Be Proactive
Adam Grant has been the top-rated professor at Wharton College for the last seven years. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of six books, which have sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 different languages. He’s also earned the #2 spot on Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list and has been called the second most influential management thinker.
In his book “Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things,” Grant recounts a study from the late 1980s. Through research, a group of Tennessee teachers identified four skills students could pick up in kindergarten that would contribute to greater success later in life. The first trait on their list was the skill of being proactive, which, in the case of these kindergarten students, involved taking the initiative by asking questions, volunteering answers, looking for information in books, and talking with teachers outside of class in an attempt to learn more (see Chapter One of “Hidden Potential” for more on this study).
This idea is especially relevant today as we prepare to pause our blog entries for the next few months. As you may have heard, we’re preparing for a major construction project at our restaurant. Although we’re excited to revamp our current space to serve our customers better, we must pause some of our regular initiatives when our restaurant is closed.
For the next few months, you won’t see new Pursuit blog post entries. However, I hope this doesn’t slow down your individual pursuit of greater growth and development. While we won’t have fresh content for you here, you can take charge of your own learning during this time. As you do so, you won’t just be growing your knowledge, but you’ll be honing your level of proactivity, a key skill that can benefit you in many different areas of your life.
There are many great resources out there, but I’ll provide a few of my favorite suggestions here. First of all, if you haven’t already read my book, “The Never-Ending Pursuit,” this would be a great time to pick up a copy. This book is based on some of the work we’ve done for this blog in the past, so if you enjoy reading my weekly posts here, you’re going to love this book.
I’d also encourage you to check out the resources put together by my friends at Proven Results Mentoring. My former pastor and close friend, Shawn Lyons, is doing awesome work over there. You can buy his book “The Abide Factor,” as well as his new Proven Results student workbook, on Amazon.
Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of regular time in Scripture and prayer. You’ll be exposed to many Biblical passages and stories in each of the resources I mentioned above, but there is no adequate replacement for spending your own time in God’s word. I am amazed at what God teaches me each time I open my Bible and give Him space to speak into my life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us that God’s word is living, and I’m reminded of this truth each time I open His word and listen to what He has to say to me.
I will be praying for each person who reads this blog over the next few months, and I look forward to returning to our regular routine of weekly blog posts soon!