Initiative is Key to Success

Personal initiative is one of the foundations of building a successful personal, business and community life.

Initiative is a Key to Success.

Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, said, “A little initiative will improve your luck nine days out of ten.” How funny and true! There is plenty of talk and literature about personal initiative and yet many of us don’t understand the meaning of it, and what’s worse - we don’t exercise it. I’ll be honest with you, it took me the first 33 years of my life to truly understand the meaning of initiative, start applying, making it a habit and witnessing a life transformation. And I want to share with you my understanding of this magical habit, its importance and how to it can help you succeed in YOUR life.

What is initiative? While there are many definitions of initiative, one of my favorites is Napoleon Hill’s version: “Initiative is the ability to do something without someone telling you what to do and how you should do it.” In other words it’s your ability to come up with and execute actions born in your imagination that would lead you to your goals. “Personal initiative is the dynamo which starts the faculty if imagination into action in the process of translating your goals into their physical or financial equivalent.” continues Hill.

Have you ever had this experience? You have a goal of certain number of transactions per year. You ask yourself a question - “What can I do to reach my goal?” You keep asking this to yourself until you get an idea of an action to take - whether it’s calling someone, or stopping by to see a past client etc. And then you go do it! That’s precisely how initiative operates. Goal - imagination - action. I keep a list of my possible leads categorized into A, B and C on my car dashboard to remind myself of actions I could take in relation to them. As I was driving one sunny April day on the interstate I happened to look at the very last name on my C list to whom I hadn’t spoken to in 7 months. This was a doctor that didn’t qualify for a loan in September because his practice hadn’t been open for 2 years, so he didn’t have the necessary tax returns. I picked up my phone and called him right away. He was as surprised with my phone call as I was with his reaction. “You must have been reading my mind! My loan approval is done, I found this house for $725,000, can you show it to me?” You can imagine my excitement! I almost started dancing in my car (or maybe I did). Anyway, he didn’t buy that house, he bought something for $80,000 more and that was my biggest sale to date. And how did it come about? Initiative to make that phone call!

Why is initiative important? Who do you consider the most successful person you know on a personal basis? Made your pick? Now think if you noticed how they always come up with new ideas. Do they always try to improve things? Do they always look for ways to grow? Judge for yourself. There are plenty of people that have some form of initiative and don’t succeed, but I have yet to meet a successful person who doesn’t exercise the habit of initiative. Several years ago I did property management for a landlord that went from nothing to owning dozens of properties in a relatively short period of time. I had heard about him before starting the job and wondered how he achieved this. It became apparent to me as soon as I started. He would come to the office with fresh and innovative ideas every day and task the staff with execution. His initiative is what got him there. I admired that quality and I distinctly remember thinking to myself “I wish I could be like that”. Good news? I learned later that anyone, including myself, can develop this ability by use. The book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill was instrumental in this aspect.

Cyrus H. K .Curtis said “There are 2 types of people that never amount to much. Those who can’t do what they’re told and those who can do nothing else”. It’s harsh but true. So if you want to rise above mediocrity you have to develop initiative.

Why most people don’t exercise (enough) initiative? So if it’s such a helpful quality and it’s not a secret one, then why don’t most people exercise enough initiative? Well, for one, it’s much easier to follow the crowd. It doesn’t take much effort or courage to copy and do what someone else is doing. It’s much easier to nod in a group setting rather than to express your own opinion etc. Other reasons include fear of criticism, fear of failure both of which boil down to insufficient self confidence. I know because I’ve been there. But you are in luck! Initiative itself will develop your confidence. “Do the thing” said Emerson “ and you shall have the power.”

What are the benefits of initiative? Some of the obvious, broader benefits were stated above. How will initiative affect you in the daily life? Initiative means action. Action creates consequences. Inaction, not surprisingly, creates consequences as well, but not the good ones you hope for. By taking more initiative you take more control of your life. In your occupation initiative will set you apart from your competition by contrast and raise you to the top ranks. Every time you take initiative to do something it gives you more courage to do something bigger. Bigger actions build stronger character. And that is the pathway to personal growth.

Where and how to start (if you already don’t possess this quality)? “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” said ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. In the same manner, any character trait is developed by first taking baby steps then keeping on walking for long enough (minimum 30 consecutive days) to turn it into a habit. So what can you do today to ignite your initiative? It may be best answered by your own imagination, but here are some suggestions you may want to consider.

• In your personal life. I honestly think the best place to start exercising initiative is in your personal life. This is where you will experience the greatest rewards. Go on “just because” mode. Give “just because” flowers to your significant other with a love note. Or buy him/her a gift card for a massage. Offer to watch the kids so they can go out with their friends. Cook their favorite meal. Sign up for dance lessons. Drop by their work with a box of chocolates for everyone. Bottom line - make them feel good when they least expect it! If you are single, you can do these for a friend or neighbor. OK, maybe not the one with the love note!

• In the community. One of the best feelings you will experience is by doing something nice to someone who doesn’t expect it, especially strangers. Try paying for the person behind you at a drive through. Tip the cashiers at places where they don’t expect a tip - 7 Elevens, fast food drive throughs, grocery stores. The look on their faces and their smile will be priceless! Those donation request phone calls that you keep dodging? Try actually sending even a small check. Take an opportunity to get involved in as many volunteer activities as your time allows. And always, always, always remember that no kind action is ever lost, even if there is no immediate reward. It will come back to you, and you better believe it.

• In your business. There are plenty of ways to exercise initiative in you occupation - whether you are a realtor, loan officer, home inspector, appraiser etc. Call people in your sphere of influence you haven’t talked to in a long time. Use social media to make personal contact. If it’s someone’s birthday or anniversary, instead of posting the plain old “Happy birthday” or “happy anniversary” on their timeline pick up the phone and call them! They will be both surprised and appreciative. As an added bonus you will come to the top of their mind if they know of someone making a move.

In speaking about the percentages and number of people that rise above mediocrity and those who don’t Jim Rohn said “The numbers don’t change. Only the faces change.” According to different researches for every 9 people who don’t succeed one does. Possibly 90% of the readers of this article will not take any action towards developing initiative. 10% will. The question is which group will YOU be in? I sincerely hope YOU are in the the smaller group!