Zig Ziglar was an American writer and motivational speaker, one of the most influential and beloved practitioners of the power of positive thinking. Not only did he motivate people, but he taught the practical skills needed to reach personal goals. He believed that everyone can have, do, and be more.
Hilary Hinton Ziglar was born in Coffee County, Alabama. He was the tenth child of twelve. When he was six years old his father died, and a few weeks later his younger sister also died. As a young man, Zig Ziglar served in the navy, briefly attended college and then spent some time working in sales. Zig Ziglar married his wife Jean in 1946, and they had four children.
After struggling with his sales career he found a mentor who helped him immensely, and Zig found himself reaching levels of success he had only dreamed possible. He was very grateful for the help his mentor had provided and wanted to pass this gift on to others. In the early 1970’s he began his writing and speaking career, becoming a mentor to those who read his books and listened to him speak. Here he seemed to find his true calling.
Zig Ziglar was a born-again Christian and his faith played a big part in the things he wrote and spoke. He strongly believed in helping others become all they could be. People responded to his genuine love of others, his enthusiasm, and his desire to help them. His message resonated with people and gave them hope that dreams could be fulfilled, and success was not out of reach for those who were willing to work hard for it.