Zig Ziglar died today at age 86. Although that may be the bad news, Ziglar leaves a legacy of wisdom in his wake. He saw the morning alarm clock as the "opportunity clock" and believed that your attitude, not your apptitude, determined your altitude.
A motivational speaker, Ziglar, built a career on looking on the bright side. Author of 25 self help books, aimed at helping readers to see the glass half full and how to fill it to overflowing, the man will be long remembered for his positive thinking.
Perhaps his love of reading the comics and human interest stories over crime and gossip, allowed him to inspire others through his common sense wisdom. A sort of Will Rogers without the cowboy lope. Or maybe it was the love of a good woman, his mother, Hilary Hinton Ziglar. Ziglar was raised by his widowed mother, who played a tremendous role in is his life and whose quips became key in his lectures and writings.
The wise guru began his career as a door-to-door salesman. Ziglar became fascinated by the ability to influence others. Early on he would relay his own experiences, as well as the adages of his mother at church and Rotary Club meetings. "A failure is an event, not a person," inspired others to look beyond their setbacks and have the courage to move forward.
Certainly a man who lived in and beyond his time, I can only hope that his wisdom resonantes for generations to come. Actively speaking until retiring at age 84, Ziglar used his gift to motivate others. Not a bad way to live, or die. God's speed, Zig.
"If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."
"It was character that got us out of bed, committment that moved us into action and discipline that enabled us to follow through."
"It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference."
Images: Flickr image by CrisCristina