I was just on the Zig Ziglar Show – hosted by my son Kevin. Pretty interesting how I took Kevin to see Zig multiple times – starting when he was about 14 years old. When he was 16 we attended one of the See You at the Top events. Zig came over to the edge of the stage, knelt down on one knee and signed one of his leather-bound goal planners for Kevin ( a prized possession that he kept all these years ). Now Kevin hosts the Zig Ziglar Show and works with their marketing team. On this show we talk about Zig’s story of the pump and discuss if there is ever a time to stop pumping.
In this signature presentation, Zig Ziglar explains success in life using the metaphor of a water pump. You prime the pump before you start getting water.
This means that you must put something in, before you get something out.
You can’t ask for the reward first and then produce results later. You can’t ask for crops now and plant seeds next year.
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you can learn to do it well. So many quit too soon when only a little more effort would produce results.
Put in enough effort and do so with enthusiasm. If you do, you won’t have to put as much effort in to continue producing the good and plentiful results.
You start with vigorous effort. You don’t quit until you get results.
When you get results, you don’t have put in as much effort. And the more effort you put in, the greater reward.
I recently bought one of those old pumps we used to see outside farm houses. If you ever visit us here at the Sanctuary you’ll see it mounted on a wash basin just outside my office door. Check out my interview with Kevin and tell us how the pump story has played out in your life.
Dan, thanks for the great interview. I was able to listen to a portion of it and look forward to checking out the rest of it!
The pump story has definitely played out in my life, but with an added twist. I have put a ton of effort into several things the last couple of years (in addition to my regular job), but some of them haven’t produced any results (and a couple of them actually set me back, either time-wise or financially). Why? Because I was putting in a lot of effort into a few things that didn’t match my passion and skills. You can can put a lot of effort into something that doesn’t go anywhere – I guess you could say I was priming the wrong pumps. 🙂
I have since gotten a little wiser and have said goodbye to a few things that were distractions and am focusing much more intently on things that are producing better results.
Kent,
As you clearly lay out here it’s an ongoing process to identify when to keep pumping and when to find a new well. Thanks for your comments.
Several of my family members had a working pump on their property – the only way they got water. I did it once. It is a lot of hard work when you first start. Then it’s not so hard.
I worked with a client who decided they no longer needed transcription services. I came back the next day to return the extra letterhead stationary of theirs that I had. The first person I saw thought I didn’t know they didn’t want to continue to use my services. When I told them why I was there, they were surprised. About two years later someone called me to start doing transcription for them. The referral came from my previous client. I’ve been working for that client for 10 years!
Not only do you need to work harder to get the pump going, don’t leave with a bad attitude. The water will come from the way you left as well as the hard work you do along the way.
Eva,
Great example. Even if we stop pumping don’t destroy the pump. We may need to come back to the same pump at a future date. Thanks for sharing your story.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you can learn to do it well.” Love it, love it, love it!
I had the chance to listen to your interview last week, and it really made an impact on me. That story of the pump gets better each time I hear it. I’ve been pumping for a while now and there’s a little water starting to flow. Thanks Dan!
David – thanks for your comments.
Priming the pump is a great metaphor for most anything. Even expressing gratitude is like priming … it opens up a flow. I’m thinking of the word ‘momentum’ after reading your post. It’s like the flywheel in industry too. A ginormous level of energy to get it moving from a standstill, but when once turning, a little input keeps the larger output going. Thanks for the post. I have a good amount of momentum flowing now with podcast listening. I plan on tuning in to your talk with Kevin.
What a great fruition indeed Dad. No way to thank you enough for your investment in me.
Love this!! Simple, but profound concept Dan. But, what’s more endearing is learning about your son and how now Kevin is hosting the show of one of his heroes. My oldest son is 13, and you’re giving me a vision for my own son.
Reminds of that verse of Scripture: Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 MEV).