Intensity in your pursuits

Passion is a powerful force—it fuels our dreams, shapes our ambitions, and pushes us toward success. But how we choose to pursue that passion is deeply personal. Some prefer a steady pace, enjoying the journey, while others take an intense, relentless approach. Arnold Schwarzenegger, known for his extraordinary achievements in bodybuilding, Hollywood, and politics, is a firm believer in the power of intensity. In his own words, he shares the mindset that helped him reach the top.

“Now today, I'm going to give you the six rules of success. But before I start, I just wanted to say these are my rules. I think that they can apply to anyone, but that is for you to decide, because not everyone is the same. There are some people that just like to kick back and coast through life and others want to be very intense and want to be number one and want to be successful.

“And that's like me. I always wanted to be very intense, I always wanted to be number one. I took it very seriously, my career. So this was the same when I started with bodybuilding. I didn't want to just be a bodybuilding champion, I wanted to be the best bodybuilder of all time. The same was in the movies. I didn't want to just be a movie star; I wanted to be a great movie star that is the highest paid movie star and have above-the-title billing. And so this intensity always paid off for me, this commitment always paid off for me.”

“…So let me tell you, as you prepare to go off into the world, remember those six rules:

1. Trust yourself,

2. Break some rules,

3. Don't be afraid to fail,

4. Ignore the naysayers,

5. Work like hell, and

6. Give something back.”

_{Schwarzenegger, Arnold. University of Southern California. Alumni Memorial Park. Los Angeles, California. 15 May 2009. Commencement Address.}