Zig Ziglar passed away this past week at the ripe old age of 86. It was a huge loss for the Christian community and the world but what a legacy this precious man of God left behind. Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting and visiting him when he was a guest on the LIFE Today show with James and Betty Robison. Out of the many guests on the show, Zig Ziglar stood out to me as being one of the most tender, humorous, Godly men that I’ve ever met. He oozed with kindness and love for people. He would be best described as having a presence. You could literally feel him in the room. He had a way of making people feel comfortable and desire what he possessed – Jesus!
The world knew him as a dynamic motivational speaker, trainer, a top salesman and author of over two-dozen books. I attended some of his meetings years ago in California and immediately knew that there was something different about him. His love for his wife (whom he called “the red head”) and his family was evidenced as he shared personal stories to illustrate his points. Whatever challenge you might be facing or goal you wanted to achieve; you left his meetings believing that you could do it! He reeked of positivity but you always knew that his foundation was Christ as he proclaimed, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Did I mention that he had an remarkable sense of humor?
Along with his amazing success, he faced many challenges in life including the death of his grown daughter. In earlier years, she didn’t know the Lord so he wrote a book in hopes that it would touch her life for Christ. Before her death, she read the book and became a Christian. For years she served alongside her Dad in business as they shared a love for Jesus together. This man truly left a legacy and Christian inheritance to his natural and spiritual children.
I love his quotes and have used them many times when I speak or write. It is because of my admiration for this man of God that I want to include his top ten quotes. Some of you may already know them but they are well worth repeating.
- “If you can dream, you can achieve it.”
- “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” (My personal favorite)
- “A goal properly set is halfway reached.”
- “If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”
- “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”
- “People don’t buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons.”
- “There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic.”
- “People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.”
- “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”
- “Remember that failure is an event, not a person.”
Proverbs 13:22 KJV A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.