How To Get Everything You Want In Life [LNIM164]

Zig Ziglar said it best: “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” In this episode, Mark unpacks this legendary quote and explains how applying a serve-first mentality to your internet business can transform both your results and your sense of purpose.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why Zig Ziglar's most famous quote is the ultimate business philosophy
• How to identify what you truly want from your business and your life
• Why financial success and helping people are complementary, not competing, goals
• How a serve-first mentality changes everything about the way you build your business
• Why understanding your customer's problems is the foundation of creating real value

Episode Summary

Mark opens by sharing what he considers the most influential statement he has ever encountered: Zig Ziglar's insight that you can have everything you want in life if you simply help enough other people get what they want. This principle applies to personal relationships, family life, corporate careers, and especially to building an online business.

The first step is understanding what you actually want. Many people start an online business driven by negative motivations: escaping a job they hate, getting out of debt, or getting away from a difficult boss. Those are valid starting points, but as you grow more sophisticated, your motivation should evolve toward becoming the person you want to be, doing the work you find meaningful, and creating a life that aligns with your values.

Mark then addresses what it means to have a successful business. One measure of success is the number of people you have helped. Another is financial success. These are not competing goals. The more financially successful your business becomes, the more people you can reach and serve. Financial growth and impact growth feed each other.

The second half of Ziglar's quote is where the real insight lives: help other people get what they want. In business terms, your customers want you to solve their problems. If they choose to give you their money, your job is to help them get the outcome they are seeking to the best of your ability. This is a serve-first mentality, and it is the thing many new entrepreneurs miss entirely.

Too many people start a business thinking first about generating revenue. But the order matters. Value comes first, then revenue follows. When you lead with a genuine desire to solve problems and serve people, the financial results take care of themselves. This is not naive optimism. It is the fundamental principle behind every sustainable business.

Key Takeaways

• Zig Ziglar's philosophy of helping others get what they want is the most reliable path to getting what you want
• Evolve your motivation from running away from negatives to running toward meaningful goals
• Financial success and impact are complementary — growing one grows the other
• A serve-first mentality is the foundation of every sustainable business
• Lead with value creation, and revenue follows naturally

What's Changed Since This Episode

Mark recorded this episode in April 2019. Zig Ziglar's philosophy has only become more relevant as the internet business landscape has evolved.

The rise of AI and automation has made it easier than ever to create transactional, impersonal businesses. But the entrepreneurs who are winning long-term are the ones who use these tools to enhance their ability to serve, not to replace genuine human connection. AI can help you understand your audience better, respond faster, and create more valuable content, but the underlying motivation to serve still has to come from you.

The creator economy has exploded since 2019, and the most successful creators are the ones who embody Ziglar's principle. Whether they are podcasters, YouTubers, newsletter writers, or course creators, the people building lasting audiences and businesses are the ones who genuinely prioritize helping their audience over extracting revenue. Audiences can tell the difference, and they vote with their attention and their wallets.

The Zig Ziglar brand continues to thrive at zigziglar.com, with his son Tom Ziglar carrying forward the legacy through speaking, coaching, and content.

Resources Mentioned

• The Zig Ziglar Empire — Zig's legacy brand and resources
• Zig Ziglar on Getting Everything You Want (YouTube)

Related Episodes

If this episode inspired you, check out:

• LNIM171 — Arnold Schwarzenegger On Internet Business Success
• LNIM170 — Pat Flynn On Fear, Motivation and the Opportunity To Serve

Listen and Subscribe

Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.