My career at P&G began with a program called "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Steven Covey. One of the habits emphasised was "Be Proactive". The easiest way to understand the word is that it is the opposite of reactive. However, as the years have passed..... I wonder does proactive makes you a better person....
To be proactive, clarify your values, do thorough research, and be ready for different actions. People often tell me I'm overthinking, pessimistic, or not being present when I suggest a way forward. My close friends and family saw it, so I can't even imagine what my work colleagues thought.
If I tell my family about possible outcomes, I may come across as a wet blanket. If I tell friends to watch about job pitfalls, I am not in touch with reality as I have not worked for anyone in a decade. In some ways I also realised that too much data makes me defensive and I could use it as a crutch for my arguments. The possibility of an interesting outcome is clouded by my own mind and narrows down what the outcomes could be.
Is it bad to be proactive? Manipulating or orchestrating a situation for personal gain is not always the most favorable outcome. Holding your thoughts becomes far more important than worrying about negative outcomes.
As an entrepreneur, I consider possible outcomes, but I lack resources and talent to achieve them. Time and again this limitation literally puts a cap on how far I can let my mind wander.
Proactive became a buzzword but the old Boy Scouts Motto "Be Prepared" is the forerunner to this idea. It is important to think, but it is equally important to know when to stop. Perhaps the difference between the definition of the word and its intent is why proactive will continue to be hyped. Have a good weekend and enjoy the moment.
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