What I learned from Arnold
The Humble Years
Don't Despise Humble Beginnings.
Humans Being Excellent is not something we read about often or watch on the six o' clock news. Sure enough if someone was to pick anyone's life apart...you would find lots of examples of human failure, mistake and folly...and excellence. Let's look at the excellence and remember the good.
One such person that has personally achieved some personal success is Arnold Swarzenegger. He really was never encouraged by his parents and his father was a tough disciplinarian...to such an extent that he did not even attend his fathers funeral...years later. Having nothing, as the family was of little means, he forged an interest in the fledgling sport of body-building. With only his own tenacity behind him...he did not quit until he had reached his goal.
The rest of the story is well known. Mr Universe titles, movies and politics. In every role he chose to go down he has achieved great success. But it did not start that way. He had a very humble beginning. No wealthy family, no contacts, no encouragement, no support system. He had only himself.
The point is that we all experience humble beginnings. We are to take what we have been given and to embrace risk and see what we can do with it.
In Matthew Chapter 25 we have the parable of the talents. In the story, the rich land owner entrusts some money to his managers...according to their ability. The manager that had more ability was given $5 million. The manager with middle amounts of ability was given $3 million and the manager with a single ability...$1 million. The land owner leaves town and tells them he will settle accounts when he returns.
If you were to ask me...which manager is Arnold Swarzenegger...I would put him in the one talent ability group. He has taken his single talent and parlayed it into a very successful business and community-service life.
It is not what you have it is what you do with what you have...that counts.
Don't despise humble beginnings.* Greatly begin! Take whatever ability you have and invest it...and may your return be great...in all areas of you life.
*Zechariah 4:10
Humans Being Excellent is not something we read about often or watch on the six o' clock news. Sure enough if someone was to pick anyone's life apart...you would find lots of examples of human failure, mistake and folly...and excellence. Let's look at the excellence and remember the good.
One such person that has personally achieved some personal success is Arnold Swarzenegger. He really was never encouraged by his parents and his father was a tough disciplinarian...to such an extent that he did not even attend his fathers funeral...years later. Having nothing, as the family was of little means, he forged an interest in the fledgling sport of body-building. With only his own tenacity behind him...he did not quit until he had reached his goal.
The rest of the story is well known. Mr Universe titles, movies and politics. In every role he chose to go down he has achieved great success. But it did not start that way. He had a very humble beginning. No wealthy family, no contacts, no encouragement, no support system. He had only himself.
The point is that we all experience humble beginnings. We are to take what we have been given and to embrace risk and see what we can do with it.
In Matthew Chapter 25 we have the parable of the talents. In the story, the rich land owner entrusts some money to his managers...according to their ability. The manager that had more ability was given $5 million. The manager with middle amounts of ability was given $3 million and the manager with a single ability...$1 million. The land owner leaves town and tells them he will settle accounts when he returns.
If you were to ask me...which manager is Arnold Swarzenegger...I would put him in the one talent ability group. He has taken his single talent and parlayed it into a very successful business and community-service life.
It is not what you have it is what you do with what you have...that counts.
Don't despise humble beginnings.* Greatly begin! Take whatever ability you have and invest it...and may your return be great...in all areas of you life.
*Zechariah 4:10
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