Featured Image Credit: University of Houston
Topics: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jess Hardiman
Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech about the concept of self-made success has gone viral again, having been hailed ‘great words to live by’ online.
The actor and former bodybuilder originally shared his profound thoughts on the matter when delivering a commencement speech at the University of Houston in May 2017.
He explained how he doesn't believe he can consider himself a 'self-made' man, purely because the label dismisses the fact he 'wouldn't have made it' without the help of others.
Advert
Schwarzenegger recalled how he came over to the US after being encouraged to do so by bodybuilding icon Joe Weider, the co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders and creator of the famous Mr Olympia contest.
“It was Joe Weider that brought me to America, to the greatest country in the world, to give me the opportunity to train in Gold’s Gym and to get me a little apartment,” Schwarzenegger said.
“I came over here with absolutely nothing. It was his help. I had $20 in the pocket and some sweaty clothes in the gym bag. I had this one little apartment and on Thanksgiving, the bodybuilders from Gold’s Gym came to my apartment and they brought me pillows, dishes, silverware, all of those things I didn’t have.
“And even a black and white TV and the transistor radio, which I still have today on the end table next to my bed. The generosity I saw. The amount of help that I got when I came to America was absolutely extraordinary, saw firsthand how generous the American people are. And then in Gold’s Gym, there was a magical place with all of the champions, Mr. Americas, Mr. World, Mr. Universe, everyone was training, powerlifters, Olympic champions and so on. And they helped me change from an amateur champion to a professional champion.”
Schwarzenegger remembered how, after this, he ‘won championship after championship’ and ‘became the greatest bodybuilder of all times’.
But he stressed: “I would not have made any of that by myself. So, this is why I don’t believe in the self‑made man and even when it comes to show business, it was the same thing. I mean - you read the stories that Schwarzenegger decided from one day to the next to retire from bodybuilding and to go and become an actor. And in no time, he did Conan the Barbarian and Terminator and Commander and so on. Well, it is true, but it is only half of the story because the reality of it is without a lot of help I wouldn’t have made it.”
After addressing the university, Schwarzenegger shared the footage of his speech on YouTube, writing: “My message: don't ever call me a self-made man. Once you realize that you are the product of a lot of help, you will acknowledge that you must help others.”
The footage has now resurfaced online with people on Reddit praising the 'inspirational' words.
One user wrote: "Well said, everyone needs help at some point in their life, especially just starting off on your own."
Someone else said: "Great words to live by."
Another added: "Damn, what a speech!"
A fourth joked: "I was gonna say he killed that speech, but he definitely terminated it... I’ll see myself out..."
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]