Zig Ziglar was a well-known motivational speaker and author.  He was known as one of the most energetic and entertaining of speakers during his time.  He was also known as a man of great wisdom and character.  Today, we feature a few quotes from Ziglar and discusses how these relate to the important work we do both at home and at work:

1. “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” – Wow!  How can you easily summarize this?  First of all, a positive attitude is contagious.  Being around someone that expects the best, rather than the worst, is much more fun to be around that someone that always expects the worst.  Preparing for the worst, though, says we should anticipate all possibilities.  If we prepare for the worst, anything less should be easy to handle.  Finally, Ziglar says we should make the most of whatever happens.  We need to learn from issues, problems, and mistakes.
2. “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Here we go again… Ziglar emphasizing our attitude.  He suggests that our attitude is more important to our success than our aptitude or abilities.  Though abilities are certainly important, an improper attitude is critical.  I have seen many individuals with excellent skills and abilities limit themselves simply because they had an attitude that was destructive.
3. “You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.” – Ziglar here again speaks to our visible demeanor or aura.  I agree with Ziglar here that demeanor is a key factor when managers discuss top performers.  Driving success requires the proper attitude, visible demeanor, and collaboration with others.
4. “Isn’t it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?” – How true!  When the pressure is on, most individuals can accomplish much.  In Ziglar’s example, the motivator is very personal – the ability to enjoy time away without work left undone.  Is it possible to motivate ourselves in the same way even when we are not on the eve of our vacation?
5. “It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” – Character, commitment, and discipline – three great attributes that we all should strive to possess.  We work for two decades trying to instill these same attributes in our children.  I think we would all agree that top performers almost always exhibit these often.
6. “If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.” – Oh, how true is this?  First of all, having friends is of extreme importance.  A friend is someone that knows our heart, cares for us even when we are not at our best, stands up for us when we don’t deserve it, serves us when we need it most, will appear when we least expect it, and somehow knows when we need to talk or need a note or need a call.  We need friends to help us when things don’t go well at home or at work and we need them when we need to share the good things in our lives.  We can’t force a friendship, but we can be someone open to others.  When we care like a friend, support like a friend, serve like a friend, and show up when needed like a friend, we gather friends in our lives in abundance.  Do you have a friend — a real friend?  Are you the kind of person that others would want as a friend?  Would you want yourself as a friend?

What is Ziglar saying to you today?  Is your attitude good or do you need to adjust it?  Does your demeanor exude success?  Are you motivated to drive results?  Are you consistently exhibiting those attributes typically shown by top performers?  Do you have a true friend?  Are you the kind of person that others desire to befriend?  Is there someone you need to encourage, motivate, or connect with today?  Plenty to think about, eh?

Have a splendid day!  Think about who you need to connect with today.