According to Zig Ziglar, success becomes truly real and lasting only when it embraces all areas of life. Physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, relationships, as well as career and finances—all of these form a single whole. True success requires balance. Unfortunately, it is precisely this balance that is often lost in the fast pace of modern life.
Although we frequently measure success by expensive cars, beautiful homes, or designer clothing, the truth is that if these things are achieved at the cost of misplaced priorities and an unbalanced life, they do not represent success—they become a trap.
A Path That Began with a Turning Point
Although Zig Ziglar is known as a speaker who inspired people to become the best version of themselves, his success was never built on pleasant words alone. After graduating from high school, Ziglar served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later studied at the University of South Carolina. In order to provide a better income for his family, he left the university and turned to a career in sales.
However, the first two years were financially difficult—until a meeting occurred that changed his life.
After a sales meeting, P. C. Merrell, the president of the company where Ziglar was selling cookware, pulled him aside. Ziglar recalled that moment as follows:
“Mr. Merrell told me that I was wasting my time and potential. Those words were a shock to me. I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ He replied, ‘If you believe in yourself, learn more, work better, and help others, you can go much further.’”
These words became a turning point in Ziglar’s career. He applied the advice he received and within just one year rose to second place among more than 7,000 sales representatives. Later, in another company with over 3,000 representatives, he reached first place.
Believing in Yourself — The Key to Success
That day, Merrell did not wave a magic wand over Ziglar’s life. But for the first time, Ziglar stopped seeing himself as an ordinary man from a small town and began to view himself as a potential champion. The key that opened the door was belief.
From that moment on, Ziglar embarked on a path of self-development. For him, “good books and good people” became the main keys to growth. Early in his career, Norman Vincent Peale’s book The Power of Positive Thinking played a special role in his life. Ziglar spoke about it this way:
“There was a time when I was drifting through life, experiencing more ups and downs than progress. After reading The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, my career began to move forward. He helped me identify the real source of my problems—and that source was me.”
Ziglar realized that the only obstacle standing between him and success was his own perspective. How a person views himself and others directly shapes the results he achieves.
The Art of Encouraging Others
Zig Ziglar became a source of inspiration for millions of people. His sincere smile and energy put people at ease, but the true force that changed lives was the power of his words.
He believed that encouragement is not merely about saying kind words. Encouragement means:
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helping people see their potential;
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equipping them with the knowledge, confidence, and resources needed to reach their goals;
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encouraging them to think from a different perspective.
Ziglar said:
“Throughout all these years, I cannot recall speaking to someone without trying to encourage them at least a little. When you encourage others, you add value not only to their lives, but also to your own.”
From this belief emerged his famous philosophy:
“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
Be a Lifelong Learner
Ziglar always described himself as a “lifelong student.” He believed that as the world changes, a person must also change and grow. For him, learning was not merely about acquiring knowledge, but about becoming more useful to others.
Even at the age of 81, Ziglar continued to read. He said:
“I read the newspaper every day and I read the Bible every day—that way I know where both the world and life stand.”
He did not waste time on worthless material. Everything he read had to influence both his own life and the lives of others.
A Living Legacy
In 2007, Zig Ziglar handed over his company to his son, Tom Ziglar, and his son-in-law, Richard K. Oats, while continuing to serve as chairman. In his view, this transition was the right step to preserve the company’s core values.
Ziglar said:
“They believe in what we do and understand our purpose—to create profound change in people’s professional and personal lives.”
Zig Ziglar’s legacy is not only the company he built—it is a philosophy that touches and transforms human lives.