According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, “the worst thing I can be is to be the same as everyone else. I hate him." Throughout his career, Arnold has tried to be anything but someone else. It is important to note that his “career” can be defined as many different things. He cannot be defined as one person, but rather as the set of a few personalities. All his alter egos shape him as he is today; all the alter egos are real and they all reflect a part of him internally. From bodybuilder to successful action star, from king of comedy to politician, Arnold is a fine example of a young Austrian boy who has courageously followed his every dream. Although he is mostly himself as a family man, he is able to portray his different sides through his bodybuilding and acting career to believe that Arnold is indeed a friendly, supportive and determined man. Many of the people who would have worked with him have said that this is just how he was raised, raised by his mother, Aurelia Schwarzenegger. About Arnold's autobiography, Janet Maslin says: “The book begins with the obligatory description of his Austrian childhood and says that he and his brother were forced to do sit-ups to earn breakfast. He also explains how the photos of bodybuilders that he had hanging in his room prompted his mother to seek medical advice…” (Maslin). This is Arnold explicitly stating that he got his determination and strength from the way he was raised. So it can be said that all of Arnold's alter egos are made possible by his characteristics, whether they are within him or displayed externally. He doesn't need alter egos because he isn't comfortable in his own skin, he has alter egos simply because they are the result of his hard work. The names he uses are…half of paper…anything but the same as anyone else's. His success with bodybuilding is largely attributed to his desire to win, and the recognition that came with it got him to where he was as an actor. The attention and praise he received from acting sparked his ambition to become a political figure, and with his determination, he achieved the title of Governor of California. The purpose of Arnold's alter ego is to have an outlet for his true self. In other words, these alter egos are just a maximized version of himself. He has nothing to hide, rather he needs an outlet for all the personalities he has inside. Arnold Schwarzenegger proves to everyone that determination and ambition are two essential traits to be the best version of yourself. Works Cited Schwarzenegger, Arnold and Peter Petre. Total Recall: My Incredibly True Life Story. Los Angeles: Simon & Schuster, 2013. Print.