A job well begun is half done. — Proverb
Having initiative means that you recognize what needs to be done and do it before being asked, whether working alone or on a team. It means that you are investing in your future by being faithful to a daily plan; little by little that investment multiplies, like pennies in the bank, until one day you are enriched.
Encourage initiative in your family by saying these “I will” statements aloud with your children and helping to apply these statements to situations in everyday life.
I will:
- think ahead
- look for ways to help others
- volunteer
- make the whole team successful
- lead by example.
Read about initiative to bring the lesson home to your kids. Ann Meeks and Barb Johnson, librarians at the Belle Isle Library in Oklahoma City suggest:
- Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud teaches kids ages 4+ about how rewarding positive behavior can be.
- The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books for middle grade readers feature Percy stepping up to be the hero for his friends and family.
I will statements courtesy of Character First, www.characterfirst.com.
