Ladders have always provided a metaphor for life and the word can be found in many, many quotes and sayings: Zig Ziglar, was an American motivational speaker and author who coined this famous ladder quote: “You cannot climb the ladder of success, dressed in the costume of failure.” Ladders have been metaphors for high achievement in the Western world since biblical times: Jacob’s ladder to heaven is on of the very first examples, appearing in the book of Genesis and this theme of ladders making their way to heaven is used by many of the early Christian fathers.

Ladders as Metaphors: The Self Help Industry

Zig Ziglar became one of the major players in the self help industry, promoting motivational thinking and publishing over 30 books on how to reach the top and stay there. His message was very much for the individual, that the right mind set within a person could result in a happy and meaningful life in the face of all adversity. Ziglar’s “costume of failure” referred to our thoughts and beliefs, which he believed were reflected in body language, posture and a person’s actions. If we believe in failure, then we will commit acts that will make us fail and it will never be possible for us to even attempt to climb the ladder of success. Although the general public opinion of self help gurus can be one of contempt, Ziglar made no joke of the fact that climbing the ladder required hard work. He did not believe that standing in front of a mirror telling yourself that you would suddenly become rich and famous would result in these wishes manifesting as reality. Instead, Ziglar’s teachings were firmly anchored in the idea that positive thinking is the driving force, it is the motivation that allows us to climb the ladder of success. It is not, as many of today’s publishers in the self help industry would have us believe, the guarantee that the ladder can be climbed. This was perhaps Ziglar’s most enduring message, that failure was part of life and that success only comes with hard work. His work amassed a following of millions of Americans who found his teachings inspirational and life changing and his books continue to be bestsellers across the globe.