What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what

The teacher of perseverance, Zig Ziglar, left us with a truth that pierces the heart like an arrow: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” These words remind us that the true treasure of life is not the gold we hold in our hands, nor the crowns we wear upon our heads, but the strength, the wisdom, and the transformation of the soul forged in the pursuit. To achieve is noble, but to become—this is divine.

Too often, men chase after rewards as if they were the end of existence: wealth, titles, honors, possessions. Yet Ziglar unveils the deeper truth: these are but fleeting shadows, vanishing with time. What endures is the shaping of the heart and mind, the discipline carved into the spirit, the courage learned through trials. The goal is not merely a destination, but a crucible, in which the soul is tested, purified, and made strong.

Consider the story of Nelson Mandela. He achieved the goal of a free South Africa, but the greater miracle was not only in the land he liberated, but in the man he became through suffering, patience, and forgiveness. Twenty-seven years of imprisonment could have left him bitter and broken. Instead, through struggle, he was transformed into a leader of unmatched wisdom and compassion. The reward was not only freedom for his people—it was the greatness of a man who could unite a divided nation. His becoming was greater than his achieving.

History offers another witness: the builders of the Great Wall of China. Stone by stone, generation after generation, the wall was raised against the threat of invasion. The immediate reward was protection, yes, but the true legacy was what the people became: disciplined, united, resilient, forged by their endurance into a civilization that would outlast empires. The wall was the goal, but the spirit of the people was the true achievement.

This is the wisdom Ziglar presses upon us: let us not measure success by the coins in our hand or the applause of the crowd. These will pass like smoke. Instead, let us measure by who we are at the journey’s end—more patient, more steadfast, more courageous, more wise. For a man who gains the world but loses the integrity of his spirit has gained nothing at all. But a man who gains strength, virtue, and self-mastery through the pursuit of his goals has achieved more than riches can ever give.

The lesson is clear: pursue goals not as trophies, but as teachers. Ask not only, “What will I gain if I succeed?” but also, “Who will I become on the path?” This shift of vision transforms hardship into training, failure into instruction, and success into something eternal. Each obstacle overcome shapes us into something greater than before. The journey itself is the true prize.

Practical wisdom flows from this: set high goals, but as you labor, reflect on the virtues you are cultivating. When you face setbacks, ask, “What strength is being born in me?” When you succeed, ask, “What qualities did I gain through this struggle?” Let every goal be not only a climb to a summit, but a forging of character. For the man you become will outlast the crown you win.

So remember the eternal counsel of Zig Ziglar: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Let this guide your path. Seek not merely the reward, but the transformation. For in the end, when treasures fade and honors fall silent, the true wealth will be the soul you have forged upon the journey.