Zig Ziglar (1926–2012), born Hilary Hinton Ziglar, was an American motivational speaker, sales trainer, and author whose upbeat talks and books encouraged people to pursue success with discipline and purpose. This line is widely attributed to him, but its original source is uncertain: without a reliably identified speech, book, or publication, it is best not to claim a specific origin. The wording also appears in variants, including versions that say “by achieving your goals” rather than “by working toward achieving them.”
The thought turns achievement from a finish line into a process. Reaching a goal may bring money, recognition, or satisfaction, but the effort can also build patience, confidence, knowledge, and resilience—qualities that remain after one particular success has passed. That distinction can be reassuring when progress feels slow: a person may be growing even before the desired result arrives. It also offers a useful check on ambition. A goal matters, but so does the kind of person we become while pursuing it. That is why the quote resonates beyond business or self-help: it gives the hard work of striving value of its own.