Zig Ziglar’s Instruction Book for Life

Zig Ziglar died this week at age 86 of pneumonia. He helped shape my thinking and living in more ways than I realize.  I heard him in person, read his books, and listened for hours to his unique voice while in my mobile university.

Zig Ziglar was bold in his faith, wise with his words and inspiring with his stories. His positive yet purposeful outlook on life inspired me to live differently and with hope. Here are just a few of the themes core to what he taught and believed.

10 Life-Changing Instructions to Live By

1.    Change your Thinking – Change your Life

You are what you are and where you are because of what’s gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.

2.    Believe in Yourself

You cannot consistently perform in a manner which is inconsistent with the way you see yourself.

3.    Family Matters

I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles.

4.    Live with Purpose

Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four-hour days.

Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission.

People do not wander around and then find themselves at the top of Mount Everest.

5.    Set Goals

A goal properly set is halfway reached.

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time. 

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

6.    Be Grateful

Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.

The more you are grateful for what you have the more you will have to be grateful for.

7.    Believe in People

A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.

You can have everything in life you want if you help enough people get what they want.

8.    Be Optimistic

Optimists are those who go after Moby Dick in a row boat with a bucket of tartar sauce.

Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.

9.    Learn from Failure

Failing is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night.

Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker.

10.  Be Disciplined

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.

When you are tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you.

Everybody says they want to be free. Take the train off the tracks and it’s free – but it can’t go anywhere.

Listen to Zig Ziglar on iTunes – click here.
Other Zig Ziglar podcasts – click here.

How will you allow these words to inspire you this week?

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