Be, Do, Have Theory

Zig Ziglar, in Successful Persuasion Through Public Speaking, has a theory that he shares if one wants to be successful in life:

You've got to be before you can do and do before you can have.

In other words, you have to be a person of character and do the right things, and then you can have the things you really want!

Too often, we focus on the things we want instead of focusing on being the right kind of person and doing the things that successful people do. It's like playing baseball, hitting the ball, and trying to run straight to third base (we laugh when 6 year olds do that in T-ball, we don't think it's as funny when adults do it). You can't get to third unless you've crossed first and second.