Initiative

Take some initiative. Don’t wait for results to happen. Make them happen. Don’t wait for good things to come to you. Get up and go after them. Go above and beyond what is expected of you. The value you obtain from each day is directly proportional to the value you create for others. What are you doing to create real, substantial value? What could you do that would create more value? What initiative could you take that would add substantial value to your work?

It is essential that you do what is expected of you and that you take care of the things for which you’re responsible. That creates a fundamental base for your efforts. Yet to achieve your dreams you must go beyond that base. You must be willing to do more. You’ve got to explore new ways of doing things, open your mind to new ideas, work on improving your performance and your ability to get results. Initiative means going beyond what is expected of you.

When you think of a better way to get something done, don’t just think about it and wonder if it would work. Put it into practice. See for yourself what will happen. When you have an idea for an improvement, don’t let it forever be imprisoned as an idea. Speak up about it. Offer to implement it. Promote it and make it happen. Sure, it’s easier to just sit quietly and do things the way they’ve always been done. That’s what too many people do. The few who achieve spectacular success do so because they’re willing to take some initiative, to put themselves on the line. They’re constantly looking for ways to add value to whatever situation they find themselves in. And they take the actions necessary to make it happen.

To get the most value from this day, you’re going to have to take some initiative. If you continue going along the way you always have, you’ll continue getting the same results and won’t get any closer to those ambitious goals you’ve set for yourself. Step up and take the initiative.