Even in death Zig Ziglar continues to motivate many of us. I enjoy reading his books and I have listened to him a few times. I know how challenging staying on the path to good health can be, especially when it comes to starting an exercise programme or eating healthy food most of the time. What if we could use three (3) of Zig’s most powerful “selling” questions to motivate us to start a healthy lifestyle and STICK with it?
Most people actually will like you to succeed but a few will discourage you when you start a healthy lifestyle and they will use various means including; “this will not last”, “you will give up soon”, “you have to do this daily for the rest of your life?” “You will lose everything as soon as you stop.” This is what the sales legend has to say about motivation: “People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” In the same way I recommend daily “motivation” and daily healthy choices to keep you on the path to good health.
What are Zig’s three questions that I will encourage you to ask yourself everyday as you sell good health to yourself?
1. Can you see how (or where) this could be beneficial to your health?
a. I believe that you are more likely to succeed if you make small healthy choices daily. Simply ask yourself this question whenever you need to make a choice between sitting to watch television and going for a walk, eating a fruit and eating a big portion of meat, taking your medication as prescribed or drinking your own concoction. It does not sound that impossible when viewed from this angle or does it?
2. Are you seriously interested in maintaining (or regaining) good, vibrant health?
a. You certainly must be committed. It is for the long haul and not only for a month. You are aware of what is proven to improve your health or you know who to talk to. Many of us want to see a 360 degrees change in a blink of an eye and give up too soon – my advice to you is persist, make changes when necessary but DO NOT QUIT. Perseverance always pays; if you persist in reckless ways your health will deteriorate but you will improve in fitness if you persevere in healthy ways.
b. Don’t just pay lip service to good health, take appropriate steps.
c. If you are facing challenges in some areas of your life, improving your health may just be what the doctor prescribed. Remember with good health you can cover more ground than when you are bogged down with illness.
d. You do not need to wait to be handed a diagnoses before you start scrambling to stay healthy. Ill health should not be the only motivation to keep healthy.


3. Under these circumstances, when do you think it would be best to start taking care of the health that you obviously cherish so highly?
a. You may think you are too young, too old, too thin, too sick or even in too much pain but note that starting now is the best time. Any other option you may take is second best no matter how ideal it may appear.

Like Mr. Ziglar will put it “if you can dream it, you can achieve it” so go ahead and start dreaming about a new healthier you but don’t spend all your time dreaming – start taking steps (literally) now, make changes to your life and soon you will have so much energy you will be able to do things you never imagined.
If you need help to get started, talk to your healthcare professional, call a health club, send an email for help or walk into a health club today and start the process to improve your health, it may be the best sale you will ever make.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Moms’ Health Club
(dressel@healthclubsgh.com)

*Dr Essel is a medical doctor and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition.
Thought for the week – “A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running.” – Groucho Marx.
Reference:
1. SELLING 101- WHAT EVERY SUCCESSFUL SALES PROFESSIONAL NEEDS TO KNOW BY ZIG ZIGLAR.