Dear John,

When I was nineteen years old, Dad asked me a simple question that has stuck with me for over 30 years now.

I had a big goal - to be a PGA tour professional golfer. I had a plan. I had a great coach (Hank Haney). My summer schedule was packed full of tournaments, golf lessons, intense practice sessions.

At the start of the summer, Dad came to me and asked me a favor. He asked me to take care of the house while he and Mom went on a 3 week trip to Australia for a speaking tour.

My first thought was “Wow, I want to go with you!” I started to put the hard sell on Dad.

Instead of saying no, he simply asked me if my goal was still to be a PGA tour professional. Of course I said yes.

Then he asked me the toughest question: “Son, I know your summer schedule is planned out and designed to help you towards your goal. I have a question for you. Will going to Australia take you closer to, or further from your goal?”

Needless to say I didn’t go to Australia - and I made the choice.

The PGA didn’t work out for me, but boy that question sure did!

I have a challenge for you. If you have a dream, a goal, an aspiration that you want to achieve, simply ask yourself the toughest question as you go through the day.

Will:

Reading this

Doing this

Eating this

Working on this

Tweeting this

Posting this

Saying this

Take me closer to, or further from, my goal?

NOW that is a tough question. Answer it correctly and your life will change for the better!

Choose To Win!

Tom

P.s. Two nuggets for you.

#1. Check out our Choose To Win page on Facebook and join a community dedicated to answering the tough personal questions - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ziglarlivetowin/

#2. Listen to this podcast episode by my good friend Owen Fitzpatrick - A great overview of Dad’s teachings from How To Stay Motivated - https://changingmindspodcast.com/zig-ziglar-vol-1-mindset-and-motivation-two-13-cm/