Quotable Quotes: Initiative
by Miki SaxonInitiative is the most critical ingredient in any kind of success, whether individual or organization.
C. Northolt Parkinson said, “The man whose life is devoted to paperwork has lost the initiative. He is dealing with things that are brought to his notice, having ceased to notice anything for himself.” And sometimes he doesn’t even do that.
Initiative means doing, not just noticing; Henry Ford understood that when he said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”
Initiative is what moves you forward; it’s what gets you off your butt so you can accomplish whatever you choose.
Several hundred years ago Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put it this way, “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” Or you can follow the less poetic version from Zig Ziglar, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” (Personally I prefer Goethe; beauty in words doesn’t dilute the meaning.)
Initiative doesn’t stay with one person, no matter the position, nor does it end when the original action is complete. As Lao Tzu put it 4500 years ago, “What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.” And butterflies go on to live another whole life.
All actions should be valued, whether great or small. After all, without the humble caterpillar there would be no butterfly.
But my favorite view of initiative comes from Holbrook Jackson when he said, “Genius is initiative on fire.”
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