Are you like Schwarzenegger or are you like Ferrigno?

I like movies that would be classified as a documentary. I think of Michael Moore movies or even the one where the guy ate McDonalds for 30 days. Super Size Me I think it was called.

One of the more famous ones would be Pumping Iron. It came out in 1977 and focused around the 1975 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest in Pretoria, South Africa.

This movie basically made Arnold Schwarzenegger into a household name. At that time bodybuilding was very much a niche sport, but Arnold made it into a mainstream sport as well as launching his movie career. The rest the say is history.

Pumping Iron does have some scripted parts in it which makes for interesting viewing but what I can see in the movie and what I believe is very very real in the movie is the relationship between Arnold and what he thinks is his main competitor, Lou Ferrigno.

For people of my generation, you will know Lou Ferrigno as the character in this clip below:

The Incredible Hulk! That brings back the memories. Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk, just in case you didn't realise.

In the movie Pumping Iron, there is a perfect representation of the difference between an extrovert and an introvert.

In case you haven't figured it out, Arnold is the extrovert and Lou is the introvert.

Arnold is shown working out at the gym surrounded by other body builders. Helping them out if they ask him too. He is the centre of attention. Basically he holds court. Everyone knows him and he loves it. He loves the attention and admiration because he is 'the man.'

Contrastingly, Lou works out with his father in the basement of their house. He is quiet but equally determined to finally knock Arnold of his perch.

One of the more famous scenes in the movie is when Arnold, Lou and Lou's father are having breakfast together. As you would imagine Arnold is doing all the talking. We find out that it is all part of the psychological warfare in bodybuilding and Arnold appears to be a master of it. Lou's father tries to say some things but Arnold won't let him. Lou says very little.

So, what does this all mean? Does it mean that you have to be like Arnold to be successful? That answer for that is yes and no. Sure you are going to have to put yourself out there on occasions but the quieter ones can also be successful. You have to find what you are good at and really apply yourself to get better and better at it. You need to apply yourself to become the best in the world.

Just because you are quiet and you don't want to be around a lot of people and have reporters and beautiful people following you everywhere it doesn't mean that you can't become someone of note.

Compared to Arnold, Lou may not have been a success, but he made it in movies, he made it on television and he was one of the best bodybuilders of his time. He was probably more successful than 99% of people out there.

Just because you are quiet, it doesn't mean that you can't make a name for yourself. It just means that you might have to get out of your hut a few more times than you want to...