This document discusses the importance of initiative and focus. It states that initiative activates talent and is the first step to achieving goals and seizing opportunities. Initiative helps overcome difficulties and is often the difference between success and failure. It provides suggestions for becoming more initiative such as accepting responsibility, examining reasons for lack of action, and breaking large goals into smaller tasks. The document also discusses the importance of focus for directing talent towards potential. It says focus increases energy and lifts people up. Developing focus requires being intentional, challenging excuses, and focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses.

1. Talent Plus Initiative and Focus Lesson 2 Talent is Never Enough Series

2. Initiative activates your talent Talent plus people understand the importance of the first step. They don’t wait for all conditions to be perfect to move forward. They take action.

3. Reasons why initiative is important Initiative is the first step to your destination. Initiative slams the door on fear. Initiative opens the door to opportunity . Initiative helps us overcome life’s difficulties. Initiative is often the difference between success and failure.

4. Are you waiting to take action on any of these situations A decision you should be making A problem you should be solving A possibility you should be examining A project you should be starting. A goal you should be reaching. An opportunity you should be seizing

5. Are you waiting to take action on any of these situations A friendship you should be activating. A partnership you should be building.

6. 4 kinds of people People who do the right thing without being told. People who do the right thing when told. People who do the right thing when told more than once. People who never do the right thing, no matter what.

7. Why people don’t take actions? People who lack initiative fail to see the consequences of inaction. People who lack initiative want someone else to motivate them. People who lack initiative are looking for the perfect time to act. People who lack initiative are in love with tomorrow.

8. Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to lazy person

9. Discussion Take some time to discuss the areas in your life where you need to have more initiative . What are some reasons why you procrastinate?

10. Suggestions to become a person with initiative: Accept responsibility for your life. Examine your reasons for not taking action. Focus on the benefits of completing a task. Ask a friend to help you reach your goals. Allocate specific time to talks that are difficult or unpleasant.

11. Suggestions to become a person with initiative: 6. Break large task down into smaller ones.

12. Steps to break a large goal into manageable parts: Divide it by categories that require certain skills. Prioritize it by importance. Establish deadlines Delegate it according to abilities. Accomplish it by teamwork.

13. The hardest part is getting started. It is the start that often stops people. You must take action in order to become who you desire to be. Desires, good intentions and talent are not enough. SUCCESS requires initiative.

14. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

15. The Ant and the Sluggard 6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs ( 6:6-11)

16. Lessons from the ants: Ants don’t need a boss to tell them to get started. Ants work hard and need no one to force them to keep working. Ants don’t waste opportunities to take action. Ants understand that their actions have consequences.

17. Focus Directs Your Talent

18. Focus is essential for anyone who wants to make most of his talents. Having talents without focus is like being an octopus on roller skates. Talent with focus gives direction for you to reach your potential.

19. Facts about focus: Focus does not come naturally to most people. Focus increases your energy. Focus lifts you. Focus expands your life. Focus must be intentionally sustained.

20. Remember ! The mind doesn’t reach toward achievement until it has clear objectives . Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will drain the life out of you. Success is a process. It takes time. Anytime you are engaged in a process , focus is essential.

21. How to develop focus ? Be intentional - make every action count. Challenge your excuses. Don’t let yesterday consume all of your attention. Focus on the present. Stay focused on results.

22. How to develop focus ? 6. Develop and follow your priorities. 7. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses. 8. Delay rewards until the job is completed.

23. Remember ! You can’t change yesterday , and you can’t count on tomorrow. You can choose what you do today. Giving today your focus will pay dividends tomorrow.

24. Biblical Case Study: Jesus ( Luke 9:51-62) It could be seen in His face It could be seen in the preparation for His journey. It could be seen in His commitment to His life purpose. It could be seen in His resolve to complete His God-given mission.