On November 29, 2012, Zig Zigler drew his last breath.
Zig Zigler was one of the early “motivational speakers.” A prolific writer, he helped to create an industry as the self-help category blossomed in the late 1970s and 1980s. He touched the lives of millions, offering hope thorough his personal experience and optimistic outlook. In his down-home, folksy way, Zig imparted confidence to millions.
You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down
He wrote numerous books, a number of which sit on my bookshelves today. Two weeks ago I finished a particularly touching book (one of his last), entitled Embrace the Struggle. In it, Zig talks about persevering through difficulty.
This was not academic for Zig. He had recently fallen down the stairs and hit his head, impairing his short term memory. As an author and keynote speaker, this posed a significant challenge. Yet, Zig adjusted and turned his struggles to motivational gold as he embracing the promise of Romans 8:28 which he discussed at length in the book: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Zig was a strong Christian. His faith permeated his books. His optimistic outlook was grounded in a belief that God has a plan and purpose for each person. Perhaps this was what made him such a powerful motivational speaker. We will all miss him. Keep the red-head in your prayers (if you have read any of his books, you know who I am talking about).
I am sure that he is smiling down from Heaven as you read this.
Thank you, Zig.
Zig’s Legacy
Below I have listed all of Zig’s Books on Amazon (Wikipedia only had 12 listed at the time of this writing). If you like what you saw in the video clips, pick up any of his books. You will be glad you did.
- Biscuits, Fleas and Pump Handles (1974)
- See You at the Top (1975)
- Confessions of a Happy Christian (1978)
- How to get what you want [Audio] (1979)
- The “I Can” Course: Intermediate Student Manual (1981)
- Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale (1982)
- You Are Born To Win: Volume One [Audio Cassette] (1983)
- Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World (1985)
- See You at the Top Video Study Manual (1986)
- Top Performance: How to Develop Excellence in Yourself and Others (1987)
- Goals – Set Goals…And Reach Them! [Audio] (1988)
- Over the Top: Moving from Survival to Stability, From Stability to Success, From Success to Significance (1994)
- The Performance Planner: A Personal Management and Goals Achievement System (1994)
- Courtship after Marriage (1996)
- Over the Top (1997)
- Great Quotes from Zig Zigler (1997)
- Something to Smile About: Encouragement for Life’s Ups and Downs (1997)
- Success for Dummies (1998)
- Strategies for Success: Zig Zigler’s Blueprint for Personal and Professional Development [Audio Cassette] (1998)
- Staying Up, Up, Up in a Down, Down World (2000)
- Network Marketing For Dummies. (2001)
- A View From the Top [Workbook and cassettes] (2001)
- Goals: Setting and achieving them on Schedule [Audio] (2002)
- 5 Steps to Successful Selling (2002)
- Success and the Self-Image [Audio] (2002)
- Zig Zigler’s How to Stay Motivated [Audio] (2002)
- How to be a Winner (2002)
- A View From the Top (2002)
- Zig Zigler’s Life Lifters: Moments of Inspiration for Living Life Better. (2003)
- Selling 101: What Every Successful Sales Professional Needs to Know. (2003)
- Confessions of a Grieving Christian. (2004)
- Zig Zigler: A Conversation on Character [3 DVDs] (2004)
- The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar. (2004)
- Better Than Good: Creating a Life You Can’t Wait to Live. (2006)
- Zigler on Selling: The Ultimate Handbook for the Complete Sales Professional (2007)
- God’s Way is Still the Best Way. (2007)
- Inspiration 365 Days a Year (2008)
- One Year Daily Insights with Zig Zigler (2009)
- Embrace the Struggle: Living Life on Life’s Terms. (2009)
- The Power of Prospecting: Supercharge Your Sales Performance (With Brian Tracy) [Audio] (2012)
- Born to Win: Find Your Success Code (2012)
- Born to Win: Find Your Success Code [Live Seminar] (2012)
- Life Promises for Leaders: Inspirational Scriptures and Devotional Thoughts (2012)
Darin Gerdes, Ph.D.
_______________
Dr. Gerdes is the Director of the MBA Program at Charleston Southern University. All ideas expressed on www.daringerdes.com are his own.