Welcome to Growing Up Ziglar
By
I, Julie Ziglar Norman, am the youngest daughter of a man often referred to as the icon for motivation and inspiration, world renowned author and speaker Zig Ziglar and his beloved wife Jean (the Redhead) Ziglar. To me they’re just “Mama” and “Daddy.”
When I meet someone new it might be weeks, months or in some cases, even years, before the topic of what I do and who my father is comes up. When someone who happens to know who Dad is finds out that I’m his daughter, they invariably exclaim “Why didn’t you tell me Zig Ziglar was your father? I can’t believe I’ve known you all this time and you didn’t tell me!” I always respond “You didn’t tell me who your father is or what he does, either!” Then they say, “Yeah, but he’s not Zig Ziglar!” Then comes the next question; “What on earth was it like growing up with a dad like Zig Ziglar?” The answer is too long to cover quickly and that is the reason for this blog.
I often say Dad is the poster child for “doing life right” and I am the poster child for “doing life wrong.” Between the two of us, our experiences cover the spectrum so completely that if you read Dad and you read me we’ll get just about every life-challenging topic covered – from problem to solution and then some. However, in this introduction to my blog, Growing Up Ziglar, I’m just going to lay the foundation and go from there.
Our family moved to Dallas in 1968 to further Dad’s speaking career. Unfortunately, it proved to be a difficult transition for me. I had just turned thirteen and had to leave behind my beloved horse, a spot on the student council, and every friend I’d ever made. My attempts to be accepted at my new school led me down a painful path and at the age of 18, against my parents’ wishes, I married a man twice my age. The relationship ended in divorce and I found myself joining the ranks of broke, single mothers.
Mom and Dad let me live with them while I journeyed through the pain and grief of divorce and learned how to be a new mother at all once. My daughter was only three months old when I arrived back on my parents’ doorstep and I had to find a job, buy a car, save money and find a way to make a home for my fatherless family. Fifteen months later I was able to move into an apartment run by the management company I went to work for.
I experienced a steady increase in income with each new job I took, and financially I was quite stable. Otherwise, I was everything but stable. The seven years between my divorce and remarriage saw some of the worst decision-making of my life. I can tell you first hand what happens if you choose NOT to live by the principles my father teaches.
I remarried in 1983 and was immediately introduced to the world of step-parenting. With the exception of being gone during college semesters, my nineteen-year-old step-daughter and her twelve-year-old twin brother and sister lived with us full time. It was a crash course in blending families. The marriage was put to the test. Alcoholism, mine and my husband’s, had to be overcome and parenting skills that worked for teenagers had to be learned on the fly. A full year was spent on marriage reconciliation after all the children left home, but with a lot of love and hard work on everyone’s part our family blended completely. From here on out you’ll only hear me refer to my children as my children. Long ago we made the big “step” and accepted each other completely.
I became my father’s editor as a result of having won a place at the Guideposts Writer’s Workshop that is held bi-annually to develop new talent for their magazine. John and Elizabeth Sherrill, long-time roving editors for Guideposts, noted that I was a natural at editing. Sixteen years and twenty-one books later, Dad and I are still writing away.
After Dad suffered a head injury in 2007 that resulted in short-term memory loss, it was eventually determined that I would be the best choice to interview him on stage, not only because I was his daughter but because of my intimate knowledge of his material. Since taking on that role, Dad and I have presented his inspiring philosophies to over three-hundred thousand people in audiences all across America. I have also had the privilege of assisting Dad on numerous radio broadcasts, print and corporate interviews, and, most recently, webinars. Embrace the Struggle, a book that was inspired by Dad’s accident and how he and others deal with living life on life’s terms, is my first co-author venture with Dad. It will be published by Simon & Schuster’s Christian imprint, Howard Books, on October, 27, 2009.
My own speaking career has evolved naturally as a result of my time onstage with Dad. My speeches are inspirational. They deliver encouragement and hope and are an intertwining of my father’s winning philosophies and my own experience of living life on life’s terms. I believe God has charged me to be transparent about my unfortunate choices and the consequences I suffered on my journey toward physical, emotional and spiritual healing. I’m grateful to have parents who support me in being open and honest about issues that families kept hidden and private when they were growing up.
Being raised by America’s Motivator has given me a perspective on life that keeps audiences laughing, crying, listening and learning right alongside me. Sharing what life has been like with Dad is an honor and a privilege, but I spent the first half of my life with shame, guilt and remorse gnawing me very nearly into a state of nothingness. Consequently, it is with a great deal of excitement and positive anticipation that I share with you how the motivator’s daughter was finally inspired to take a new and very different path.
Before we move on I want you to know that I am the overly proud mother and grandmother of one son, three daughters, and twelve grandchildren. I live in Alvord, Texas, with my husband of twenty-six years, Jim Norman; three horses, three rescued dogs and three rescued cats, and I am currently writing my first solo book to be published by Brown Books in 2010.
Julie,
Your blog is starting out VERY great…long over due. And as always, you are an inspiration. D
Julie,
As one of those friends you left behind in 1968, I can’t wait to read more!
Julie – this is an amazing adventure. The “transparency” will multiply the power of the basic principles your Dad taught. So many people didn’t think they could be “good enough” to get these principles to work for them. You will guide the way.
- with greatest respect, tb
Julie, you are my hero and I know many lives will be touched in a very meaningul and special way as you continue to write and speak across the country. I am so very proud of my little sister.You are an inspiration to me and I am excited to see where God will take you next. Keep being transparent, it looks good on you! I love you!
GREAT JOB! I am so proud of you and honored to be one of your children!!! Love you BUNCHES!!!! JB
Julie, The Motivator’s Daughter, truly you are! Its take courage and forthrightness to lay your life in the open for all to see. Your story will help a lot of people know that it’s o.k. to be a real person in this day and age, matter of fact it’s the only thing to do so that you can heal and keep getting on with life and leave the mess behind and let the sun shine! I cannot say enough about your Dad as he has been a part of my life through his many books for so long now. It’s not always easy in this life to follow the correct path, but it’s always good to know you can still pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep it moving. Your entire family is a blesssing to us all, thank you so much to your Mother, Brother, Sister and of course you for sharing him with us!
Thank you so much for your blog and I will do all I can to make sure everyone I know gets “Ziglar-tized”!!!
Much Love to my SSA.
Outstanding! I am a new found fan of your fathers work, and grateful everyday for it! As a “broke single mother” It’s inspirational to read of your trip on this world wide adventure we all live. Thank you for writing it down for us to read. Whether you feel its a good thing or not, its very helpful to see.
Much Success to you and all your family.
Robyn
I like the honesty and human nature that comes across in your writing. I feel like I can relate to your words and that you are writing to me like we would be having a conversation! I work on using the same approach on my own blog.
The coolest thing about blogging is the invitation to connect to other writers and share things that get comments and conversations going.
I saw you and your father in Denver on Tuesday and guess what, I’m hooked.
Love,
Shannon Buckley
Julie,
I’ve been inspired by your Dad’s teaching for over 30 years. I’m glad you have found a calling to help him continue and launch your own speaking career as well.
I’ve pre-ordered “Embrace The Struggle” and can’t wait to get it later this month.
Best wishes to your and your family.
Brian Dees
Amite, LA
Thank you, Shannon. Where can I go to read your blog? I’d love to see how we do relate. If Dad is new to you, you are in for a real treat as you get into his work.
I loved Denver. Somehow I hadn’t expected it to be such a big city, but I loved the skyline.
Because He lives!
Julie
Brain,
I’m so proud to get to be a help to my father. It just blows me away when I get to meet the people whose lives he has influenced and helped change for the better. The blessing are all mine. As for my speaking, that’s 100% a God deal…it was never in my cross-hairs so you could call me an accidental speaker….maybe it happened by osmosis!
Please let me know what you think of the book. It is a real work of love.
Because He lives!
Julie
Hi Robyn,
I’m going to write more about being a “broke single mother” since that was my status for several years. By the time I was just a “single mother” and I didn’t “need” a thing…I was suddenly desirable. Imagine that! My present huband even told me it was my total independence that attracted him to me…he didn’t want anyone needy. But, alas, I was needy anyway. Just not financially!
Thank you for your kind comments and much success to you and your family!
Because He lives!
Julie
Thanks Deborah! Sorry I’m so long on getting back to you…honesly, I just noticed the “reply” button on this page…I didn’t know I could. Two more days and the book will be out. We’ll ship yours as soon as we get them.
And remember to put me on your calendar for August 7th for The Million Family March on the Mall in Washington, D.C. We’ll break bread somewhere my Sister.
Because He lives!
Love,
Julie
And you know I am blessed beyond imaginable to have you for a daughter! Thanks JB
When are you going to start your blog?
Love,
Mom
Hey Nisser!
You write good stuff! I love it! And I can’t thank you enough for being on this huge adventure with me. I would have completely been a wreck in D.C. if you hadn’t been there to just be there for me.
I know we’ll be going forward together Sissy. We always will.
Love,
Jeeta
Tangela,
I know what you say is true and I’m glad God can use my icky old junk to His glory. I like to tell people that Dad is the king of good choices and I’m the poster child for wrong choices. Dad can tell you what happens when you make the right choice and I can tell you the consequences of making the wrong choice. Between the two of us we’ve got it covered!
I can’t tell you how much your encouragement means to me. And how grateful I am that you and Bill were willing to share your story in Embrace The Struggle…it comes out in two days. I hope it will lift you and Bill up to see how God is going to use your story, too.
Love,
julie
Hi Alan,
I’m tickled to run into you again after all of these years. Get me your address and I’ll get a copy of the Embrace The Struggle…I’ll have Dad sign it. Did you ever get to meet him? He was on the road so much selling cookware unless you came over on a Saturday or Sunday you would have missed him.
Take care friend!
Because He lives!
Julie
And as always you are an encourager…and I love that in you! Thanks D
I am 33 years old and I have a bad memory for names and numbers. I honestly believe it is worse than other people’s memories. Sometimes I believe I am missing quite a bit because of memory loss, but I don’t know what I’m losing because I can’t think back. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?
There are so many things that can contribute to memory loss Derek. I’d suggest you visit a neurologist and find out. You will at least have the peace of knowing you’ve gotten a professional opinion.