That famous quote was one of many from Zig Ziglar‘s large stock of quotes and motivational books.
Ziglar was a Texas born motivational speaker who wrote over 30 books about entrepreneurship and achieving business success.
It would be fair to say that after writing 30 books on the subject of finance that have sold millions of copies worldwide, the motivational coach knows a thing or two about what it takes to start a business.
Two common themes throughout the author’s work are about taking action and perseverance.
If you can develop these skills you have a better chance than most of becoming a success.
Ironically, these are the skills that many beginners feel that they have in abundance but actually lack when the occasion calls for it.
You will already be ahead of the crowd if you start taking action towards your goal…TODAY.
That could be anything from starting a business to building a website.
Taking action is just the first step.
While starting the process is arguably the most important thing you can do when trying to achieve your dreams, it will be pointless if you don’t have the determination and ability to keep going when times get tough.
One statistic that shocks those who first come across it, is that according to the Small Business Administration (SBA) 90% of startups fail.
There are lots of reasons for this extremely high failure rate but one of the prominent ones for a startup’s failure is that when times get tough too many quit early.
When they came up against their first unexpected issue or a setback they didn’t anticipate, they talked themselves out of the whole idea.
It’s always the easy thing to do and it times of stress and hardship, humans love to take the easier option.
They have convinced themselves all too easily that they don’t have the required skills to make it.
What they lack is the ability to persevere.
You Don’t Have To Be Great To Start Taking Action
Like so many business coaches, Ziglar has a huge library of quotes and mantras that are designed to provide inspiration for those venturing on their own business journey.
One of his most famous quotes was also one that inspired those to take action and get started.
You Don’t Have To Be Great To Start
But You Have To Start To Be Great
Zig Ziglar
Ziglar himself was no stranger to the hard times that many entrepreneurs go through.
It was during his worst moments that he became the epitome of these two rare but powerful attributes of taking action and persevering.
He was rejected by 39 publishers before his first book, , was finally published and put him on the path to success.
Read that again…39 publishers rejected his work!
39!!! That isn’t a typo.
He didn’t just say it he really did believe that “you don’t have to be great to start”.
Ask yourself if you could show the same determination and tenacity when starting your business venture??
After 5 -10 rejections, the vast majority of hopeful authors would have given up their dream and convinced themselves that “being an author is not for me I guess”.
Don’t be that person.
Even after 20 rejections, years of struggling and your friends and family telling you to “get a job” would you continue??
This is why taking action is only half of the equation.
Starting a new business website TODAY puts your future in your own hands rather than having your employer do it for you.
But persevering in your new venture is what increases the likelihood of your success.
Don’t get hung up on having a perfect start.
No one in the history of business got it right at the start. They changed and adapted as they grew.
This is what Amazon looked like at the start.
To be honest, Amazon’s website isn’t that much better than this today!
But like I said…it really doesn’t have to be perfect at the start and you don’t have to be great to start.
It’s not the “technical know-how” or even the “soft skills” you learn along the way that is responsible for your success, it’s your durability.
Don’t believe me? Well this also happens to be the opinion of Apple’s legendary CEO Steve Jobs.
In this short clip the man who was responsible for saving Apple from bankruptcy in the 90s, reminds us that having passion for what you do allows you to persevere when others would quit.
Increase your chances of success by building a website around something you have a passion for.
Take the first step now and persevere with it.
Remember, “you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”.
Famous Zig Ziglar Quotes
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.
Zig Ziglar
ZIG ZIGLAR
“If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”– Zig Ziglar