In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey taught that to begin with the end in mind is to start with a clear understanding of your target. Begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired outcome, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.

In Lewis Carroll’s book, Alice In Wonderland, Alice runs into a fork in the road and asks the Cheshire cat for advice on which way she should take.

The cat says, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” 

“I don’t much care where,” replies Alice. 

The cat then responds, “Well then, it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

True leaders are highly proactive in their efforts. They chart a course for their desired outcome and make preparations to get there. Being proactive requires someone to start before they are forced to. Great leaders do not need to be told to get moving. It wasn’t raining when Noah began to build the ark, he prepared in advance. If he would have waited to act only when the rain started falling, he would not have been ready for the flood. Leadership requires a strong sense of direction and intentionality. Coach John Wooden said, “When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” When a team is ready for action, they are ready for opportunity. A friend of mine once told me, “You can be an overnight success after 20 years of hard work.” Preparing to win will get you much closer to actually winning. Those who have a vision for the future and harness the drive to act are those who will be prepared for the future when it comes. Having vision with no action to accompany it is nothing more than simply daydreaming. Leaders are dreamers, but they know when to wake up and start turning the dream into a reality. It takes a person of action to get going and do what they need to do to move forward. There is a big difference between doers and don’ters. Doers make things happen, and are people of action. Don’ters make reasons for why things didn’t happen, they are people of excuses. President Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent.”