My Zig Ziglar Tribute

I spent 18 months from January 1993- July 1994 living in the south. A lot of important things happened to me during that time. Top of the list was getting married to my wife Kathy (who by the way is celebrating her birthday today!) But possibly second on the list was being introduced to the work of Zig Ziglar. I was given a Zig Ziglar tape by a friend who hoped to help me get over a nagging injury that was keeping me from running and the words on that tape did a lot more than that.

Yesterday Zig Ziglar died at the age of 86. I bet I would never have heard of him if I had not left coaching and teaching for three years. Zig was the dean of all motivational speakers. Although this is not universally true of all educators, some educational communities are suspicious of motivational speakers comparing their promises to the promises of snake oil salesmen. And some of them might be. But Zig wasn't. He was the real deal. He believed in the old fashioned way to success -- hard disciplined work, and he told you that.

He used stories and aphorisms that we could remember and relate to to positively influence lives. Here are a few of my favorite quotes followed by some video that was circulating yesterday of him presenting on some of his favorite topics. Thanks Zig. I will miss you, but I will never forget you.

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now."
"If you can dream it, you can achieve it."
"Your attitude not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."
"A goal properly set is halfway reached."
"If you go looking for a friend you are going to find they are scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere."
"Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes."
"People don't buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons."
"There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic."
"People often say motivation doesn't last. Neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily."
"You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want."
"Remember that failure is an event, not a person."
"Success is one thing you can't pay for. You buy it on installment plan and make payments every day."
"If you aim at nothing you will hit every time."
"Positive thinking won't let you do anything. But it will help you do everything better than negative thinking will."
"Don't let the mistakes and disappointments of the past control and direct your future."
"Those who dare not, do not."

An Advanced Case of Stinkin Thinkin


Goal Setting


Great Stories -- Spindletop


Pump Story


On Discipline and Commitment


Evaluate Where You Are


Igniting Motivation and Success


Having a Balanced Life