Zig Ziglar a World War II veteran died Wednesday morning in a local Plano Texas hospital. Zig following his military service went on to become a successful salesman. Then when a motivational speaker did not show up at an event that Zig was hosting, Zig stepped up and motivated the crowd and the rest is history.
But Zig was more than just salesman or another motivational speaker.
He loved people and was determined to find the ?good? in others. His trademark quote was, ?You can have everything in life that you want, if you just help enough people get what they want.?Not only that, but Zig went beyond encouraging professional salespeople and career minded professionals striving for success. He went on to lift up people in their personal lives. Husbands, wives, teenagers? basically anyone who desired a rich rewarding life.
A few of Zig?s famous encouragements:
– A goal properly set is halfway reached.
– What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.
– A ?Big Shot? is nothing more than a little shot who kept on shooting.
– Today will never come again. Be a Blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal, never wound.
– You were born to win, but to be the winner you were born to be you have to plan to win and prepare to win. Then and only then can you expect to win.
– You are what you are and where you are because what has gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.
– We cannot start over, but we can begin now and make a new ending.
It almost seems unforgiving not to mention the ?red head? whenever talking about Zig. You see, the ?red head? is Jean. Zig?s wife. Zig loved to talk and share about Jean as though they?re newlyweds. Married for 66 years (they celebrated their anniversary on Monday), Zig loved to encourage others to strive for a successful marriage.
Zig did love Jean, his kids, family, and the Dallas Cowboys? but above all, I believe that Zig loved his ?faith?. I cannot recall knowing another man who ?modeled? his faith like Zig.
In fact, I remember attending a function and I had the privilege of being in a private discussion whereas Zig had heartfelt concern for a special needs attendee and made it clear that their needs must be taken care of. You see, this special needs individual ? seated in a crowd of hundreds ? never knew that Zig Ziglar had a sincere passionate interest in his own personal life.
Their love for faith and others did not end there. Zig & Jean regularly invited groups of people to their home to share the message of hope & Christ.
And what did Zig teach me? Beyond the 30 or so books that Zig wrote? he taught me that being a man of faith was not being long faced and boring. He taught me that courtship doesn?t end the day that you exchange vows with your wife. He taught me to be more bold and daring as man of faith.
I recall being told by one of Zig?s family members that Zig was never embarrassed to pray in public (or with anyone who?d listen). All to say, he truly loved his Heavenly Father. Really.
Bottom line, I so look forward to now seeing Zig at The Real Top.
Larry Fowler, Publisher
USMilitary.con Network