Many years ago, a brilliant young visionary stirred audiences by telling them, “You can have everything in life you want — if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
Through the decades, these twenty words have been repeated so often, and by so many people, that they have become elevated to iconic status. They are the battle cry for all those drawn to add great value to their world while living a life of abundance.
They were first spoken, of course, by the legendary Zig Ziglar.
It’s difficult to for me to imagine a single sentence that could serve as a greater example and finer embodiment of the Go-Giver philosophy.
It is equally difficult to imagine a bigger thrill for John and me than having the opportunity to present Mr. Ziglar with the First Annual Go-Giver Lifetime Achievement Award.
We had the extreme honor of doing exactly that last Friday, April 23, at Thom Scott’s and my Fourth Annual Extreme Business Makeovers event in Orlando, Forida.
Halfway through Zig’s appearance, as he sat between his lovely wife, Jean (“The Redhead”) and his son, Tom (CEO of Ziglar), John came up on stage and together we presented the 83-year-old legend with an engraved crystal bowl … along with our extreme thanks.
Zig Ziglar: a great man, a true Go-Giver!
Bob – thank you so much for inviting us! It is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. Mom and Dad were thrilled with the event and it is easy to tell that you are truly a Go-Giver by the people in the room. Thanks for everything Bob!
Tom Ziglar
Proud Son of Zig Ziglar
Thank you, Tom. What an honor for Thom Scott, John David Mann and me to have the wonderful Ziglar Family with us. Being on stage with y’all is certainly one of the highlights of my life and the family love and respect you, your Mom and Dad have for one another was obvious to all (and a delight for everyone in the audience to see). Thank you again for the blessing that is the Ziglar Family.
An awesome tribute to a wonderful human being!
@ Tom Ziglar: For whatever it’s worth, I want you to know that your Dad was introduced to me (via cassette tape) at a very troubling time in my life. I had just lost my Dad and just didn’t know where to begin going the rest of my journey without his mentorship. A friend of the family gave me your Dad’s famous Goals presentation and it set me on a path that profoundly changed my life.
It’s now 22 years later and I’m still a fan!
With much respect and appreciation for the Ziglars!
Paul Castain
Of all the people who have affected me with their words and motivation, I cannot think of anyone who deserves to receive this than Zig.
Bob I like your book and I especially liked to see the First Go Giver Award go to a living Legend.
Long Live Zig Ziglar.
Jay
Paul, that is quite a tribute. I’m so sorry about your loss. What a blessing that family friend was.
Jay, I agree with you completely.
Hey Bob,
Here’s to Zig Ziglar! Love that quote. It’s complete common-sense. Yet so few businesses can get into the mental mode needed to think like that.
Look at the planet, if our businesses worked to make it a wonderful place for all, imagine how successful all those businesses would be! Prosperity would be swirling around instead of despair and poverty.
You do great work in the world! Thx. Giulietta the Muse