Lessons from the ANT

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:6-11).

Talk about direct and to the point!  I seem to fall back to this verse when I’m looking to motivate myself to work harder in something.  In most cases, the work doesn’t produce a reward right away, which can make it even more challenging.  But taking a few points from this verse can really keep us on track no matter what we’re wanting to accomplish (like starting a blog :) )

1. Be your own boss – It doesn’t matter if you are self employed, unemployed, or work for someone else – you’re performance will improve and your work will have a better chance of getting noticed if you take the initiative to get to work.

2. Plan ahead – The 5 P’s fit nicely here:  Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.  If you’re going to step it up and take initiative, be sure to plan your next move AND a few moves ahead.  It doesn’t hurt to have a contingency plan in case something or someone else gets in your way.

3. Commit – So you decided to take initiative and plan ahead, now it’s time to commit to the work.  The world is full of idea generators and you might be one of them!  Set yourself apart by committing to your work and finishing out the project completely.

The challenge of being driven, organized, and committed isn’t something everyone will accept.  If you are one of the few who decide to take this challenge seriously, you’re on your way to a successful path of leading others.

What are some areas that you can apply this to in your life?  Write your thought below in the comments.