E12 The Success Habit of Initiative – Taking the Lead in Business & Life
- S2E12
- 13:00
- January 11th 2025
Take action even when no one tells you to. The single habit of initiative can transform routine workdays into meaningful stepping stones for your business and your life.
In this episode, Londina and Donna dig deep into how initiative builds momentum, creates influence, and leads to real leadership.
What you need to know
Initiative is more than doing your job—it’s about seeing what needs to be done and moving forward on it, even if it’s outside your comfort zone or not listed on your to-do list.
Procrastination is the hidden enemy here; conquering it means strengthening your habit of decisive action.
Londina and Donna share Napoleon Hill’s formula for building initiative: Do one thing each day that ought to be done without being told, find one new way to add value for someone else (without expecting anything in return), and share your journey of growth with someone else.
Initiative starts small but builds a foundation for both your business success and personal influence.
What you need to do
- Every day, choose a single task that really needs doing—don’t wait for someone to assign it, just go take action.
- Look around for one opportunity to add value for another person, expecting nothing in return.
- Tell at least one other person about your effort, so you’re not growing alone and can inspire someone else in the process.
- Remember: developing initiative happens in ordinary, daily work. Treat even the small things as practice for building this habit.
Your Next Step
Listen to the full building success habits series to keep expanding your tool set. Start sharing your progress and wins with someone you trust—don’t grow alone.
Next week, join us as the conversation shifts to the next cornerstone for success: enthusiasm.
Download the Initiative & Leadership Formula at donnakunde.com and print it out.
Commit to doing ONE thing daily that requires initiative. Small steps create big momentum!
✅ Look for ways to add value to others—without expecting anything in return.
✅ Listen to next week's episode on The Habit of Enthusiasm!
⭐ Enjoying this series? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!
01:09 Napoleon Hill's Formula for Initiative
02:02 The Power of One Definite Thing
03:43 Adding Value Without Expectation
04:53 Developing the Habit of Initiative
08:34 Positional vs. Personal Leadership
11:20 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics
Building Success Habits
“The more tranquil a person becomes, the greater is their success, their influence, their power for good.” James Allen
"Building Success Habits" is a podcast hosted by Donna Kunde (Business Coach) and Londina Cruz (Life Strategist). The show is all about sharing practical tips, strategies, and insights for building success habits in all areas of life.
This show was originally produced as hour-long radio content, later adapted into 4-episode Signature Season themes for podcast listeners.
The podcast explores a variety of success habits, including goal-setting, resilience, focus, and productivity. Each episode provides insights into how these habits can be developed and maintained, along with tips for staying motivated and on track.
In addition to success habits, the show covers personal development and mindset topics, such as overcoming limiting beliefs and cultivating a growth mindset. Donna and Londina share their own experiences and challenges in these areas, providing listeners with relatable examples and actionable advice.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or simply someone who wants to achieve more success in your personal and professional life, "Building Success Habits" offers inspiration and tools to help you achieve your goals and live a more fulfilling life.
Join Donna and Londina on this journey of self-discovery and growth, and learn how to build the success habits that will transform your life.
"When we begin to see the world from the inside out, life will happen through us instead of to us."
Donna Kunde is one of IBGR's founders and started her career in radio at WNTW on it's Sales 2020 Show. In her role as EVP Supply Management she is responsible for day-to-day station operations and the quality of programming - both show topics and OnAir Talent.
She is an internationally recognized Business Coach and Trainer bringing 20+ years’ experience in military leadership. Donna has been a serial entrepreneur for the last 25 years owning a range of businesses experiencing the unique challenges solopreneurs face with small business growth.
In addition to her entrepreneurial background, Donna brings 35 years of academic and applied cognitive and behavioral science experience to the IBGR Network. Her specialty is helping organizations navigate through change, challenge and tragedy. The combination of her intensive study of the mind, plus practical applications in human potential, Donna provides a unique perspective on leadership, personal growth, sales, communication, and team building.
A high point of Donna's training career happened when she accompanied Dr. John C. Maxwell and his team on a country transformation mission. At the request of the Costa Rican government, the Maxwell team successfully trained 15,000 Round Table facilitators in three days, resulting in a 2% transformation of that nation and projected to reach another 60,000 Costa Ricans the following week. Her trademark energetic communication style and teaching skills have earned her a reputation as a highly effective speaker and respected facilitator.
Londina Cruz is an International Trainer, Executive Coach, and Keynote Speaker with the John Maxwell Team and a Strategic Coach with Anthony Robbins. Londina is a part of Global Transformation with the John Maxwell Foundation, training thousands of leaders in Paraguay and Costa Rica to help transform the values and culture of these nations.
She has spent more than 25 years studying, coaching and consulting in personal mastery and human performance techniques. These techniques include emotional and social intelligence trainings that elevate individuals, leaders and their organizations to excel well beyond current standards – offering a dynamic competitive advantage.
Londina has taken a situation that would devastate most individuals, being hit by a drunk driver, and has turned it into her life force. In this accident, Londina sustained a traumatic head injury, broken back and broken neck. The doctors gave her little hope of a normal life. She has now turned this challenge into an extraordinary life of empowering others to turn their fears into freedom and reach their potential.
Mastering her limiting beliefs and overcoming all that doctors had told her, Londina has thrived physically as well.
She has become a Triathlete (competing in a Half-Ironman and medaling in numerous other triathlons), a two-time marathon runner (Nike Women’s in San Francisco and the Marine Corps in Washington), and a cyclist.
She has released 100 lbs. by taking control of her thoughts instead of allowing thoughts to control her.
She knows what it takes to take you and your team from where you are to where you want to be.
As a Certified Coach, Teacher and Speaker, I can offer you workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching, aiding your personal and professional growth through study and practical application of John’s proven leadership methods. Working together, I will move you and/or your team or organization in the desired direction to reach your goals.
Contact me. I am looking forward to assisting you on your journey to becoming a success in your life and/or business.