Zig Ziglar was born in Alabama in 1926. He was given his famous nickname 'Zig' at elementary school which he attended in Mississippi during the 1930's. His real name is Hilary Hinton Ziglar. He went to college in Jackson, Mississippi, and later to the University of South Carolina. Zig initially made his living as a salesman and, later, decided to become a professional motivational speaker. Ziglar’s speaking career had lasted more than 50 years, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, before he retired in 2010. He was known for corporate training and motivational speeches that aimed to improve people's personal lives and careers. His company includes more than a dozen other speakers who advocate "The Ziglar Way." Ziglar has written more than 29 sales and motivational books, including "See You at the Top" and "Over the Top," and has made appearances with U.S. presidents and world leaders, according to his website.