The Value of Taking Initiative

CEBU, Philippines — Taking initiative means that you, on your own, go out and take the first step toward achieving something. At school, for example, one student may take the initiative to start cleaning the classroom without being asked by the teacher. Young people going out of their way to do something show that they can take initiative.

People like someone who does something without being told. Especially if it’s something that will really stand out, or something that has been waiting to be done for a while. A person who regularly takes initiative, stands out as someone who can take the lead, or as someone who cares about something. Mastering the skill of taking initiative will make anyone go far in life.

It doesn’t matter who one is or where one comes from, everyone has the ability to take initiative. The process is easy to maintain, but hard to start. It’s like hitting a lucky streak. As soon as one gets the first few in a row right, then the rest just plays out in his favor one by one, until the full streak is over.

But it will only end when one wants it to. The person is in control of his initiative and can keep it going for as long as he wants. Some of the big reasons why people don’t take initiative are fear of failure or criticism, the thing turning out to be a bad choice, the habit of hesitating, lack of drive or motivation, laziness, or they just don’t see the importance of starting something.

If fear is problem, then it is necessary to realize that the only thing one should really be afraid of is not trying. How do inventors get their ideas started? Every single person in the world who ever did anything big has taken initiative at some point in his or her life. If they didn’t, they would have probably gotten stuck in a mediocre life.

Everyone has the opportunity to advance in life no matter where he is, how old or young he is, or how much or little money he has. It may only take studying something first, and then planning the steps to take towards achieving it. Now, if the only thing blocking the way is fear, one shall learn to dare taking the first step.

Most of the time, the worst thing that can happen is for other people to criticize what one does and say he shall not to do it again. But that’s nothing compared to what lies on the other hand – there is always that chance that one’s initiative will be recognized and rewarded. The reward could be a simple nod of approval, but that is enough to make one feel good about himself.

Taking initiative, once it has become a personal trait, will benefit all aspects of one’s life. And it’s a good habit to start at childhood. It can mean an organized home, an orderly schedule, and, in the long run, a tidy life. The person who is in the habit of taking initiative has much control over the kind of life he lives.