Take The First Step
Bud / 
35 Comments / 
February 22nd, 2010 / 
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Lately I’ve been lying in my bed staying up late just thinking about the concept of success. What makes a person successful? What separates the big boys from the wannabes? Is there a ‘formula’ to creating the life that you desire? Pondering these questions has literally made my head spin, OK maybe not literally but you get the point.
Success obviously means different things to different people but the purpose of today isn’t to define success, I’ll save that for a later blog post. The grounds of todays post is to explore what it is that allows people to thrive in all areas of their life.
The “Secret” To Success
I told myself I’d avoid using the word “secret” today, as I’m hesitant to use a word that holds such a misleading connotation, but for todays specific occasion I think I’ll make an exception. Ready?
The formula and secret to success is this: Initiative wins the race.
Before you roll your eyes and exclaim I stated the obvious, ask yourself “Am I taking initiative right now?” Odds are, you’re not taking as much as you should be.
In essence taking initiative means to take full responsibility for your current reality. If you want better relationships it’s up to you to create them. Want a healthier and sexier body? Those exercises don’t do themselves. Want to experience financial abundance? It’s up to you to create and market value.
Any shortage in your life is simply the result of a lack of initiative.
While taking initiative may seem too simple to be the illusive secret to success, I assure you it has worked for myself and millions of others.
The Belief of Entitlement and The Problem With Not Moving
So many people desire success yet so few are willing to put in the work. I can’t tell you how many people I know that feel that they are “entitled” to success just by being themselves. And while I honestly believe anyone can achieve prosperity it doesn’t just happen overnight. Success rarely just falls into your lap. Creating the life you want takes effort.
I like to look at action as the world’s greatest currency. The more action you take the more opportunity you have. If you sit on your butt and do nothing your bank account will eventually run out (in more ways than one). The great thing about the Bank of Action is that it has unlimited funds, the only requirement is that you move. Any area in which you lack you’re responsible to change.
Taking initiative doesn’t mean you can’t be content with the present moment, rather when you take initiative you’re being grateful for the opportunities in your life.
I used to think that I was “owed” success just for being myself, and when I held that mindset I constantly found myself unhappy. We enjoy success because of the work we put in to reach it. An easy victory rarely stays on the front of our mind, but when we win a battle through blood sweat and tears that journey remains forever ingrained in our heart.
When you sit back and wait for everything to fall into place you’re letting the world pass by. Lack of experiences occur from laziness.
Initiative Wins The Race
While growing up I rarely took initiative. I always relied on the effort of someone else. I wanted to be a good runner without training hard. I wanted to get good grades, but I’d instead sleep in class.
It took me a while before I realized how much power I was giving away. It wasn’t until I started blogging that I began to see how powerful taking initiative really is. I even notice the power of ambition in college. Three of my good buddies are tearing up the photography world because they are out there putting in the work that others are not.
It’s absolutely amazing what you can accomplish when you accept that you are fully responsible for your life.
It was because I took initiative and began connecting with personal development bloggers that I was able to become the main writer behind this site. It was because I took initiative that I was able to co-author Reality Switch. It was because I took initiative I’m able to share my passion for writing with thousands of people each day. I’m not saying this to brag but rather show the possibilities of what is possible if you have a desire. If I can do all this at 18 I know you can just as easily pursue your dreams as well.
Want to become an amazing writer? Connect with your favorite authors online and write everyday. Want to be the next best chef? Put the time in to learn how to cook. The only thing between your dreams and you is initiative.
The amount of resources we posses is extraordinary, deeming our once valid excuses worthless. With social media and information online you literally have the world at your finger tips.
As you begin to take more initiative you may notice how amazing it feels to be the creator of your reality. Follow that feeling. :)
Take The First Step
If you’re looking to change your life all you must do is take the first step. The path won’t always be smooth, but it’s better than doing nothing and sitting on your ass.
Tell that girl you think she’s cute. Go the extra mile for your project at work. Step outside your comfort zone and show that you’re ready to receive.
Take the first step, for only then will you begin to succeed.
Note: If you’re looking to learn the ins and outs of making money online I invite you to join the hundreds of others who have taken initiative here.
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Bud,
A wise post and a valuable reminder. Thinking, planning, and ruminating are all fine, but things really only start getting moving and getting interesting when we take real, tangible action.
I think that’s why success and productivity authors like David Allen and Neil Fiore talk (among others) endlessly about the importance of getting started.
-jack
I completely agree. There are many bloggers and writers that have said that you need to set your goals and believe in them, which are both very important, but it is the action that you take that is the important part.
And taking the first step is very good advice. Sometimes we don’t take that first step because we might be afraid of what comes after it, but very often, once you’ve taken that first step things just have a way of following on naturally. It’s only when you look back that you realise you didn’t need to be scared of that first step!
Great post Bud!
x
Thanks for the comment Elyse!
Taking the first step is always scary but the more steps you take the more mature you become.
Hi Bud,
Nice post! Indeed, it is a ‘roll-eyes-heard-before’ post, but different than the other ones. And hearing something again, asking yourself questions again, is definitly not a bad idea!
Taking initiative seperates the boys from the men, and you are a man now!
Will you send me an email soon?
Hey Stefan!
It usually takes people several times to grasp a simple topic. Therefor repeatedly reminding yourself to take action can help keep you on course.
I’ll throw you an email as soon as I can.
That is so true! You will never succeed if you never take the first step and try. But then again, that is a lot of times where people stop – success also takes persistence and effort!
You can’t persist and put in effort if you don’t take the first step
Hey Bud,
I like how you focus a lot on actually taking action. Too many times we hear various words just thrown around i.e. courage, perseverance, integrity, etc. but it all means nothing unless there is action. I feel that action in itself will put you ahead of 90% of the population that is too afraid to do what they want.
So what has had you thinking about success lately? Has it been in regards to your own success?
Take care,
Ben
Ben.. I hope to follow up with another post on the definition of success. I’d love to hear what other people think it is.
Nice post. Spot on that initiative wins the race. So many of my successful adventures came from a gut initiative I couldn’t explain. Teams with my willingness to do anything anyway, it was always inevitable.
Glad to hear you’ve had so much success mate.
There are much talk about secrets of success but sometimes as mentioned in this post, success is just showing up and taking action.
Absolutely man.
The “secrets” are the simple part. Doing them on a routine basis now that’s where the difficulty lies.
You’re right. Initiative and personal responsibility are too often lacking. It’s also been my experience that we too often keep our goals (when we even take the time to set them!) in large chunks. Initiative becomes easier to take when we break things down into smaller steps. this allows us some success along the way and allows us to more readily adjust course because of the regular feedback.
Hey Hans! Thanks for stopping by!
90 percent of success is showing up.
Hey Bud!
That is indeed the secret to success – Taking Action. I was actually walking to a few people about it this week, you can read all you want and you can try to master the theory of everything, but without taking action and risking failure and making mistakes, you will never really get anywhere.
Even Albert Einstein made hundreds of mistakes before he made an amazing discovery. Every successful person has had hundreds of mini setbacks or resistances that they have had to overcome in order to achieve where they are today.
I don’t know how you can encourage everyone to take action. I’m sure that out of all the thousands of readers across the world who subscribe to personal development blogs like yours and mine, the vast majority will not seriously apply the principles of what they read and take action to change their lives for the better.
Great post!
Diggy
You were walking on a few people this week man? =P
Yeah man. About the personal development blogs.. Sometimes it actually holds people back. They get in the habit of thinking they can’t take action until they read the latest post. Which isn’t true at all. As Glen noted before.. you should only read personal development blogs after you’ve taken action for the day.
We can change that man. And direct people to take action!
another great, simple-but-true article from you!
and also, many thanks for sharing that “Glen’s tips” above!
I guess I fall too many times under that ‘reading-too-much-and-lack-action’ mistake, and after this, I’ll try to fix this, and just DO it!
Good post Bud. Taking the first step is often the hardest part. We often become complacent in our lives and new ideas don’t have the opportunity to flourish. Taking that first step can set those ideas free. Then we become free to follow our dreams.
Very true – I think it is sometimes easy to fool ourselves that we can achieve things without action! Good reminder – just do it!
I <3 you Jen
Taking the first step is hugely essential for success in anything.
But is it really the “secret” to success?
If you ask me, the “secret” has a different name: persistence.
Take only the first step- or even the first dozen- and you probably won’t get to where you want to go. So I think the true currency is not so much in taking the first step, but in taking every step thereafter- which is often where the real challenge lies.
I think we are fundamentally expressing the same thing- put in the work- but with different language. Just thought I’d lend my thought to the conversation.
Hey Travis. I totally agree with you. But here’s the thing.. you can’t perserve unless you get off your ass first.
Thanks for adding to the conversation.
Taking action is fine, but what if it doesn’t get you anywhere? What if you’re taking the wrong action? What if you’re trying to make something work and it’s not meant to be? This is why many people are frustrated. Perhaps they’re not meant to be whatever it is they want to be but something better for the good of themselves and others.
Many of the spiritual gurus speak of taking “inspired action.” Unfortunately, people believe opportunity will actually knock upon their door. It doesn’t work that way — you must put yourself out there.
Very well said ’cause it’s not until we take command of the realm that we finally start taking control of our lives. I know it sounds cliche but it’s so true.
I love the “entitlement” part of your post. Some people just go through life although feeling entitled or feeling sorry for themselves. Guilty as charged
Reading material like yours helps keeping myself on track on this life journey of ours…!
Keep it up my friend,
A
You’re the man Arturo.
Don’t rely on my work buddy. You can have everything you desire.
It’s a good addition the old adage ‘slow and steady wins the race’. I like taking that adage when I want to plan strategies. It is very important to have initiative included.
I have to agree Rebecca here. I envy all of you guys, who seem to have so clearly set goals. Most of the times, all I know is what I DON’T want. I am very often paralyzed by the bloody paradox of choice. Maybe you’re right, maybe it is better a “shoot-and-aim” approach, and seeing how it goes. Great post, thank you.
Agreed one hundred percent, the only time things have ever worked for me is when I take the initiative, be it guest posting, going after a big client or whatever else… good post!
I totally agree with you. In order to become successful we have to take action. As a result we will grow personally which definitely means that we will challenge ourselves more and more.
Btw. it’s funny how you mention that you need to go the extra mile. Just wrote about it in my most recent article
A very well written and useful post!
The first step is a precondition of every success
There was a saying that i’ve first read when i was about 7 years old
“A journey of a thousand Miles, Begins with a Single Step”.
And in the course of my life, there alot alot of “First steps” that i find myself, happy and there are aslo some steps i took that left me disappointed. But this is true that, we should always be willing to take the first step, and what we need to be careful of is to think carefully of where to go, and what direction we heading.