“I Froze. I Was Terrified”: 15 Years After His Lifelong Idol’s Demise, Arnold Schwarzenegger Narrates How He Helped Him in Overcoming His Biggest Fear

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic bodybuilder, actor, and former Governor of California is known for his charisma and commanding presence in front of audiences. However, few may know that he had a deep-seated fear of public speaking at the beginning of his career. However, the Austrian Oak overcame this fear, transforming his life, thanks to the little push by his idol, Reg Park. 

Schwarzenegger idolized Park and saw him as a role model, not just for his physical prowess but also for his charming personality in front of audiences. The seven-time Mr. Olympia winner opened up about the incident that was a turning point in his life. 

Arnold  Schwarzenegger was scared before speaking his first words 

Despite Schwarzenegger’s breathtaking performances on the stages of bodybuilding competitions, he often struggled in conveying his thoughts after the contest. The thought of facing a large audience was “terrifying” to him. It often held him back from fully expressing his ideas and connecting with others.

In the recent edition of his newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, Schwarzenegger detailed how he conquered this fear with the help of his lifelong idol, Reg Park when he was asked to speak at a bodybuilding event in Ireland. This was a pivotal moment that transformed his relationship with public speaking. One day, Park asked Schwarzenegger to speak at the post-event of the bodybuilding contest in Ireland. Initially, Schwarzenegger was hesitant and fearful of taking up the challenge. “I froze. I was terrified,” he wrote in the newsletter. 

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English was not Schwarzenegger’s native language, and he struggled with the language barrier when he first arrived. His first words were, “I do not speak English”. However, Park believed in him and saw his potential as he kept telling him what to speak to the audience. The Austrian Oak didn’t want to disappoint his idol even with his limited vocabulary knowledge, he started giving answers. But the bodybuilding legend was surprised to see people’s reaction as they kept applauding Arnold’s efforts. From that day on, Schwarzenegger’s fear of public speaking gradually dissipated.

The turning point of Schwarzenegger as a public speaker 

Looking back, Schwarzenegger credited the opportunity as the turning point in his relationship with public speaking. Schwarzenegger’s triumph over his fear of public speaking had a profound impact on his life and career. It opened doors for him, allowing him to connect with people from all walks of life, inspire others to pursue their dreams, and make a positive impact on society.

He learned that facing his fears and stepping out of his comfort zone was the key to personal growth and success. In conclusion, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey to conquering his fear of public speaking is a strong example of the importance of taking small steps and stepping out of one’s comfort zone to achieve success.

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