by Rick Baker
On Feb 2, 2012
INITIATE.
Few people excel at it.
Why?
Probably because, at some point in their lives, they embraced once-burned-twice-shy thinking. Or maybe they succumbed to the criticism of some well-meaning authority figure.
Really, it doesn't matter why many people struggle to INITIATE.
What matters is, regardless of the past, people can learn how to overcome their reluctance to INITIATE.
Here are a couple of suggestions on how to help people INITIATE:
- Understand, at least, the basics about the human brain. Understand the executive functions of the brain1. Understand, INITIATE is one of the executive functions. For the most part, our brains operate along habit lines. INITIATE can be a habit. Or, it can not be a habit. That's a matter of choice. Like any other habit, it takes time to build the INITIATE habit.
- Give yourself an INITIATE pep talk...or, better still, let Seth Godin2 give you an INITIATE pep talk. Check out his recent audio-book 'Poke The Box'. In this book, Seth champions a new way to do business under 7 Imperatives3. Seth puts INITIATIVE at the top of the list of his 7 Imperatives.
And, of course, practice INITIATIVE...focus...think...make decisions...take
Actions.
Sure, you will make more mistakes...that's the way to learn.
INITIATE: that INSPIRES people!
Footnotes:
- A link to an article about Executive BrainSmartsTM INITIATE.
- A link to Seth Godin's video-introduction to his 2011 book 'Poke The Box'
- Seth Godin's 7 Imperatives: (1) Be aware of the Market, (2) Be Educated, (3) Be Connected so People Trust you, (4) Be Consistent, (5) Build an Asset, (6) Be Productive, & most-important (7) Take INITIATIVE.