MONDAY MUSE (29 August 2010)

TAKING INITIATIVE!

Training sessions are enhanced by the use of appropriate videos. One of 
personal favourites - a video created in 2007 as part of the Lead India 
Campaign launched by the Times of India Group – is an excellent example of 
‘taking initiative’. It can be easily viewed on the internet: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFs5vWxW-vc

The early morning traffic is blocked by a fallen tree. On either side, people 
await a solution to the problem. But a young child drops his school bag and 
ventures to push aside the big tree. The onlookers, one by one start joining 
him and together they are able to shift the obstacle. Obviously they were 
inspired by the initiative of the proactive child.  

Surely, the child did not have a false estimation of his own strengths and 
abilities. Yet he initiated action since it was needed. Taking initiative is 
not about measuring up to achievable tasks. Taking initiative is about taking 
up a worthwhile mission. It is about stepping out of our comfort zone and 
taking up the responsibility to set right a situation. Proactive persons do not 
wait for others to join their action… they show the way by taking initiative 
and thus inspire others to join along.

However, it is not enough to start off. A famous Buddha quote identifies two 
mistakes while walking the road (to truth)… one is not starting and the second 
is not going all the way. So many good initiatives are reduced to nought 
because people give up before the initiative is actualised. We must choose to 
be better at sustaining a continuous commitment to the initiative we take on or 
the one we join in. And we must overcome our own negative thoughts and doubts.

Let’s BE BETTER at taking initiative
By overcoming every looming negative!

- Pravin K. Sabnis



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora
Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11
am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed
copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts).
http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/

Reply via email to