Magical Thinking - Initiative is a special kind of action. It's doing something ....

Initiative is a special kind of action. It's doing something worthwhile without being told to do it

The person with initiative has a standing invitation to join the high income brackets in every business and profession

Tell yourself,

'I’m in condition right now to begin. I can't gain a thing by putting it off.

I'll use the 'get ready' time and energy to get going instead:"

Here are two special exercises for developing the initiative habit:

• Be a crusader (advocate

When you see something that you believe ought to be done, pick up the ball and run.

Do you feel your business should develop a new department, intake a new product, or in some other way expand?  Well, then, crusade for it.

• Be a volunteer:

Each of us, has been in situations, in which we wanted to volunteer for some activity but didn't. Why? Because of fear.

Not fear that we couldn't accomplish the task, but rather fear of what our associates would say.

It's natural to want to belong, to be accepted, to have group approval.

 But ask yourself, "Which group do I want to have accept me? The group that laughs because it is secretly jealous or the group that is making progress by doing things?"

The right choice is obvious.

The volunteer stands out. He receives special attention.

The fellow who stands on the sidelines, who holds off, who is passive, does not lead.

But the doer, the fellow who thinks action, finds others want to follow him.

People place confidence in the fellow who acts. 

They naturally assume he knows what he is doing.