TAKING THE INITIATIVE

 John Maxwell, in his book Talent Is Never Enough, said:

“People who take initiative and work hard may succeed, or they may fail. But anyone who doesn't take initiative is almost guaranteed to fail.”

As a child, whenever I struggled with something or didn’t know how to approach a task, my mum would often say, “Can’t you use your initiative?” Or, if I asked her what she considered an unnecessary question, she’d respond, “Omo yii, lo initiative ti Olorun fun e” (you this girl, use the initiative God gave you).

Back then, I thought it was pure wickedness. I mean, why not just tell me what to do instead of watching me fumble? Why let me make mistakes when she could simply make things easier? Eventually, she’d help me—but only after I had tried and my efforts failed.

Looking back now, I realize it wasn’t wickedness. She was training me for adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it. Growth requires taking the initiative, and life favors those who dare to step forward without waiting for someone else to show the way.

Why don’t people take the initiative?

Often, it boils down to fear of responsibility. Taking the first step means accepting that things might go wrong—and if they do, you’ll be accountable. So, instead, people wait for instructions, ensuring that when failure comes, someone else takes the blame.

But as John Maxwell highlights, the benefits of taking initiative far outweigh the risks:

• It is the first step to anywhere you want to go.
• It opens the door to opportunity.
• It eases life’s difficulties.
• It closes the door to fear.
• It is often the difference between success and failure.

The choice is yours: Will you step out and take the initiative or wait for life to happen to you?