Ralph Paglia Posted This on ADM and rather than build a separate post, I wanted to create a "Hybrid Post"... Share my thoughts as well as his thoughts and some of the ADM community's thoughts...
My heart goes out to his family and friends for their personal loss. To lose a loved one is a terrible thing. He was an icon, yes but he was a Husband, a Father, a Friend etc... first.
I personally never had the honor of meeting Zig but I, like most of us in this industry was very influenced by him. I have read his books, studied his philosophy, watched videos of him and was completely enthralled in all that I was able to absorb! It is crazy how people influence other people. I remember reading a Zig Ziglar book when I was first started selling cars on the showroom floor 14 years ago! I remember being so excited to get to the next chapter because his information was so awesome!
There are little things that I do to this very day that I got from reading a Zig Ziglar book. For example something simple with negotiating I learned from Zig was that in ANY transaction (And I mean ANY). Simply asking "Is that the best you can do...?" to the person trying to sell you something and then waiting for them to respond IS AWESOME! You have to ask it VERY non hostile or aggressive. Almost, "tossing" the question out there... For example: If you were about to buy something from 9almost ANY sals person), and they quote you the price. Just pause for a second, take in the price you have just been quoted and then ask them gently... "Is that the best you can do...? People, you will be SHOCKED at the responses you get LOL! I know I was :) People, almost fall over themselves changing it up, cutting their own prices, saying things like... "well, maybe I can do this or maybe I can get you that" :)
Bottom line, I can go on and on about some of the brilliant strategies and philosophies of Mr. Zig Ziglar!
Here is what I will say people "Cherish every second of life", it is gone in an instant. Be cognizant of who and what you are.
Let me tell you what the BIGGEST "thing" I got from Zig Ziglar... His life as a whole, his legacy, his impact on the world, his influence. That is what is truly awe inspiring!
It is surreal this last year. Zig Ziglar just passed away, recently Dr. Stephen Covey passed away and a close friend of mine (and a friend to a lot of you all) Karry Moore, Co-Founder of Car-Mercial. So, what have I taken from all of this? Well it is a sobering reality that life is a precious gift as is time and we have NO IDEA how much of it we will have. So, what is our purpose? Or what should our purpose really be while we are here for a short stint?
PLEASE watch this quick video from FranklinCovey, The "80th Birthday"
Wow! Dr. Stephen Covey nailed it with this video! This reminds me of Zig Ziglar. This is what I one day aspire to. I am ONLY 36 years old and I have a long way to go but I am inspired to inspire others.
Thank You Zig, you have been an inspiration to me on my journey teaching others-
Here is Ralph's Post:
ZIG FANS... HERE IS The ZIG ZIGLAR OFFICIAL COVER PHOTO. If you are a fan feel free to USE THIS AS YOUR COVER PHOTO in honor & memory of Zig.
Our Friend, Mentor to Millions and Master Motivator Zig Ziglar passed peacefully from this world this morning. Angels are rejoicing and he is now speaking with Jesus. Please leave your favorite Zig Story or message to family at www.facebook.com/ZigZiglar
Zig Ziglar passed from this world today after a short bout with pneumonia. Though his time on earth has ended, he is speaking with Jesus now in his heavenly home. The angels in heaven are rejoicing and his family is celebrating a life well lived.
If Zig has impacted your life or you want to leave a message to the family, please leave your remarks on his FaceBook page. Don't worry about being too specific or long. Take as much space as you want...the family wants to know.
Please check back on FaceBook as we will be posting when the memorial service will be held.
Replies to This ADM Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Roosevelt Gist
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Another great leaves a legacy in all salespersons that bought his books and tapes. Yes, tapes.
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Permalink Reply by James Easter
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An icon for sure. Thank you for the words of wisdom over the years...God Bless & rest well.
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Lawrence Noonan
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Well he is in good company. Between Carroll Shelby, Irving (Stering) Silver,and now Zig, wherever they are, someone is going to be buying a beautifully designed car, from a legend who is there with another legend.
Let's remember they all operated in a prime time when this message would have been delivered by mail, designed on a drawing board and sold with out any CRM or Internet
Sorry to see any of them go.
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Permalink Reply by Ken Nix
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You have no idea how great this man truly was. He turned my life around. Get ready for a long winded story. I was 23 years old (I'm 50 now)and working for Resort Vacations International selling timeshares at Holly Lake Ranch outside of Tyler Texas. I had lost my businesses 3 months prior when I was embezzled. I moved back in with my parents and literally even stuck a gun in my mouth, cocked it and came very close to killing myself. The only thing that saved me was the thought of my parents finding my body.
After hibernating for about 3 months in my room, my father gave me an ultimatum, get a job, or go live in the hunting cabin. Since there was no toilet or TV in the cabin, I chose getting a job. Lone Star Steel had just laid off about 2500 people and jobs were scarce. One of the few ads in the Newspaper (that's where we used to look to find a job back in the old days) was for a sales position at Holly Lake Ranch. It was 35 miles away, but I was willing to take anything.
They immediately hired me. (little did I know they hired anyone that showed up) and I thought I had landed a killer job. Well.... After 3 months, I still hadn't sold a single timeshare. So our Sales Director called me in his office and said," Kenny, we really like you. (which is the kiss of death), But, you haven't sold anything since you started and if you don't sell by next Sunday, we're going to let you go.
One of the perks of working for Holly Lake Ranch was that you worked at a 18 hole PGA golf course. So to work out my frustrations I picked up a bucket of balls and started hitting them as hard as I could. I sliced a ball and nearly hit this "old" guy (hey, I was 23) a couple of tees down. I apologized and he asked if he could give me some pointers. I bit my lip and figured it was the least thing I could do since I nearly hit the "old" guy in the head.
He lined me up, tighten my grip, explained how I should rotate my hips, told me not to hit it so hard and stepped back. I swung, and I watched as the ball just floated into the air and straight toward the peg. It dropped about 5 feet from the hole and I went crazy.
After we finished our buckets, I offered to buy him a soda pop at the pro shop. The guy asked me why I was so dressed up and I told him about working in sales, but they were going to let me go next week. The guy said, "I used to be in sales, maybe I can help". I told him I was a lost cause that all the managers had tried to teach me and said I just wasn't a sale guy. He told me to meet him the next day and he'd have me a plan of action.
The next day, he asked me to show him what I normally did when I was selling. I drove him around the property pointing out all the things I normally did and then showed him a cabin and told him that I would bring them to the sales office for a manager to close them after that.
So the guy tells me to forget everything everyone else had told me, and he would show me how to sell. Then he gave me a list of things he wanted me to do. Go fishing in Greenbriar lake, Fish in Holly Lake, Go swimming, rent a canoe, rent a cabin and stay in it with some friends, etc.
A couple of days later he brings me to the lodge and says,"I want you to bring your customers here, and get to know them. Don't leave until you've drank 2 cups of coffee". As you bring them to each amenity, get out of the car, and tell then about you fishing, or swimming or canoeing.
Once you get back to the sales office, fill out your paperwork, and keep your head down without stopping. Even if they say they're not interested, say, "Okay", and ask the next question. When you finish tell them the price of the highest price week you have (which was a red week at $9500.) and if they ask for a discount, look at them like you're a confused puppy. What every you do, don't say anything else.
The next thing I knew I had gone from being dead last on the sales line, to being #1(rotation was based on your closing average). A couple of weeks later, my boss's boss flew in from Dallas for our Saturday sales meeting asking,"who this kid was that had gone from not being able to sell anything for 3 months to being the top salesperson". He asked me to stand up and tell him which manager was responsible for my sudden sales expertise.
I told him about he guy at the driving range. And he asked me what did he tell you to do? I said,"He said to do the exact opposite of what the managers told me about selling". That pissed him off and he said," Who is this #&&#^@** that thinks he can undermine our sales process. And I said,"I think his name is Tig something". In which I receive a loud response of ZIG!?!?!?, "No I think his name is Tig". At least that was what I had been calling him for the past few weeks.
Little did I know, that the "old man" was Zig Ziglar. I had never heard of him before that. Later that day Zig came into the Main building where we hung around waiting for our "UPS" and you should have seen the sales people light up when he walked into the room. I think even the people who didn't know who he was lit up. He had just that type of charisma and charm that was contagious. Well, That's my Zig Ziglar story, Hope I didn't bore you.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Lancaster
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Thanks.... Zig could stretch a good story out too!
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Permalink Reply by Ralph Paglia
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Ken Nix - thanks for such a personal and heart warming story that made me smile and brought tears to my eyes. Your story should be in the movie that surely will be made about Zig Ziglar!
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If they don't make a movie about that man, something's wrong in Hollywood. I always wanted to cross paths with him again and thank him and see if he remembered me. The funniest part was him having me drink 2 cups of coffee before I could leave the lodge. I got to know people on a very personal level and there were many sudden stops and mad dashes to the woods during my tours. LOL
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Permalink Reply by Marsh Buice
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Ken, wow!! Man thanks for the inspiring share.
