Unleashing Your Inner Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger's Principles for Aspiring Product Managers
I often find myself immersed in books penned by individuals who have surmounted towering athletic feats. This inclination is likely not a coincidence given my athletic background. I am continually inspired by those who have reached the pinnacle of physical prowess. These stories reveal a multitude of virtues—grit, physical and mental fortitude, a knack for enduring repeated failures, self-awareness, analytical and methodical thinking, resilience in overcoming childhood traumas, and a profound admiration for inspiring figures accompanied by the guidance of remarkable mentors and role models. I discern a pattern here, and in these narratives, I see a reflection of my own journey. My avid reading about athletes stems from a firm belief that they have invaluable lessons to impart about leadership and spirituality, which are often under acknowledged.
Take Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance. His life journey is a riveting adventure that commenced in a small village in Austria. Despite a lack of familial support for his bodybuilding aspirations, his relentless drive propelled him into a realm of endless possibilities. As an immigrant in America, he faced and overcame numerous adversities. His acting career, initially met with skepticism, pioneered a novel genre of films, paving the way for other athletes to secure some of the highest paying roles in the industry. Without Arnold's trailblazing journey, perhaps Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wouldn’t have held the title of the highest-paid actor. Even his political aspirations were met with doubt, yet he silenced skeptics by becoming the Governor of California. Each career leap, scoffed at by many, was viewed by Arnold as an opportunity to defy the naysayers. I find tales of such tenacity incredibly inspiring and believe they hold profound lessons for leaders. The path to greatness seldom follows a straight line; it demands a unique perspective and an unwavering belief in one's ability to surmount the insurmountable.
I've distilled what I believe to be crucial lessons from Schwarzenegger’s book "Be Useful: Seven Tools for a Meaningful Life," and shared how they resonated with me. However, I strongly recommend delving into the entire book to grasp the breadth and depth of Arnold's extraordinary journey and the wisdom encapsulated in its pages.
Now, let's explore how Schwarzenegger’s seven principles can serve as a guiding star for young PMs venturing into the exhilarating yet demanding world of game development, steering them towards a fulfilling and productive career:
Have a Vision:
A clear vision serves as your compass amidst the tumultuous seas of product management. Understanding the long-term goals and the impact your product aims to achieve is imperative. This vision will underpin your strategy, roadmap, and every decision throughout the product's lifecycle. I’ve noticed a significant reduction in anxiety when my vision is clear and focused. As someone wisely pointed out in an interview, “Anxiety arises from too many directions to go in. A focused, calm person knows exactly where they are heading, whereas an unfocused, directionless person will be overwhelmed and anxious.” Vision is the remedy—embrace it.
Be Grateful:
The journey will undoubtedly be challenging, yet every milestone achieved, regardless of its magnitude, is a testament to your team's collective effort. Acknowledge and celebrate these victories. Gratitude towards your team, stakeholders, and customers fosters a positive work environment and fuels the drive towards subsequent milestones. Gratitude serves as an antidote to anxiety, shifting your thought pattern from negative to positive. It’s the contrast between being excited (grateful, hopeful) versus anxious (ungrateful, hopeless). Altering your mindset can help shift your outlook, enabling you to appreciate the moment more without being overly dependent on the outcome.
Work Hard:
The gaming arena is a battlefield demanding relentless effort and dedication. The mantra is simple—the harder you work, the luckier you get. Your commitment is the catalyst that transforms code into an immersive experience for gamers. Hard work also furnishes ample reasons to be grateful for. Acknowledging your effort through tracking progress, or pausing to reflect on how far you’ve come—even in the absence of success—is important.
Be Persistent:
Setbacks are not roadblocks but stepping stones. Embrace failures, learn from them, and march forward with fortified resolve. Your persistence will serve as a beacon, keeping the team motivated even when challenges seem insurmountable. Persistence is crucial when under tremendous pressure. Athletes, engrained with this trait in their DNA, endure injuries, illnesses, missed training days, or being outperformed by others who worked harder and more efficiently. Not winning or achieving the desired outcome is part of the journey—endure it. As I often tell my mentees, losses and failures have taught me more than wins. Winning is easy; failing is hard. Use that to fuel your persistent mindset.
Be Kind:
Foster a culture of respect, empathy, and support. A harmonious team dynamic is the crucible where innovative solutions are forged. Your kindness and understanding will resonate with the team, creating a conducive environment for creativity and collaboration. Understanding the significance of kindness and its impact on those around you can provide substantial support on your journey. A Product Manager must have allies to succeed. Kindness will go a long way in forming meaningful relationships and alleviating the pressure of doing it all by yourself, as others can help teach and support you in areas where you may lack strength.
Be Humble:
The learning curve in the gaming industry is as expansive as the gaming universes you aim to create. Embrace feedback, and be willing to unlearn and relearn. Your humility will serve as a valuable lesson for the team, nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. Humility has been the essence of my career and has contributed immensely to my personal and professional growth for three main reasons:
When you are humble, people will teach you and help you learn.
When you are humble, people will enjoy working with you and be kind to you.
When you are humble, you will perceive things logically, listen more, and identify your biases faster, evolving into a better leader.
Give Back:
Your journey will be a legacy, an open book from which others can learn. Mentor aspiring PMs, share your experiences, and contribute to a knowledge-sharing ecosystem. The more you give back, the richer the gaming community becomes, paving the way for groundbreaking innovations. Giving back provides you with a 'why,' furnishing a sense of purpose which, in my opinion, should have been the beginning of this book, not the end. A strong sense of purpose will enable you to overcome anything with ease. Purpose precedes vision; it’s the fuel on which vision relies to succeed. I believe Arnold had a deeper purpose to inspire others through fitness, which helped him overcome his trauma and propelled him into becoming a public figure. Without giving back and aiding all those bodybuilders in his early career, Arnold wouldn't be the person he is today.
Schwarzenegger’s wisdom transcends beyond the pages, offering a blueprint for not only surviving but thriving in the dynamic landscape of product management in the gaming industry. As you gear up to manifest your visions in the gaming realms, let these seven principles serve as cheat codes to a fulfilling and victorious Product Management quest. Your game begins now!
