Adawat Al Oudhamaa Alasaleb Wal Oumalaa | Tim Ferriss

Every time I give a speech at an entrepreneur conference, address college students, or participate on Reddit; When I am asked about many things, I find someone who says: “Governor/Conservative/Arnold/Arnie/Schwarze/Schentzel (depending on where I am) As a self-made man, what is your plan for success?” They are always surprised when I thank them for the compliment and say, "I'm not a self-made man; I got a lot of help." It is true that I grew up in Austria and was skinny, and it is true that I moved to America alone with nothing but my gym bag, and it is true that I worked I built and invested in real estate to become a millionaire before even brandishing a sword in Conan the Barbarian. But I am not a self-made man. Like any human being - who wants to reach what I have reached - I stood on the shoulders of giants. I built my life thanks to my parents, coaches, teachers, good people who provided coaches or backrooms in gyms for me to sleep in, counselors who gave me wisdom and advice, and role models who inspired me to read about them in the pages of magazines (and as my life expanded, of personal interactions). I had a big vision, and I was full of passion. But I wouldn't be where I am without my mother helping with my homework (and scolding me when I wasn't ready to study), without my father advising me to "be good", without the help of my teachers who explained how to sell, and without coaches who taught me the basics of weightlifting. If I hadn't seen a magazine cover with a picture of Reg Park, and read about his transformation from world bodybuilder to Hercules on the big screen, I might still be on my face in the Austrian Alps. I knew I wanted to leave Austria, and I knew that America was exactly where I belonged, so Reg fired me and gave me the plan for my success. Joe Weeder brought me to America and sponsored me, enriched my career as a bodybuilder and taught me a lot about business, and Lucille Ball gave me a great opportunity when she invited me to a special that made my Hollywood debut. And in 2003, had it not been for the help of 4,206,284 Californians, I would not have been chosen as Mayor of this great state. How can I pretend to be a self-made man? Acceptance of this quality makes me deny the merit of every person and every advice that led me to where I am. The adjective self-made also gives the wrong impression that you can do it on your own. I couldn't, and you probably can't either. And we all need fuel. Without the help, advice, and inspiration of others, the motor of our minds would stop, and we would be stuck in a place that leads us to nothing.