30 Zig Ziglar Quotes to Motivate You Towards Success

As sales and marketing professionals, we all face moments of doubt, rejection and frustration. In those times, there are few better places to turn for inspiration than the wisdom of Zig Ziglar.

Widely considered the greatest motivational speaker of the 20th century, Ziglar influenced millions with his message of positivity, goal-setting and unshakable persistence. His best-selling books, legendary seminars and unforgettable quotes left an indelible mark on the personal development world.

Although Ziglar passed away in 2012, his words are as relevant and impactful as ever. In this post, we‘ll explore the story and philosophy behind 30 of his most powerful quotes. Get ready to be inspired, motivated and armed with the success mindset needed to achieve your biggest goals.

The Making of a Motivational Icon

Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar was born in 1926 in rural Alabama, the tenth of twelve children. When Ziglar was five years old, his father died suddenly, leaving his mother to raise the family on her own amidst the Great Depression.

Ziglar would later credit his mother as his first motivational speaker. Despite the hard circumstances, she maintained her faith and always encouraged her children to expect good things to happen. Her strength and optimism would become a guiding light throughout Ziglar‘s life.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, Ziglar got his start as a door-to-door cookware salesman. He quickly discovered he had a knack for connecting with people and inspiring them to believe in themselves and their goals. His sales career took off, and he became known for his integrity, work ethic and genuine desire to help others succeed.

In the early 1970s, Ziglar decided to share his sales wisdom more widely and transitioned into motivational speaking and corporate training. "His speeches were a combination of stand-up comedy, sales training and down-home preaching," says his long-time associate Steve Lawson. "People would laugh their heads off one minute and be crying the next."

Ziglar‘s unique blend of humor, storytelling and actionable insights quickly made him a sought-after speaker for companies like IBM, Ford and General Electric. Over his 50+ year career, he:

• Spoke in front of over 5 million people at live events
• Reached over 250 million people through his best-selling books, audiotapes and videos
• Wrote over 30 books on motivation, sales, success and personal development
• Appeared with US presidents, foreign leaders and celebrities like Bill Cosby and Charles Kuralt

But despite Ziglar‘s massive success, he never lost touch with his down-to-earth roots and always made his audience feel like he was one of them. His goal was never to impress people, but rather to inspire them to become their best selves.

Ziglar‘s Secrets to Sales Success

Having spent decades in the trenches of door-to-door sales, Zig Ziglar had a deep understanding of what it took to persuade and influence people. He developed a sales philosophy based on honesty, empathy and a genuine desire to serve the customer.

"Stop selling," Ziglar implored salespeople. "Start helping." He taught that sales was not about pushing products, but rather identifying needs and offering valuable solutions. "You can get everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want," he famously said.

Ziglar understood that trust was the foundation of any sales relationship. "If people like you, they‘ll listen to you, but if they trust you, they‘ll do business with you," he explained. He emphasized the importance of keeping promises, following up and always doing right by the customer.

But Ziglar also recognized the mental and emotional challenges of sales. He constantly encouraged salespeople to maintain a positive attitude, persevere through rejection and view failure as a learning opportunity. His motivational quotes on mindset and self-belief are among his most famous:

• "Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."
• "Remember that failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night."
• "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."
• "You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."

Indeed, a 2020 survey by Sales Insights Lab found that 66% of top-performing salespeople were more likely to have a positive attitude compared to their lower-performing peers. Ziglar understood that sales success is as much about internal fortitude as it is about external techniques.

Becoming a Goal-Setting Superstar

Zig Ziglar was also a master of goal-setting and personal achievement. "A goal properly set is halfway reached," he declared. Ziglar broke down the science of goal-setting into a simple, repeatable process:

1. Identify the goal
2. List the benefits of achieving it
3. List the obstacles to overcome
4. Identify the skills and knowledge required
5. Identify the people and resources that can help
6. Develop an action plan
7. Set a deadline for achievement

By following this formula, Ziglar argued that anyone could achieve even their most audacious dreams. "You don‘t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great," he encouraged.

Ziglar practiced what he preached, setting and achieving remarkable goals throughout his life and career. In his 50s, he decided to go back to college and earned his doctorate in sales education. In his 70s, he launched one of the most successful speaking tours of his career. "Duty makes us do things well," he said, "but love makes us do them beautifully."

Research has shown that people who vividly describe or picture their goals are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish them. Ziglar gave people the framework and inspiration to put this principle into action.

Leaving a Legacy

Zig Ziglar touched more lives than he could have ever imagined. Today, a quick internet search reveals over 20 million hits for his name. His quotes are a social media sensation, adorning everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs. And his books continue to sell briskly, with many considering them among the best self-help tomes ever written.

But Ziglar‘s legacy extends far beyond catchy quips and book sales. His true impact lies in the countless people who made positive changes in their lives and careers thanks to his teachings.

Sales professionals who adopted his techniques became top earners in their companies. Business leaders who heard him speak went on to build thriving organizations that uplifted their communities. Struggling individuals who encountered his message of hope gained the strength to persevere towards their goals.

While the world looks very different than it did when a young Zig Ziglar first started selling pots and pans, his core principles of honesty, integrity, hard work and servant leadership are more relevant than ever. In a 2022 survey by Salesforce, 95% of customers said they were more likely to trust companies that treated them the way Ziglar advocated.

The next time you face a challenge or feel your motivation wavering, remember the words of the ultimate encourager, Zig Ziglar: "You are the only person on earth who can use your ability." Every day gives you a new opportunity to apply his wisdom, develop your potential and become a positive force in the lives of others.

As Ziglar said, "Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker." Keep dreaming big, putting in the work and expecting great things to happen. By following Ziglar‘s lead and cultivating an attitude of unshakable optimism, there‘s no limit to the success you can achieve.