Actor, politician, former Governor of California, entrepreneur, and former champion bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger is also a passionate do-it-yourselfer. The Austrian-born American icon is now the face of a new campaign for the DIY brand Parkside, exclusive to Lidl, recasting the former Terminator as a motivator for home projects.
Schwarzenegger’s affinity for working with his hands is rooted in his past. He worked as a bricklayer in Austria as a young man. “I worked in construction to earn extra money when I was very young,” he recalled. “That’s when I truly learned what hard work means: going to the construction site early every morning, regardless of the weather. My skin cracked from the cement and the cold. I learned what it really takes to be a craftsman: willpower and perseverance.”
He confirmed he personally renovated his first dilapidated house in Los Angeles. “I had no money to pay craftsmen, so I did everything myself: I poured cement, tore down walls, installed the electrical system. My most important tool was a heavy hammer drill; I used it more often then than I use my smartphone today.”
When asked about common beginner mistakes, Schwarzenegger emphasized preparation. “If you are sloppy in the preparation phase, you risk ending up with twice the problems later. Good tools are indispensable, but the tape measure remains fundamental. My advice: measure three times so you only have to use the saw once.”
He judges tools on three criteria: “First, sturdiness. Second, ergonomics. Third, ease of use: every tool should be intuitive, without too many frills.”
For Schwarzenegger, DIY is more than a hobby; it’s a discipline that shaped his life. “Building was my job, how I earned money. The craft taught me discipline and precision, skills that have helped me in every area of life. So yes, if you want me to build a wall, I’m your guy.”
He learned a crucial lesson from an early project failure: “I discovered a project doesn’t fail from a lack of talent, but from a lack of planning. I had to tear down entire walls because I didn’t take the time to mark them. Since then, I follow this: a tape measure, a pencil, and the patience to use both are the key to starting.”
His advice for young people echoes this sentiment: “Good DIY requires three things: the right tools, excellent planning, and the ability to learn from your mistakes.” He also expressed his motivation for the campaign, stating, “Everyone should have the chance to create something with their own hands.”
His manual skills even came in handy on movie sets. “There was often something to repair or assemble. Props or sets had to be fixed, rebuilt, or made functional on short notice, often under pressure and with few materials. In those moments, I could use my skills to assemble, fix, or improvise. It didn’t have to be perfect, it just had to last until the next shot.”
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