World Renowned Motivational Speaker Zig Ziglar Talks With CommitmentNow!

After suffering a serious head injury, motivational speaker Zig Ziglar faced new challenges. Along with his daughter, Julie Ziglar Norman, he explains how to "embrace the struggle."

Zig Ziglar, one the greatest motivational speakers of our time, finds his positive thinking but to the test when he falls downs a flight of stairs and suffers a brain injury.  Yet despite the injury which left him with short-term injury loss, he remains optimistic, and with the help of his loved ones, is able to embrace his struggle.  Embrace the Struggle, with its mantra of "life is change," is a challenge to all of us who are going through rough times.  With honesty and humor, Ziglar and his daughter Julie Ziglar Norman teach us how to embrace our own struggles - and to live our lives to the fullest.

CommitmentNow:  Zig Ziglar is one of America’s most popular and respected motivational speakers.  He has written twenty-nine books and has appeared on such shows as the Today Show, ABC’S 20/20 and CBS’s 60 Minutes.  How is Embrace the Struggle different from other Zig Ziglar books?

Julie Ziglar Norman:  This is the first book written by Zig Ziglar based on a challenge he was personally experiencing as the text was being written.  We began writing before the outcome could be known, and it allows readers to see how Zig himself is dealing with his struggles by applying the principles and practices he has taught throughout his career.

CommitmentNow:  You state at the beginning of the book that “Life is Change.”  What does that mean? 

Zig Ziglar:  Until you understand that there is no way to avoid the things that none of us plan for or expect and that life just happens on its own terms, you cannot “roll with the punches.”  Many folks ask “why me?” and the answer is likely “why not me?”  Nobody “deserves” to fall and sustain a serious head injury…but those things happen.  You can either “respond – which is positive” or “react – which is negative.”  When you respond, the results are better by far.  Being hot-headed and self-centered or seeking to place blame never leads to a positive outcome.

CommitmentNow:  On March 7, 2007, Zig fell and banged his head, resulting in a brain injury which eliminated most of his short-term memory and created extreme positional vertigo.  While Zig has become more physically limited, his enthusiasm for life has not waned!  Why did you and he decide to tell this story? 

Zig:  Julie and my son Tom pointed out that there is never a better time to inspire people than with your very own example of living life on life’s terms.  The fall was unfortunate, but it did not take away my ability to decide how I would respond to it.  I’m having a positive impact on others who have physical, mental, spiritual, relationship and other struggles because it is obvious that you don’t have to give up…you just have to get up!

CommitmentNow:  How has Zig’s injury affected his spirit? 

Julie:  Dad’s spirit remains untouched.  He has, for so many years, input pure, powerful, positive information so that he automatically draws on that input and his mind just does not go to negative places.  Dad still invests up to three hours every day in reading and, as he likes to say, he only reads “the good stuff!”

CommitmentNow:  What does it mean to be “transparent,” and why is that so important to Zig?

Julie:  Being real is what transparency is all about.  Real life examples always serve better than any other kind.  Dad has nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of.  He does the best he can with what he has and he is content that that is enough.  He wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world.  By simply being who he is, openly and lovingly, he touches people every single day of his life.

CommitmentNow:  How can one “embrace the struggle”? 

Zig:  You embrace the struggle by assessing it.  What can you change about it?  For me, that meant that I could work out with a personal trainer to help regain my balance.  I could take supplements that might increase my brain power.  I could do mental exercises to keep my mind active and improving.
I enlisted the help of medical professionals to be sure I was doing everything medically possible to improve my balance and memory.  I then enlisted help from some alternative sources to improve my health and nutrition on every level.  Simply put, you do all you can to make things better and you make it a point to accept, truly accept, your new limitations and explore how to do the same things in new ways. 

It is generally the unknown that scares people into inaction, but it is the truth that sets them free.  So, get the facts, face the facts, change what you can, accept what you can’t, and make sure you treasure and respect the relationships in your life…become interdependent and make life count in ways you’d never even considered before your struggle began.

To purchase Embrace the Struggle, click here.