Content Synopsis:
This is the latest book from the late master seller and motivational speaker and writer Zig Ziglar and his son Tom Ziglar. Tom is now the CEO of the empire his father built over the last four decades.
Born to win It is divided into three parts: planning to win, preparing to win, and expecting to win.
in part 1 planning to win there is a thorough discussion of developing your vision of where you want to go or what you want to achieve and then how to set realistic and useful goals and how to implement them. Ziglar focuses on the importance of our Desire to achieve our goals. He echoes the work of Napoleon Hill and others who have written on the critical importance of vision and desire. He also discusses the six qualities that he considers essential to winning: honesty, character, faith, integrity, love, and loyalty.
in part 2 preparing to win it’s about preparing to win. It’s about gaining the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to be successful. Included in this is developing the disciplines necessary to win and the need to partner with the right kind of people who will help and inspire you.
in part 3 hoping to win you learn how worry is a fruitless and destructive emotion that we must overcome. Here you see the logical extension of the work done in Parts 1 and 2 to condition your mind with the right attitudes and expectations. Here you learn the counterproductive thought that you must banish from your mind.
Like all good, successful literature, you won’t find anything magical or “new” in this book. It is a distillation of the best of what has been written about success, but presented through the unique lens of the author’s experience and reflection. Through their own life experience and that of other people they have worked with, they have seen what works and how it works and share it with the reader.
Balance
Ziglar emphasizes throughout the book the importance of achieving balance in our lives. This includes paying enough attention to our spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. He deeply values family and friends and teaches that success is meaningless without devoting time and effort to these areas. As he observes, there is nothing more pitiful than a rich man with no family or friends.
Ziglar places more emphasis on spiritual development than many successful writers. He is a devout Christian and discusses how his faith changed his life and the vital role he plays in winning. He is not suggesting that you should be a Christian, but rather whatever you believe in, you should feed that spiritual need in order to prosper.
Motivation
The book talks about motivation. He notes that motivation is as essential as food. People criticize motivational speakers like Ziglar because they say that motivational papers only have a short-term effect. Ziglar points out that a meal only has a short-term effect. Just as we must eat every day to stay healthy, we must seek motivation every day to stay motivated and on the path to victory. I have never seen a better explanation of the importance of continuous motivation to feed our spirit.
For Zig and his son Tom, success in life must be holistic and a work in progress. Nobody really makes it to the top, they just keep getting closer. For Ziegler, “winning” is realizing fulfillment and success in this process.
Utility:
This book is very useful for anyone seeking to succeed in life, in business, or in any other worthy cause. You will learn from him and he will motivate you. Every time you reread it you will get an extra boost.
Readability/Write Quality:
It is very well written. It is well organized and written in an easy to follow style. They use good illustrations and examples to show the principles they teach.
Notes on the authors:
Zig Ziglar is a master motivator who has spoken to millions of people around the world, published 29 books and numerous digital products. He has worked with six US Presidents, world leaders, and many Fortune 500 corporations.
Tom Ziglar, Zig’s son, is the CEO of Ziglar, Inc. and has worked for many years to bring his father’s message to the people. He has worked especially hard to carry this message to third world nations.
Three great ideas you can use:
1. “You can have anything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want.” -Zig Ziglar. This has been Mr. Ziglar’s mission and mantra for decades. Through his own experience he has shown this to be true.
2. Remember Frank Outlaw’s formula: Watch your thoughts; they become words. Use your words carefully; they become shares. Watch your actions; they become clothes. Take care of your clothes; they become a character. Take care of your character; because it becomes your destiny.
3. “Born to win is about planning, preparing and expecting to win. It’s also about being the best you can be, no matter your job or profession.”
Disclosure Information:
Born to Win by Zig Ziglar and Tom Ziglar
Copyright 2012 Zig Ziglar
Available as a Kindle book.