An engrossing biopic about a guy I didn’t think was particularly interesting.

This three-part series covers Arnold Schwarzenegger’s whole life: from a boy growing up in Austria, through his bodybuilding career, to Hollywood, and finally to the governor’s office in Sacramento.

I had a lot more respect for Arnold Schwarzenegger after watching this documentary. He speaks very frankly about the emotional and physical abuse he and his brother endured as children. He talks of the “fire in the belly” and how his mind is always set on moving forward and achieving something new. He even voices his shame for the affair he had that resulted in the destruction of his marriage and his family.

The most touching part happens at the end when he notes that people often incorrectly refer to him as a self-made man. “The only thing that is self is kind of my motivation and my visualization and all this stuff,” he says. “There were endless amounts of people that were there helping me.”

And I’ve been thinking about that ever since I finished the documentary. There’s a great power in asking for and accepting help along the way, and yet many of us refuse to do this, as if it devalues our eventual accomplishments.

Arnold is not perfect, but he got some things right. I might have to watch this one again.