If there’s one thing we remember from the great Maya Angelou, it’s that if we don’t like something happening in our life, we need to change it. And if you can’t change it, you have to change the way you think about it. Whether it’s relationships, career or even maintaining social circles, taking initiative is essential if we want to succeed. When you show initiative, you do things without being told. You harness the strength of what you know and utilize it towards your advantage to keep things going when they get tough. Simply put, initiative is more action than reaction, and if you push yourself little by little each day, you can improve your circumstances.