Zig Ziglar
certainly understood the importance of repetition to learning. Zig was a door-to-door
cookware salesman when he was younger and used the inspiration of Norman
Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie, two well-known motivational experts of the
time, to help him.
Zig grew
into an author and a very successful motivational speaker.
When my wife
and I were in a network marketing business we used one of his phrases, ‘Stinkin
Thinkin’, many times. Stinkin’ Thinkin’ refers to a bad, negative or defeatist
attitude.
Zig died
this week at age 86 and there was an interesting quote in the Obit I read in
the Wall Street Journal. The quote is applicable to many things and especially
to reading the Bible. In the Bible it says to hide God’s Word in our hearts – ‘I have hidden your word in my heart that I
might not sin against you’ (Psalms 119:11). The way to do this is through daily
repetition and meditation.
***************
The quote I am referencing:
‘If his books and tapes seemed repetitive, it was no
accident.
"People often say that motivation doesn't
last," Mr. Ziglar liked to say. "Well, neither does bathing—that's
why we recommend it daily."
***************
The Obituary:
Waging a Crusade Against Stinkin' Thinkin'
Zig
Ziglar delivered his message of positive personal transformation for business
success to millions of people and helped create the profession of
"motivational speaker."
A
traffic signal, to Mr. Ziglar, was a "go light," the morning alarm
was an "opportunity clock" and every setback could be a
steppingstone.
Mr.
Ziglar, who died Wednesday at age 86, preached in the tradition of American
self-help that stretched back through Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale.
Mr.
Ziglar reinforced his speeches and corporate seminars with dozens of books and
tapes filled with his positive thoughts. "See You At the Top,"
published in 1975 and which he claimed sold well over one million copies,
exhorted readers to eliminate "stinkin' thinkin' " and move from
"mediocrity to meteority." The sequel was titled "Over the
Top."
If
his hokey presentation sometimes inspired laughs, that was part of the
"Zigmanship" package of keeping a positive outlook.
Seth
Godin, a motivational speaker and new-media entrepreneur, credited Mr. Ziglar
with professionalizing and expanding the motivational-speaking industry.
"All
of us do this professionally standing on the shoulders of Zig Ziglar," Mr.
Godin said.
Hilary
Hinton Ziglar grew up during the Depression in Yazoo City, Miss. His father
died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, a devout Christian
whose homey apothegms rubbed off on her son. "The person who won't stand for
something will fall for anything," she told him.
As
a struggling door-to-door cookware salesman, Mr. Ziglar absorbed the teachings
of Mr. Peale. Mr. Ziglar's early struggles became a centerpiece of his
presentations
As
his powers of persuasion improved, he found his métier in sales training.
Eventually he moved on to large companies, cultivated a hobby of motivational
speaking before civic groups and worked as a Dale Carnegie instructor. By 1970,
Mr. Ziglar was confident enough to pursue public speaking full-time. At his
peak he commanded speaking fees of $50,000.
If
his books and tapes seemed repetitive, it was no accident.
"People
often say that motivation doesn't last," Mr. Ziglar liked to say.
"Well, neither does bathing—that's why we recommend it daily."
A version of this article appeared November
28, 2012, on page B6 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the
headline: A Crusade to Stop Stinkin' Thinkin'.
