Are you ready to make this year your most successful ever? Discover the Four Levels of Initiative that set high-achievers apart from the crowd, and learn how just a single shift in your daily habits can move you closer to your goals.

Business owners and leaders who cultivate initiative consistently outperform their peers. It's not just about getting things done — it's about choosing the right actions and creating purposeful momentum.

Understand the difference between movement for movement's sake and intentional growth, and see why building initiative is essential for anyone who wants to lead rather than follow.

What You Need to Know

• Initiative isn't just starting; it's about assessing, planning, and then acting. The best leaders combine initiative with influence, creating real impact rather than simply going through the motions.
• There are four levels of initiative:

1. Doing the right thing without being told
2. Doing the right thing when told once
3. Acting only when necessity pushes you (often while recounting a hard luck story)
4. Not acting, even with guidance and supervision

• Most people spend their time at level three, waiting until circumstances force action — and miss out on opportunities just inches from success.
• The habit of initiative is rare but learnable. Top performers (the 5%) consistently operate at level one, while the majority, the 80%, linger in level three.

What You Need to Do

1. Reflect on which level of initiative you operate in most often.
2. Assess your goals before jumping into action, making sure your movement is propelling you forward, not just keeping you busy.
3. Practice doing things without waiting to be told or pushed by urgent circumstances.
4. Develop your self-confidence (last episode!) to fuel your willingness to step out of your comfort zone.
5. Avoid getting swept up in your own "hard luck story" and instead challenge yourself to take one small action toward your vision every single day.

Your Next Step

Listen to this episode of Success Habits for the New Year to hear Londina and Donna break down the Four Levels of Initiative.

Identify your current habit, use their strategies to move up just one level, and take one deliberate step today that you weren’t waiting to be asked for.

Remember: Leaders are made through initiative and purposeful action. Crossing that finish line might be just one hair’s breadth away!

👉 Grab free resources at DonnaKunde.com

👉 Learn how to maximize your impact with Londina.com

⭐ Like what you hear? Please review our show and share it with others!

02:42 Understanding Initiative and Leadership

04:30 Levels of Initiative

06:02 Building the Habit of Initiative

11:19 Conclusion and Next Steps