You Have to Take the Stairs
A couple of months ago I had the supreme privilege of participating in a Ziglar original documentary called, “Zig: You Were Born to Win.”
The documentary details success stories from a handful of mentees, touched by Zig’s legacy who have gone on to inspire and change the world in their own unique ways. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it!
I’d love for you to experience it for yourself!
Over 40 years ago, the man who would one day become my long-time mentor and friend shared a truly profound statement, which has resonated with millions of people around the world for decades.
“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.” -Zig Ziglar
To this day, it still gives me chills! Could there ever be anything more true? Success has never come easily, and when it does it is usually short-lived and hollow.
True success, beyond material wealth, takes grit, courage and time.
Zig had a way with words, no doubt; but he also had a remarkable ability to formulate the most complex thoughts into simple terms.
Zig’s “no elevator to success” philosophy is accompanied by an image of a man, facing a set of stairs, each labeled with a different hurdle or challenge to overcome.
At the top of the steps is a door titled “Tomorrow,” listing all the benefits one can expect, if only they can make it to the top of the stairs.
Beside the man is the “Elevator to The Top,” but nevertheless it’s out-of-order: one must take the stairs.
Today, I want to honor Zig’s legacy and philosophy which has inspired me and many others, by diving into each of the 6 Steps to Success.
Remember, according to Zig, you have to take each step one at a time, so be patient with yourself and trust the process.
Self-image is more than how you see yourself, physically or mentally; it’s about how you value your worth, what you believe you’re capable of and where you find your place on this earth.
A strong self-image can take you anywhere and is the first step to success. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to assess your own self-image:
How is your family life; your relationships with friends, peers or colleagues? Zig had a great philosophy on relationships and success:
“You can have everything in life you want, if you’ll just help enough other people get what they want”
I remember when I realized my calling in life: to help and inspire others. The idea I could achieve my dreams, by helping others achieve theirs has continued to inform and inspire my path in life.
Your relationships with others are a core part of the foundation of your success.
For me, I can’t imagine where I would be without the support of my family, friends, mentors, peers and colleagues — each and every one of them has had a hand in my success and happiness.
Plain and simple: you have to set goals in life. It’s always been my belief the more specific your goals, the more actionable they become. Once you know what your goals are, you can set about achieving them — you have a course of action, a plan.
Without goals, how can you measure success?
Your attitude in life will inevitably impact every facet of it. If you walk around with a chip on your shoulder, perpetually expecting the worst, you’ll eventually get just that!
I’m a strong believer you get what you put out into the world. If you radiate kindness, trust, happiness and inspiration, I believe you will naturally encounter those same things from others.
Your attitude goes a long way in informing your relationships with others, but also your relationship to self! How are you talking to yourself when things don’t go your way, or you fail? Are you pulling yourself up by the bootstraps or conceding defeat?
Work is an inevitability of life. We must accept the responsibility that we must perform, to survive.
But you get to decide what that work looks like — it may not change today or tomorrow, but putting in the effort, the hours and the dedication will reap the rewards you desire.
Zig shared a great message about taking the steps one at a time: if you have your self-image, goals and attitude in order, no one ever has to tell you to go to work — it becomes a natural result.
If you want more responsibility or even a raise from your employer, put in the extra hours and effort — show your commitment!
If you want to start your own business or write a book, make a plan to how you’re going to get there and what work must be done to keep yourself afloat while making the transition.
Work can look a lot of different ways to many people, and these are just a few examples.
You must have the desire to succeed because frankly, no one is going to want it for you. I’ve pulled a few Zig quotes I believe speak so profoundly to the idea of desire:
“Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.”
“Desire is what takes the hot water of mediocrity and turns it into the steam of outstanding success.”
I couldn’t agree more! You have to have passion, if you want to succeed. Find that thing that lights you up and sets you on fire, that you can’t stop thinking about, that wakes you up in the morning and keeps you up at night. And, once you find it, don’t let it go.
If you take the steps to success, you can begin to seek the bountiful benefits before you:
In the words of Zig, “You were born to win.”
Remember, you can get access to the full “Zig: You Were Born to Win” documentary, right here!