The Uncomfortable Truth: Faith and Initiative Matter More Than Credentials or Authority

Years ago, the author was asked to launch a line of educational computer games, but had no team or authority—only an audacious vision and three borrowed programmers. Instead of waiting for formal resources, he started a newsletter detailing bold project goals and celebrating each small win. He photocopied it and placed it in every mailbox, slowly drawing in more talent. Suddenly, programmers volunteered their time just to be part of the movement. Soon, the office slept among scattered pizza boxes, pushing past exhaustion because of a belief in something greater than the routine grind.

Within a month, a dozen determined project members became thirty, and the project shipped on time. The movement’s spirit persisted long after the rush ended—team members still reminisce about it twenty years later. This origin story isn’t about status or titles. It rests on the science of intrinsic motivation: people are pulled not by external rewards, but by the emotional energy of a cause and the visible progress they make together.

Real leadership seldom begins with being 'in charge.' Acting with initiative, rooted in deeply held belief, transforms organizational inertia and personal limitations into contagious energy for change.

Right now, pick something you feel must be different—a cause, a system, or a practice that means something to you. Commit to acting on this conviction in a small, tangible way without waiting for approval from above. Publish your vision, create a basic resource, or gather just a couple of supporters. The prickly feeling of discomfort accompanying your action means you’re on the right path; growth always follows faith in motion. Don’t overthink—let your actions reflect your deepest belief and see who follows.