9781422277874

Leadership Skills & Character Building INITIATIVE, GRIT & PERSEVERANCE

TITLES IN THE SERIES

• Communication Skills • Initiative, Grit & Perseverance • Integrity & Honesty • Organization & Problem-Solving

• Self-Confidence • Self-Discipline & Responsibility • Tolerance & Cooperation

Leadership Skills & Character Building INITIATIVE, GRIT & PERSEVERANCE

Randy Charles

MASON CREST

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, Pennsylvania PA 19008 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll free)

Copyright © 2019 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN: 978-1-4222-3996-4 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3994-0 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7787-4

Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

QR CODES AND LINKS TO THIRD-PARTY CONTENT

You may gain access to certain third-party content (“Third- Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products, or services on such Third-Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third-Party Sites. Our linking to such Third-Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorsement or sponsorship of such Third-Party Sites or the information, products, or services offered on or through the Third-Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publication by the owners of such Third-Party Sites.

Cont ents

Introduction

6 9

Chapter One: What is Initiative, Grit & Perseverance?

Chapter Two: Goal Setting

15 21 29 37 45 53 58 60 61 62 64

Chapter Three: Controlling Projects Chapter Four: Self-Starting & Self-Control

Chapter Five: Research & Ideas

Time Management

Chapter Six:

Chapter Seven: Starting & Finishing Successfully

Series Glossary of Key Terms

Further Reading & Internet Resources

Organizations to Contact

Index

Picture Credits & About the Author

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills.

Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there.

Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis.

Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout the series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

The most effective leaders have a combination of intellectual intelligence (IQ), technical skills, and emotional intelligence (EI). Emotional intelligence is an essential ingredient. EI is the act of knowing, understanding, and responding to emotions, overcoming stress in the moment, and being aware of how your words and actions affect others. Emotional intelligence consists of five attributes: self-awareness, self-management, empathy, motivation, and effective communication. INTRODUCTION: INSPIRATION TO THE READER

The Unrelenting Athlete “I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why

I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

The Bold Poets

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou “What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” – Bob Dylan

6

Initiative, Grit & Perseverance Becoming more confident as a leader in any capacity will help you inspire others and set a positive example. Gaining confidence in yourself, and finding more joy and peace of mind as you go about life, will help you handle all the successes, challenges, and setbacks along the way. Inside the pages of this book we will discuss all the components to improving your leadership skills, bringing you more confidence and building your character to become the leader you want to be some day.

The Inspiring Creators

“Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.” – Henry Ford

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

The Captivating Writer

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

7

Words to Understand character: moral or ethical quality; reputation initiative: an introductory act or step; leading action

perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, in spite of difficulties or discouragement

An out-of-control kitchen fire jeopardized Rosewood Academy drama club’s annual play, Into the Woods .

8

Chapter One WHAT IS INITIATIVE, GRIT & PERSEVERANCE?

A re people born leaders or can they develop great leadership skills? We believe leadership skills can be learned. In fact, they may even be contagious. John Maxwell said, “Leaders become great not because of their power but because of their ability to empower others.” The Rosewood Academy drama club planned to host their annual school play as usual. This year, however, the success of the production took on a more personal nature. Two weeks before opening night, an out-of-control kitchen fire led to the drama club director being hospitalized with severe burns. To make matters worse, his family home was completely destroyed. Under the circumstances, the local community would have understood the club

passing on this year’s production, Into the Woods . They were of short a director, and the mood of the cast and crew was somber. Eighth grader and member of the Rosewood drama club, Jared Klein, refused to let the play fall through, however. He begged his older sister, a college theater major, to step into the role of director. Jared’s frantic act to save the school play inspired another classmate to organize the printing of special Into the Woods t-shirts. In the end, the opening night was a major success. Plus, the t-shirts were a hit with the students and parents. The proceeds from the t-shirt sales, along with a good

portion of the money raised from admission fees, were presented to the recovering director and his family. All in all, one student’s resourceful thinking spread like wildfire, allowing the drama club at Rosewood Academy to host their annual play and raise money for a worthy cause.

With some quick thinking, a teen managed to save a drama club’s play.

What is Initiative, Grit & Perseverance?

While it is important to be assertive, it is also crucial to consider the views of people you trust. When making big decisions, take your time to consider all of the options available.

Tips to Improve Your Initiative • Be the first to adopt new ideas. • Search for better ways of doing things. • Try to simplify a process. • Try to reduce costs if possible. • Work with friends and colleagues to solve problems.

• Think ahead. • Do your research before taking action. • Deal with problems immediately. • Spot good opportunities.

10

Initiative, Grit & Perseverance

Initiative Starts with “I” Although Jared’s story may seem like a one- off, it’s not. Initiative is a key characteristic of great leadership. Stepping forward and leading by example can even empower others to do the same. Therefore, taking the initiative has the potential to create not just one leader, but many. According to researchers, a person takes initiative because they see a gap that needs filling or a problem that requires solving. They don’t sit around and twiddle their thumbs hoping that someone else will fix things. They use their knowledge and resources to make change happen. In Jared’s case, for instance, his club needed a director to make the play a success. Think of all the great movements in world history that inspired change. These movements were sparked by the inspired actions of a few. These men and women were those who noticed a gap in

Martin Luther King Jr. is most famous for his "I Have a Dream" speech, given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

understanding or a problem that needed resolving—Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Abraham Lincoln, even Christopher Columbus—all of them inspired others by being self-starters themselves. Although these movements may have eventually grown to include hundreds or thousands, they started with a brave “I.” Toughing It Out: Perseverance Perseverance is yet another trait of the good leader. Choose from any of the inspiring leaders above and consider their unique stories. Surely, they earned their place in history because they were courageous and committed to their causes.

11

What is Initiative, Grit & Perseverance?

Poverty to Wealth: Stephen King Wildly successful, best-selling author Stephen King knows a thing or two about perseverance. He famously hung early rejection letters from publishers on his wall with a nail. The pile grew so large that he had to replace the nail with a spike. When he sat down to write Carrie , his first major success, his discouragement led him to ball up the manuscript and toss it in the trash. Fortunately, his wife found the discarded story and persuaded him to finish it. Carrie became a huge success and was eventually turned into a Hollywood film.

A closer look, however, will reveal a common thread. Most leaders must withstand great forces, both internally and externally, in order to make an impact. In other words, they must be willing to fail, get back up again, dust themselves off, and carry on. They must persevere in their cause. If Martin Luther King Jr. had backed down the first time he was called an ugly name or threatened, blacks may have never achieved equal rights in America. We all know that getting a quality education increases our odds of obtaining success in our careers—it’s an established fact that education and experience are associated with leadership. Surprisingly, however, a recent study shows that among noncognitive abilities (meaning those not related to intelligence), a high level of perseverance is more common in leaders. Why? People respect and are more likely to want to follow someone who has staying power. A leader is someone who is steadfast in their mission. They press on despite the odds or the forces they face. Take our friend Jared, for example.

12

Initiative, Grit & Perseverance

Had he not persisted in begging his sister to serve as director, the play may have never happened. Many important traits are needed to build character and become a great leader. Initiative and perseverance are perhaps the ones that are the simplest to master. They simply require taking action when no one else does, and staying committed to the goal over time despite obstacles or lack of support.

Building a good character should begin early. While academic work should take priority, it is crucial for students to take part in sports or join clubs and societies to help develop their personalities further.

Text-Dependent Questions 1. What necessary component is required for a leader to take initiative? 2. What qualities are important for those who persevere? 3. Why was it so difficult for Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for his cause? Research Project Pick a celebrity, politician, or famous person who had a tough start in life. Write a one-page biography on their life and describe what they had to do to become successful.

13

Words to Understand fruition: the point when a plan or project is realized or completed immediate: something that is nearest in time, relationship, or rank priority: something that is regarded as more important than another

Plan the steps you must take to realize your goals, working through them one at a time.

14

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker