A track sprinter is a great example of the importance of starting fast. Obviously the goal in any race is to cross the finish line first, but in track it’s the start that most athletes spend the majority of their time trying to perfect. All of the Olympic sprinters are extremely gifted in the area of their speed, but the competitive advantage all gold medal sprinters share is how quick they are off the starting blocks. Whether in track or in life: A strong start leads to a desired finish!
On February 14th, 1876 Alexander Graham Bell submitted his invention of the telephone to the US Patent Office. No more than a few hours later inventor Elisha Gray filed his patent to the same U.S. Patent Office for his invention of the telephone as well. The patent was awarded as you know to Alexander Graham Bell, not because of a superior invention compared to Gray’s, but rather he filed his patent first. A classic example of why possessing initiative is critical to your success journey.
For most people it’s not the ‘dream journey’ that keeps them from pursuing their dreams; it’s the start. As a result many people develop the ‘one day’ excuse as to why they are not pursuing the purpose for their life right now. For example they say things like: ‘one day I am going to start that business’ or ‘one day I am going to start writing that book’ or ‘one day I want to pursue this dream.’ Can I tell you something? Life is never more frustrating than when you know what you want, but continue to do what you have always done, knowing full well you can never get what you want by doing what you are doing. I have heard bestselling author Orrin Woodward say many times that “procrastination is the assassination of our dreams.”
Over the course of my leadership journey I have discovered these simple observations as to why some people lack initiative:
1. Most people wait on the ‘How’ of their dreams instead of pursuing their ‘why’ – This prevents people from ever owning their dream. Initiative to pursue your dream will always be birthed out of your ‘heart’ not your ‘head’. Competence is very critical to achieving your dream, but matters very little to starting on your dream journey. Too many people try to figure out how to do everything before they take one step. Too much analysis can cause a paralysis in the pursuit of your dreams.
2. Most people overemphasize their past, instead of focusing on their future – Too many people inflate their ‘yesterdays’ which deflates the gift of today. The good old days were never as good or as bad as what we like to claim. Whether your past was filled with success or disappointment, it matters very little to where you are headed. Learn from your past, but don’t camp out there.
3. Most people fear failure – Success is never a result of doing things right, it’s a result of correcting the things you have done wrong. I heard a speaker one time say, “all success is…is learned failure.” Short term failure is easier to deal with than the long term regret of not pursuing your dream. Henry Ford said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."
Now that we learned what prohibits initiative lets learn how to develop initiative. Below are 3 things to help you develop initiative:
1. It’s never too late to start – Colonel Sanders proved it is never too late to start. At age 65 with his first social security check of $105 Harland Sanders launched what we know today as Kentucky Fried Chicken.
2. Keep your eyes ahead – Know the prize at the finish line so you can get out of the blocks quick! A hopeful future gives you initiative in the present. Bestselling author Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” Pursuing your dreams is a privilege not a duty. Tasks performed doing something you desire deeply is never a ‘have to’ activity it is a ‘get to’ activity.
3. Value Yourself – Knowing you are a person of worth will give you the confidence to invest in yourself on your dream journey. When you want to do things you have never done, you have do and learn things you have never done or learned before. There is no success without first failure. Growth provides the initiative to seek out lessons hidden in each failure.
David Mahoney said, "There comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear." All of us were built for a specific purpose, but initiative provides the fuel need to discover it. On the other side of starting is finishing. Develop the initiative today to start your dream journey, so tomorrow you don’t look back with the pain of regret.
Enjoy the journey!
Matt Franks
