Zig Ziglar interview with DeLores Pressley

DeLores: What is your definition of success? Zig Ziglar: Success is the acknowledgment of your full ability to build a balanced life with your family and career involving mental and spiritual aspects of life. DP: In regard to your personal life, was there a turning point in your life that caused you to achieve phenomenal success? ZIG: My turning point was when I accepted Jesus Christ on July 4, 1972. I had been baptized at the age of 12, but I was headed straight to hell. Thanks to an elderly black lady (Jessie, now deceased), who spent the weekend in our home --we learned that number one she was scripturally inaccurate. She claimed to be an angel, claimed to be a faith healer, claimed to be a prophet --we discovered she was none of those things. But there were two things we absolutely knew. Number one, she loved the Lord. And she loved me. Jessie walked into our home talking about Christ. She walked out of our home talking about Christ. And all during that weekend, all she talked about was Jesus Christ. My savior came into my life in a very real way that weekend. I've always been grateful that she was not prejudiced. Now almost immediately, my picture of being a Christian totally changed. Almost immediately after I became a Christian, a need arose in our family. And understand I was broke and in debt at that particular point. And something happened and we immediately needed an extra $500 a week. And I want to emphasize that in 1972, $500 represented a considerable sum of money. We were already struggling. Something amazing happened. This major corporation, one of the fortune 500 --I had done a series with them. And about that time they wrote me a letter and said, "We want you to do another series, but if you don't mind we would like to pay you in advance so that we can get it in this year's budget." Well, because of my gracious understanding nature, I agreed to go along with their request --regretfully, of course-- but I agreed to go through with it. Now here's the interesting thing: In all of the years before, and all of the years since, that has never happened again --where anybody wanted to pay me for a series in advance (Occasionally for a fee they would pay me in advance). That met our needs. My picture of faith changed immediately. DP: Do you have a coach or mentor? ZIG: Absolutely, my mentor is Fred Smith. He is an eighty-six year old wise man. DP: What books do you read? ZIG: I read an average of three hours daily. Recently I read "Hidden Treasures" by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. The best book I have read in the last 30 years is "The Light and the Glory" by David Manuel and Peter Marshall. It is the true history of America. I read a lot of Max Lucado's books and a lot of John Maxwell's books. DP: What would be an ideal day for you? ZIG: I am an early riser. I wake up every day within five minutes of 5 o'clock. The Bible says, "This is the day the Lord has made." If you don't think every day is an ideal day, just try missing one. First thing I do is make the coffee and do my praying while it is brewing. Then I go to my study, where I do ninety-nine percent of all I do, and do my Bible study. DP: What advice would you give to men and women getting started in a profession today? ZIG: Without hesitation, I would say commit it to prayer. There is an acronym for goals, "Godly Objectives Assure Lasting Success." Commit it to prayer and make sure it is what you want to do. And then start the career with a foundation that includes faith and character. The same qualities that would make you a good executive will make you a good husband or wife or parent--honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, loyalty, dedication, commitment--all those things. The qualities remain the same. There are some things that are right and wrong, and when you do the right thing, have the character base; the evidence is overwhelming that you will succeed. With integrity you do the right thing. With integrity there is no guilt. When you have fear and guilt taken away and bathe whatever you are doing in prayer, you are free to do your best. Also, be consistent and constant with your endeavors. DP: Do you have any departing words for our readers? ZIG: Yes. My motto is; you can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. Click here to read Zigs bio.