Zig Ziglar: I'm Outt'a Gas

Chances are phenomenal that at least one time in your life, while driving, your car has run out of gasoline. When it happened, you undoubtedly were a little frustrated, since things like that always happen at the "worst possible time."

Question: Have you ever deliberately run out of gas, or do you keep your eye on the gas gauge? Chances are good that you take precautions to make certain you don't run out of gas. Another question: If you had to drive from coast to coast, would you try to make it non-stop? Obviously, you would stop and fill up as you go.

I'm leading up to a point: Motivation is the fuel necessary to keep the human engine running. We must be motivated by need, desire, excitement or something that gets us into action. What many people do not realize is that we need to fuel that motivation with encouragement by reading good books, attending inspirational seminars and listening to inspiring messages while we're in our cars.

Regularly, someone will tell me that when they get "a little bit down," they plug in a tape and it invariably gives them that lift they need. My question is always, "Why would you wait until you get 'down'? Why not make it a way of life, so that as you drive, you automatically plug in some words of encouragement?"

It's easier to stay "up" than it is to get "up." Additionally, motivation is most beneficial when we are already inspired and "high." Then, when we fuel the motivational engine, we will come up with more creative ideas. So keep your motivational tank full, and I'll see you at the top!

- Zig Ziglar