Years ago when I was into body building, I couldn’t resist attending a training camp by the big guy. I mean the BIG GUY—Arnold Shwarzenneger. This was well before his Terminator and Governator days. At the time, he could barely speak the king’s English; nonetheless he won the “Mr. Olympia” title seven times. . . went on to become a Hollywood action film hero — an icon, really . . . a fabulously wealthy real estate owner . . . and, California’s highest elected official.
Arnold began with a lesson on how to build bigger biceps, explaining that he doesn’t see his biceps so much as muscle mass, but rather as “mountains.” He flexed his right bicep, licked his left index finger, and then touched the tip of his right bicep with his wet finger. He paused for a moment, and then said, “Every morning I get up, flex my biceps, and touch the tip of them with a wet finger … marveling at them like they are mountains, knowing they are growing bigger and bigger.” 
Arnold’s point was this: you have to do “the work before the work” in order to guarantee results. You have to do the inner work and pull your mind and spirit in alignment with your dream before you can successfully do the outer work, the physical work that bears fruit.
The purpose of the “work before the work” is that you need to convince yourself that you can, in fact, accomplish your dreams. This means getting your mind, body, and spirit all in agreement. This “triad” becomes an energy source that can break through any obstacle standing between you and your goal.
I took Arnold’s tip back to Boston with me and put it to work in my real estate business. Here’s what happened. I was looking at a dilapidated house for sale, debating whether it was possible to renovate it and sell it for a profit. I wet my fingertip and touched the house as I walked through the dingy, crumbling rooms with a broker. When I touched the house, I imagined it fully renovated and sparkling clean. I also imagined realizing a $45,000 profit when I sold it.
I made several more visits to the house, each time performing the same “wet fingertip” technique — touching different rooms and imagining them fully renovated.
Within a week, I felt fully convinced and aligned, so I made an offer on the house. It was accepted. During the several months it took for the renovation to be completed, I continued the wet fingertip technique every time I went to the house to check on the progress. Several months later, I sold the house for a $67,000 profit. The wet fingertip worked!
Our successes are real only because we convincingly decide they are real. The opposite is also true: our ongoing struggles are real only because we convincingly decide they are real.
Want to change your world? Begin now, by using your imagination and your fingertip to get the inner work rolling. When the inner work is done successfully, the outer work – the action – comes easily.
So here’s the $67,000 question: will you try the technique? Do you have a technique that you’re willing to share with us?
Thank you and blessings
Listen to this weeks WROAR Blog Talk Radio show: “So, put it that way!” The greatest lesson I learned in college happened outside of the classroom… while mowing the campus lawn, actually. These unexpected words of wisdom changed my life.
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“Best Comment of the Week.” This weeks best comments come from J.D. Meier of Sources of Insight and Christopher Foster of The Happy Seeker. Thank you for your heartfelt sharing. See their comments here. Illustrations by nick
-Hi Rob. I loved the Blog show last night. I never went to college but I am hell bent on making sure my kids can go. Not going to college has been one of my biggest hang ups for most of my life. But, I have felt a strange shift in attitude lately. As I have been looking into different colleges and reading articles about the value of that degree I am not so sure anymore. One thing that I hear over and over again is that they say “you only get out of college what you put in.” or something like that. It doesnt matter what college you go to but if you show up feeling privileged or just want to party you really wont come away with any value. If you show up willing to be a sponge and soak in every lesson that is offered you will come out ahead of the pack. That’s what I want to teach my daughters. They may learn their greatest lesson as an intern, a dishwasher or economics 101. Who knows. Personally, in hindsight, I dont think college was right for me. I would have gone off the deep end. Jumping into the workforce was the best education for me. I’ve never had anybody tell me “put it that way” exactly but I know the sentiment. I once worked for an old carpenter who loved the three stooges… whenever I made a mistake he would quote Moe and say, “I told you not to be stupid, you moron!” Ha ha. It worked!
Hi Roger. Whether it be college or any facet of life – what you put into it is what you get it out of, isn’t it. Most folks are brainwashed into believing that most of their wants are simply impossible dreams. Most folks with college degrees still believe this. That’s why there are so many dissatisfied people in the world. But the truth of the matter, Roger, is it just ain’t so. If you really want it, then it is possible to get it if you are willing to do whatever it takes to get it (college degree or no). Blessings
Hi Rob — it’s mildly embarrassing to say this, but sometimes I imagine myself giving interviews about my creative work, and what I would say in them. Sometimes I doubt that this is a good idea, because to some extent it’s coming from a place of ego and wanting to be the center of attention, but on the other hand maybe it’s not such a terrible thing if the attention results from making a contribution to people’s lives.
Hi Chris. The role of the soul is to reveal itself to the world through you. It is not egocentric to want to have your word spoken to the masses. You have something beautiful to say. I hope the world has ears to hear. Blessings
Greetings Rob,
This was quite fascinating. I loved how you explained “the work before the work.” Oftentimes, people allow themselves to get flustered because they place such huge expectations on something they’ve only been doing for a season. At least, I know that was the case for me in the past. I would start a “Great Work” and in my mind I would put my all into it. If it didn’t yield the reward I sought in the time frame in which I sought it, my pathology learned was to escape and move on to the next “Great Work.” Oh the foolish man I was. However, as Michelangelo said, “I am still learning.” I also am still allowing myself permission to see where much improvement is needed on my part. I am more willing these days to put “my wholeness”(my personality, spirit, and character) into “the work before the work” and constantly remind myself that if I commit more and more to the work, the reward will reveal itself in due time, every time. And it may not necessarily be in my timing – which is a extremely hard truth to put into practice. Nonetheless, many times we place those same types of expectations that we’ve placed on timing, on the reward itself. Whose to say that the reward isn’t already present. This is exactly what this journey has taught me about my past failures and defeats. I must be conscious to ensuring the inner work is being worked upon, just as much as the outer. Good stuff! Thanks for sharing your experience and insights with us. Keep up the awesomeness, my friend!
Hi Deone. Do you know what makes you a remarkable friend? People are influenced by what you say to the extent that what you say touches them personally. You have that gift. You exude a natural self-interest that radiates outwardly so that we know you are truly interested in us. all powerful communicators (like Martin Luther King Jr.), are able to do this. You do this! Thank you
Hi Rob,
I love how you slip these things in like “when I was into body building”. This is a classic post – I couldn’t resist reading it and love the story and message. In fact I read it on my RSS but had to come back when I was on my computer to leave a comment.
Yes, I will try this technique, minus the wet finger, just imagining I have the Midas touch but knowing if I invest the time to think about success I’ll also have to invest the time and effort:)
Hi Annabel. Thank you for dropping by. You are an attractive person because you know how to ring inner bells. Everyone wants essentially the same thing – love, happiness and prosperity. Everyone defines prosperity differently. You do a great job of ringing these inner bells. Did you know that. I suspect you do. Thank you
Sooo cool Rob. I cant believe you got to hang out with the Governator!!
He’s not my type, but I must say his movies are a guilty pleasure of mine. Nothing like a bad movie and some Ben n’ Jerrys for Fri. night on the D-low 
… which is exactly what I’ve been doing since I moved back home…. ooooo the horror! 
I am in a bit of a quandry, i must admit. I am equal parts complacent and anxious. Things just are not the same for my generation. So many people move home in this economy. I just have to make doubly sure that I keep my eyes on my vision board and keep saving my pennies. Im using you tip this week but I’m going to start small. Instead of going for some grandiose dream, I just want to see If I can use the technique to have a peaceful dinner with my father. I’ll save the Manhattan penthouse fingertip vision for when I get to NYC.
Hi Kara. Creative people never stop wrestling with ideas. You are a creative person. You never stop wrestling with ideas. You may rest for a spell, but then you start up again. It shows in your comments. I love that about you. Thank you