The Power of Initiative: Taking Action Without Waiting for Permission

Initiative is the ability to recognize what needs to be done and take action without waiting for instructions. It is the difference between those who wait for opportunities and those who create them. People with initiative don’t make excuses—they solve problems, push forward, and turn ideas into reality. Here are five insightful quotes about initiative, paired with a true story that proves why it is one of the most powerful virtues in life.

A True Story: The Initiative of Madam C.J. Walker

In the late 1800s, Sarah Breedlove—later known as Madam C.J. Walker—was born to formerly enslaved parents. She worked as a washerwoman, earning barely enough to survive. But instead of accepting her circumstances, she took initiative.

She noticed that many Black women, including herself, suffered from scalp conditions due to poor hair care products. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem, she experimented with homemade remedies and developed her own hair care line. She traveled the country selling her products, training saleswomen, and growing her business into a massive success.

By the early 1900s, she became the first self-made female millionaire in America. Her initiative didn’t just change her life—it created jobs, empowered Black women, and revolutionized the hair care industry.

Her story proves that success doesn’t come to those who wait—it comes to those who take action.

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote about initiative in the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the need to act in the face of injustice.

Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations.

~ Thomas Jefferson

In 1855, Henry David Thoreau wrote about initiative in Walden, urging people to take control of their own destinies.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

~ Henry David Thoreau

In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt spoke about initiative in his Man in the Arena speech, calling people to action rather than passive criticism.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

~ Theodore Roosevelt

In 1983, Steve Jobs reflected on initiative in an interview, describing how taking action leads to opportunities.

The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

~ Steve Jobs

In 2017, Melinda Gates wrote about initiative in The Moment of Lift, explaining how small actions lead to big change.

If you want to lift up humanity, start by lifting one person.

~ Melinda Gates

Life Lesson:

Initiative is the key to success. Without it, ideas remain unfulfilled, problems go unsolved, and dreams never become reality. Madam C.J. Walker’s story shows that those who take initiative create opportunities not just for themselves, but for others. Stop waiting for the perfect time, the right approval, or someone else to take the lead. Take action today—because the future belongs to those who dare to make things happen.