Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnolds Schwarzenegger’s life continues to be an inspiration to millions of people around the world! I am a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan myself, watched all his movies and read his books, but to me he’s more than a movie star. He’s transformed my life! His book has given me power to overcome depression, win in a Bodybuilding Competition in record time, and transform what seemed like a tragedy into my dream life! Here is my story of how Arnold Schwarzenegger Inspired me to Win!
My American Dream
As a teenager, I left my home town in Crimea to attend college in Moscow in 1990. I found myself right in the middle of major political upheavals and dissolution of the Soviet Union. The world celebrated this event as a victory for freedom, a triumph of democracy over totalitarianism. This unlocked the floodgates to the American entertainment industry.
I remember being amazed by a poster of a handsome unbelievably muscular American movie star, who seem to personify an American dream! A year later I met an American man who looked like Arnold, whom I married and immigrated to the United States.
What started out as a fairy-tail turned into a nightmare. Few years later, with two very young kids, tragic circumstances in the family paralyzed my spirit and I felt unable to go on. Instead of giving into depression I picked up Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding and taught myself how to workout. After a few grueling months of self-training, I was fit for stage and entered a local natural Bodybuilding competition in Virginia. To everyone’s amazement, including myself, I won the Overall Figure division! This gave me strength to leave my old life behind and pursue my dreams with confidence and passion.
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Finding Life’s Purpose
Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it’s a feather bed. — Terence Mckenna
I started my art career in Northern Virginia, however, to support my children as a single mom, I worked in the world of computers & finance and painted part time. I was trying to find a place where I belonged by moving to different states every few years- Virginia, Seattle and Arizona, which made me realize that all I wanted to be is an artist. Career success in Software Development and Commercial Real Estate didn’t fade my dream of becoming an artist. In 2017 I left the corporate world, moved to Laguna Beach, CA and became a professional artist.
Check out my Biography.
The Big Idea
I welcome and seek your ideas, but do not bring me small ideas; bring me big ideas to match our future.
I believe that everyone was created to be the Best at being themselves. Arnold’s #1 rule for Success states Trust Yourself. Where can one start to pursue excellence in themselves? Arnold’s answer is not to be too modest, but to Start wide, expand further, and never look back.
My big idea was to become one of the world’s top successful portrait artists. Since I love every minute of my work, I have won already!
Check out Arnold’s speech at his USC Commencement Address in the Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 6 Rules for Success post.
1) Trust Yourself
2) Break The Rules
3) Don’t Be Afraid To Fail
4) Don’t Listen To The Naysayers
6) Give Back
Share your Victory!
Thanks for reading! If you’re an Arnold fan, a bodybuilder, a competitor or were inspired by him to overcome a challenge, I would love to hear your story! Comment below and share your victory!