Zig Ziglar, was an author, salesman and motivational speaker. His warm southern style endeared him to crowds small and large who came to hear him speak about success. So many quotes from Zig have resonated with me. They are short and powerful – and true.
Earnest people have asked me probably 100 times how they can do right things they know they should be doing when they lack motivation? They ask, “How can I get myself inspired to do the things I know I need to be doing to make my life bigger and better?”
Ziglar has the answer. And it is the only answer I have ever seen that works. Zig said, “Do it and then you will feel motivated to do it.”
It’s simple and it doesn’t sound profound. But it is true. You have to do ‘it’ – whatever ‘it’ is – and then the motivation comes. I used to say it a little differently to my sons when they were teenagers. When they lacked motivation to complete a job I would remind them that, “action precedes attitude” or “move a muscle, change a mood.” The idea is the same. We want right thinking to lead us to right doing. My experience is that we have to do the right thing and then our motivation follows. Thank you Zig for saying it clearly for us.
If you are waiting to feel motivated, stop it. It’s not going to happen. Do that next right thing you know to do. I feel confident the motivation will follow.
