next time you feel like complaining about life's difficulties—don't. Instead, verbalize the potential positives that might emerge from those hardships.

(Shortform note: Instead of thinking in positive and negative terms, educators and psychologists distinguish between “fixed” and “growth” perspectives. In...

Be Useful Summary Do the Work

Once you’ve clearly defined your ambitions and embraced the mindset that you can achieve them, it’s only the transformative power of hard work that can shape you into your best self. Schwarzenegger's perspective underscores that work isn’t simply a means to an end, but is integral to taking pride in your accomplishments, and that while it’s demanding, it’s necessary for making real progress. Furthermore, making the most of the work you put in requires showing commitment and adhering to high standards.

Schwarzenegger extols the value of working hard, which he says is about more than just reaching your immediate goals. Hard work is the engine that drives you to appreciate any achievement, no matter how small. Imagine climbing a mountain without having to struggle—would you value your accomplishment as much as if you fought for every inch you gained reaching the summit? Probably not. The truth is that struggle itself gives value to what you've accomplished. Moreover, hard work prepares and perfects your skills for when it counts, molding you into an expert who performs at your best regardless of the situation.

(Shortform note: Many writers agree with Schwarzenegger that hard...

Be Useful Summary Lift Others With Your Efforts

Schwarzenegger’s discussion of his governorship shows that success doesn’t ride on the shoulders of one person. All of our accomplishments are collective endeavors built upon mutual aid and support. Schwarzenegger emphasizes that we should reciprocate the help we receive from those around us by uplifting others whenever possible. This selfless benevolence is a force that elevates both you and society at large. Dispelling competitive notions of success, Schwarzenegger depicts life as a cooperative game where everyone benefits from mutual assistance.

(Shortform note: Western culture holds contradicting views regarding competition—some people believe it’s responsible for society’s success, while others believe it’s divisive. In The Inner Game of Tennis, W. Timothy Gallwey offers a middle ground. He writes that if we don’t use competition to define our self-worth, then “winning” is only valuable if it helps you achieve a meaningful goal. Your opponent is therefore a valuable ally because they’re doing their best to be a difficult obstacle, helping you...

Shortform Exercise: Are You as Driven as You Could Be?

Schwarzenegger says that to make the most of your potential, you should have a clear image in your mind of what you want your future to look like. He says you should meet every challenge with a positive mindset, and look for ways to leverage your achievements to lift other people up. Think about how you can apply these ideas to your life.

What is the grandest dream for your life? Has that vision changed over the years? What concrete, measurable accomplishments would let you know you’ve achieved it?