Dad is 83 years young today! We have a big lunch planned with the family. Life just doesn’t get much better than that! If you want to leave Dad a birthday message just comment below and I will make sure he gets it.
And, if you haven’t seen the new movie about his book Embrace The Struggle you can watch it right now. Only 2 minutes!
On Saturday I had a great chair massage with Eric Miller while Dad was working out at the gym (shhh, don’t tell him!). It was brought to my attention, painfully I might add, that my rotator cuff was being set up for a major injury. Because of my posture, the muscles that support the rotator cuff are weak, even though the surrounding muscles are strong.
What surprised me was this is the perfect setup for a major injury. Because of the good strength in the rest of the muscles, it is more likely I will do a movement bearing a heavy load, or with more repetitions, than my weak muscle can handle. This means that the rotator cuff will get the stress directly, and it will likely rip or tear.
I was taught a few good exercises to build up the muscle supporting the rotator cuff and to balance my upper body. Even more importantly I was made aware of this issue, and I was reminded of it all day Sunday every time I moved! (It was a deep massage that released the trigger points.)
To top things off we had a great devotional speaker at our company first thing Monday morning. Shuronda Scott spoke about awareness and how important it is to get feedback from your family, friends, and co-workers about how you are doing. Knowing how you are perceived and what qualities you need to work on are critical to long-term relationship success.
Just like a deep massage, it may not be fun to get feedback, but ignoring the problem just guarantees that you will rip or tear a key relationship. Shuronda asked this simple question to determine if you should ask for feedback: “What could go wrong if you don’t know how you are perceived?”
Can you afford to “blow out” a key relationship with your spouse, boss, friend, or customer? Ask them how you are doing, and then work on the exercises to build up your weak muscles.
Dad and Julie’s book launched on October 27th, and already the reviews are coming in. I thought I would share them with you. These are from Amazon. If you have read the book a review at Amazon would be much appreciated!
To learn more about the book Embrace The Struggle, please watch the Embrace The Struggle movie, a great way to spend 2 mins!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
An American Icon Inspires Again with Embrace the Struggle, October 27, 2009
By Dan Snell “Co-Founder, The Bonded Family” (BLENDED FAMILY USA) – See all my reviews
EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE is a ‘must read’ for anyone, of any age, in any life arena facing a stuggle. Zig Ziglar again inspires a nation with a spirit that shouts out we shall not quit.
What a wonderful example to view a person who is not only saying, but living out…
“I’m not gonna ease up, let up, give up or shut up…until I’m taken up!”
The Ziglar family strength is a model for America. Julie Ziglar Norman is the Co-Author of this book and Tom Ziglar, now CEO of Ziglar Corp. wrote the very touching Foreward.
If you haven’t seen the books short video that the family helped produce, go to:
[...]
Whether you are someone whose faced an event that changed your life in an instant, as in a head injury that Zig faced, or perhaps it’s a struggling marriage, illness, depression or a son or daughter facing trials, Zig Ziglar will provide encouragement to help you stand strong in ‘your storm’. “Living Life on Life’s Terms” is a perfect expression of … “It’s not what happens to you that matters… it’s how you respond to what happens to you that makes the difference.”
Zig Ziglar is an American Icon. He will continue to inspire, encourage and motivate for decades to come. EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE is a continuation of that legacy of service to others.
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Zig Ziglar has given us a timeless gift in EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE, October 31, 2009
By Debra Wilhelm – See all my reviews
EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE is a most empowering, comforting book! I read it in an afternoon, re-read parts and highlighted quotes to use in the days ahead.
Zig and his daughter, Julie, have written a message which speaks to anyone who is struggling in some way – and who isn’t? We can allow events in our lives to overwhelm us, or we can embrace the issue and let God lead us forward. The author’s honesty about his head injury and the problems and blessings it has created in his life is a wonderful example for us all. The included stories of others who have faced struggles – health, finances, relationships, family, spiritual – can make us all see the value of facing life’s difficulties and unexpected pitfalls with courage, faith, hope, and humor.
His message is spiritual, powerful, and uplifting. “If we accept that the past is the past, yesterday ended last night, and today is a brand-new day, we can have an attitude of hope.”
Read this book and be inspired to “live life on life’s terms”!
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This is the book your looking for., October 29, 2009
By E. T. Pate (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews
I am forever changed from reading this book. Zig Ziglar has written the book that will show you what matters and how to embrace life and all it’s struggles, failures, set backs, surprises, and even blessings. I heard a lady say the other day “Everything’s good when it’s good, but things just aren’t good. I wish it would get back to good.” You simply will not make impact in your life or in those around you wishing, or observing, or just thinking about the situation; you have to grab hold! You can’t always plan for the unexpected, but you can prepare your mind and attitude for when it hits. Zig’s new book will show you how.
Dad’s life verse from the Bible is Romans 8:28. It is written on his heart. I know this for a fact. In 2001 Dad nearly died from a severe diverticulitis attack and the resulting blood loss. Required surgery removed 75% of his colon (this is why we sometimes call him semi-colon!). Because of the length of the operation it took Dad several hours to fully awaken from the surgery, and during that time he was partly conscious. I heard him repeat Romans 8:28 numerous times while he was in this “twilight” state!
Because of Dad’s faith, and his 100% belief in Romans 8:28, it has been natural for him to embrace his struggle. I filmed this short video of Dad sharing Romans 8:28. How lucky am I to have this example?!
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the Embrace The Struggle movie!
What makes you proudest of the ones you love? For me, it’s this picture concerning my Dad. Most of us don’t think much about what makes us proud about our family and friends. I know I didn’t. At first, you would think what would make you proud is something they accomplished that was big. But then you realize, what really makes you proud is how they handle something big, and usually very difficult, that happens to them.
So maybe, just maybe, that storm you are going through right now and how you RESPOND to it, is the very thing that will inspire your family and friends on to greatness. I know for me, when I get a little discouraged, or tired, or whiney even, I just think of that picture of Dad, just a day out of brain surgery, getting busy practicing walking so he could get back to making a difference in the lives of others. Dad didn’t give one thought to how “unlucky” he was to fall down the stairs, or offer even one complaint about how he didn’t deserve this terrible thing. Instead, he started showing off to Mom and me how fast he could make that walker go!
One more thing – Watch the Embrace The Struggle Movie!
Dad’s new book, Embrace The Struggle, is now out. More than any of his books, this one has been truly a family effort. My sister Julie, Dad’s editor for over 16 years, is the co-author and she did most of the heavy lifting.
We, the Ziglar family, believe this book has the potential to touch more lives than any book Dad has written.
The reason is simple: Living a great life when you are in the middle of what the world views as “success” is easy. Living a joy-filled life when you are literally knocked down and in the middle of an incredible struggle, now that is an example you need to pay attention to!
If you are in the middle of a great struggle, or you know someone who is, you will want to read and give Embrace The Struggle. You can find hope and joy even in the most difficult times. I know. I have watched my Dad live this way for over two and half years.
Please enjoy this short two-minute movie about Embrace The Struggle.
The following two questions came in response to my blog post — Attitude or Skill?
“So how does one overcome the beaten down attitude? I used to think differently, but in the past few years I’ve lost hope. How do I get it back?” from Brian
“What do you think is the most important part of maintaining an opportunity attitude?” from AJ
Perhaps you have asked yourself the same questions. Hope is the one thing that everyone wants. No matter what you have, or don’t have, if you are hopeless, it doesn’t really matter. If you are filled with hope, then no matter the situation, you can keep on going. So how do you find hope and then grow and maintain it?
First, you have to realize that finding hope is a choice. You have to look for it, and you have to take actions to create it. It is born from the belief that what you do can — and does — make a difference.
Dad has a great question that he asks his audiences when he speaks – “How many of you here today believe you can do something in the next three weeks that will make your family life, your personal life, or your business life——WORSE, can I see your hands?” Of course everyone laughs because it is the opposite of what they expect him to say, but then the reality hits them. If you ADMIT you can do something that will make your life worse, then you have to ADMIT you can do something that will make your life better! You have the power to make your life either better or worse, and the choice is yours!
Hope is born when you realize you have the power to make your life better, and the choice is yours.
Now comes the action part. What things can you do that will create a better life for you? First, you must start with retraining your thinking. If you have a hopeless, “beaten down” attitude, then you must put the right positive life-building information into your mind. This is a choice, and a choice you have to make every day. Thoughts always precede actions, so in order to have the right actions, you must have the right thoughts. Don’t worry about your emotional state during all of this. Your positive emotions will catch up after you begin to take action. As Dad says, “Logic will not change an emotion, but action will.”
What kind of actions can you take that will make your life better? Here is a challenge for you. Get a sheet of paper right now and quickly write down 20 things you can do today that will make your life better today – and then pick 5 or 10 of them and do them! Here are a few that should be on every list: Tell a family member you love them; call a friend and thank them for their friendship; read an article about your profession that will build your skill level; stand up and stretch your muscles and maintain good sitting posture; drink lots of water; listen to Zig Ziglar on your MP3 player…..You get the picture! You can find hope, and grow it.
Once you are doing these things, then you need to take the next step. Simply identify where you want to go, what you want to do/accomplish, and then break it down into small action steps – and start your journey – today.
Yes, you can find hope, and create it in your own life. But I would be remiss if I did not tell you that there is eternal hope that nothing in this world can shake. This is Dad’s real secret about hope because he understands that because his eternity is secure there is nothing in the present, no circumstance or trial, that will take away what Christ has done for him.
What is going to make the difference in your personal or professional life? Every day at work, at home, and out with friends, the same subject seems to come up –
“When is this economic beat-down going to end?”
My answer – “Why not today?”
The reality is, we all have at least the same skill level, and likely even more skills than we did when this “economic beat-down” started. I believe learning new skills is important to continued success, but this is a distant second to having and MAINTAINING the right attitude.
The Attitude Difference is simple:
The “beat down” attitude believes that no matter what I do it won’t make a difference. This guarantees that whatever skills you have will remain hidden, which guarantees that nobody is going to buy them!
The “opportunity” attitude believes that when times are tough, people need more help than ever. Even better, a creative and positive attitude stands out and inspires hope. Hopeless people don’t take action. Hope-filled people take action.
Start today creating the hope-filled “opportunity” attitude in yourself. Then, in your next meeting at work, or with a client, or conversation with a friend, share your hope with them. Offer them a creative solution delivered with skill and based on hope. Today, more than ever, people must have hope first, before they will take action with skill. Be the hope people need.
I love this quote by G.K. Chesterton:
“Don’t ever take a fence down until you learn the reason it was put up.”
It reminds of the story of the rich lady interviewing chauffeurs. She wanted a very good, safe, and skilled driver. She asked each potential chauffeur the same question during the interview: “Would you be fine with driving 60 mph right next to the edge of a cliff?” One after another, they gave her the same answer, “Absolutely, I have had the best training and I am highly skilled.” Finally she asked the question to an older chauffer and his reply was: “Why would you want to drive fast next to a dangerous cliff? I would stay as far away from danger as possible!” She hired him on the spot!
Our culture is all about hacking down fences and driving fast next to the edge of cliffs. The fact is, most fences are built for a reason and it’s hard to fall off a cliff if you keep your distance.
Here are a couple of fences that Dad built for himself that I think we can all benefit from:
1. He decided he would never be alone with a woman other than my mom for any reason. This included being picked up from the airport on his many trips, meetings in his office (door always open), and other professional environments as well. He built the fence far away from the edge of the cliff! The fence may seem silly to some people, but when you see the bodies at the bottom of the cliff it doesn’t seem so silly!
2. Dad never reads novels. I heard him say this again last week (for maybe the 500th time!) and it dawned on me that he has built a fence around his mind. Dad’s big issue with novels is that few have things he can learn and teach from, and many have beliefs and philosophies that are counter to what he knows is true. Plus he adds, “Some of those writers are really good and they just might convince me that something not true, is true.”
I know what you mean, Dad. I have read a few authors who think it’s just fine to have private meetings, even lunch, with members of the opposite sex, even if you are married. Maybe they should check out the bodies at the bottom of the cliff before they knock down that fence!
