Whether you love or hate them, some of the most iconic symbols of America are: Ford, McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola and Walmart.  These powerful images are recognized in every country on the planet, and are synonymous with the term Capitalism – a swear word in many countries. In the west too, there is an ignorance as to the meaning of the word, but without it, North America would not be the business center of the planet.

Dictionary.com defines capitalism as: an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.

Many today have the misinformed impression that Capitalism is a form of government or only pertains to mega-corporations that have the intention of taking over and becoming monopolies. Although it is true that there are companies like Walmart & McDonalds that seem to have more power than governments and make up their own rules as they grow, Capitalism represents the freedom to enterprise – to determine your own destiny based on how hard you work, how smart you work, and how well you net-work. America was forged by entrepreneurs – not employees, and all too often we forget this fact.  Capitalism stimulates creativity; socialism (which America already has) creates an atmosphere of only entitlement.

Although we say we hate the idea of large corporations taking over, all of these massive conglomerates were once – one person with a big idea. As a matter of fact, you can say that about nearly every business that you drive by on your way to work. As controversial as it is, the Playboy Bunny is one of the longest standing icons of entrepreneurism in America. Even McDonalds had a small beginning at one time. They just made a whole lot more good decisions than bad ones, which is why they are where they are today.

Your business could also one day go from one employee to 1000 if you too kept the vision to do so ever before you. If you don’t want to, shame on you for thinking so selfishly. Capitalists create jobs which feed families; they produce commerce to keep the economy going; and create new inventions to improve the quality of life for people all around the globe. Why wouldn’t you want to make the biggest impact you could in making this world a better place than how you found it?!

Every day we lose more and more of our freedoms because of Government Policies that have the pretense of being for the benefit of the public. We give up our rights, for social programs that cost us more than we realize, and our children pay the biggest price. We forget how hard our fore-fathers fought for the freedom to enterprise without tyranny and interference. More and more of us are turning to the false sense of security of a steady paycheck with a big company than to stick it out hold on to their dreams. Will you be next? I hope not!

Now more than ever, our nations need us to be successful in business. Small businesses employ far more people than all the big corporations combined. If everyone worked for the government, who would pay their salaries? Who would cut grass, clean houses, drive trucks, run restaurants, pump grass, build homes, design better software, grow food, service appliance, and a million other things?

Today aroung the globe, it seems like there are no more borders around countries, and major corporations have become the nations – without borders, often getting away with breaking the law. JD Rockefeller said “competition is sin” – only true to someone who desires to monopolize an industry, or create a cartel. Competition keeps prices in check, quality high, and allows the company with the better customer service to excel.

The successful entrepreneur is one of the most endangered species of our time, and it is up to us to see its survival. If not you than who? If not now, then when? Start today, and do not despise small beginnings. One day your brand could represent America! If you are already in business, congratulations and thank you for staying the course. You are paving the way for generations to come, to keep America standing on the foundation it was built on – Freedom!

Initiative is a trait that all successful Entrepreneurs and upper managers possess, and it is an essential characteristic to excelling in life. Initiative is what drives the movers & shakers of this world, and if you possess even a little more initiative than the average person, you will accomplish much more than you ever dreamed imaginable.

Perhaps you’ve had a boss tell you that you need to take more initiative at your job, or maybe your parents told you that you needed to take more initiative with your homework, when you were younger. In any case, we automatically feel threatened by the comment, and usually we make it to mean someone thinks we’re lazy or maybe stupid. The fact is, we are all motivated by something – to get someone to take initiative is to work with what motivated them. All great leaders know this about human nature.

Like outstanding Customer Service skills, Initiative is something people either have or they don’t: my wife did something for her boss before she was even hired and he said “You can’t buy initiative like that!” Initiative is a word found on every resume, and everyone claims to have it, but very few people actually live it. People who have these instincts just seem to navigate through certain situations with ease, like a foo-foo dust has sprinkled on them and they just know how to charm others and seize opportunities.

Roget’s Thesaurus lists Initiative as: An aggressive readiness along with energy (drive) to undertake taxing efforts. Synonyms: enterprise, hustle, punch.

If you don’t have initiative, your employees won’t either, because the speed of the group is determined by the speed of the leader (John Maxwell’s “The Law of the Lid”). Stop expecting it to come from others, and take the darn initiative to develop it yourself. If you want to learn how to develop initiative, start by reading the short book: “The Go-Getter,” and work for someone who has an aggressive, creative drive to excel, It may eventually become instinctive to you too.

Larry Winget is a staunch supporter of entrepreneurial initiative. When he was asked what an employee could do to be successful (which also applies to business owners) he replied: “Do what ya say you’re gonna do, when ya say you’re gonna do it, for the amount ya say you’re gonna do it for.” Follow this strategy, and customers will remember how you treated them with such integrity, and they will trust you with repeat business. This demonstrated a responsibility that is unparalleled in business today.

Some examples of taking initiative are:
1)    Starting a group at your work or in your community to improve a situation or offer support
2)    Recognizing and capitalizing on opportunities as they arise rather than procrastinating.
3)    Anticipating & preparing for changes rather than allowing things to happen to you.
4)    Suggesting & implementing new ideas or projects that will improve the outcome of circumstances that do not necessarily benefit you directly.
5)    Contacting a person you have had a strained relationship with for the purpose of improving the communication and dealing with the situation for mutual benefit.

Examples like these demonstrate that you have a mind of your own and do not wait around to receive orders. You see something that needs doing and you do it without being asked (like a husband who does the dishes and takes out the garbage without waiting for his wife’s prompting). The outcome is a direct result of your taking ACTION. Initiative does not refer to the first person who THOUGHT of a better mousetrap, but the person who actually built it and sold it -took ACTION on it.

You see a problem. You fix it – without waiting for orders from someone above you. Or, if you do not have the authority to make the changes directly, you present the ideas to your superiors and offer to assist in implementing the improvements. Even if the proper steps were not taken, you still may be recognized for having had initiative. Business Leaders get excited about those they see having this trait, and there Is no faster way to be considered for a promotion than by demonstrating a consistent ability to recognize new opportunities. Don’t freak out if your ideas are stolen from time to time- a person showing consistent initiative will eventually become known as having this ability.

In organizations that are heavily bureaucratic, initiative may be something that is resisted because it may involve changes that cause discomfort or fear in others. If you face a consistent resistance to your initiative, it may be a sign that your ideas may need some fine tuning, or the way they are presented, or it may be a sign for you to move on to bigger and better things. It feels better to have your ideas accepted which is why so many people with initiative just decide to go it alone in their own business where customers will appreciate this rare ability. Go-getters would rather be creative than try to move a corporate rolling stone with too much momentum heading in the wrong direction. If you feel like this could be you, what are you waiting for? Take initiative and start your own business today!