Initiative is universal and intrinsic, it is something that can’t really be fulfilled unless it truly comes from within. So if we all have it, why don’t we all take advantage of it?

 

Why is it that some  of us need that ‘someone else’ to push us and/or keep us motivated while others will attempt to conquer the world on a whim, without consulting anyone. What is it that makes some of us so sure of ourselves that what we are setting out to do will work out? Then one can think that initiative isn’t just one-sided, but a multi-layered; a concept that is truly fulfilled with a special combination of attributes.

 

Take for instance Kunal Gupta, an Ottawa-Resident and University of Waterloo student. In his tender, early twenties he has made bountiful accomplishments, but what strikes me the most was his initiative to create: Impact. Impact Entrepreneurship is a student-run, non-profit group that has brought together students with entrepreneurial interests and spirit. Through networking, unique conferences and initiatives this group of people have made a mark in the entrepreneurial world, simply because of Kunal’s initiative to start a group like this. I had the pleasure of meeting Kunal once, in my early days of Impact. At the time I never realized how remarkable he was, his simple and relaxed vibe could have fooled anyone. Now that I have been involved with Impact for a couple of years, and am embarking on my own personal projects I would love to have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss what really made him go ahead and start Impact. Surely he didn’t think it would become Canada’s largest, student-run, non-profit organization in just a few short years. What inspired him? What made him think it was an idea that would ‘fly’? How did he go about starting it? Was he confident enough in his endeavor that he didn’t need to consult anyone? What were his doubts? What did he need to learn? With all these questions, it’s only natural to then ponder that initiative isn’t just made up of ‘coming up with an idea and running with it’. It takes determination and motivation to keep it going, it takes confidence to believe in your idea. It takes marketing and strategy to sell your idea to others, it takes customer relations to win people over, it takes networking and people skills to build a repertoire revolving around your concept. Now initiative doesn’t sound so simple, does it?

 

The funny thing about initiative is that even if you don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle, you can always learn. In my personal opinion I think the principal components of initiative are:

 

  • Having the intrinsic motivation to get off your butt and start it
  • Having determination to fulfill it
  • Believing in your idea, 100% whole-heartedly because if you don’t believe in it how are you going to win over the others?

 

Since we all have a bit of initiative in us, and the entire world is not made up of angry people with the right attitude and a hunger for delivering the idea, anyone can take the initiative to do anything. Where there is a will, there IS a way.

 

With his own mobile solutions company, Polar Mobile, Kunal Gupta I’m sure is more than just your typical ‘busy bee’ to answer my simple questions, but it really would be interesting to find out about his initiative, first hand.