Poke the Box

Let’s begin our journey with a gentle breath—a moment to recognize the quiet, persistent urge inside us to do something new. In this world of endless routines and relentless demands, it’s easy to forget the power of simply starting. But in this first section, I invite you to imagine a world where the most precious commodity is not money, talent, or even knowledge, but initiative. Initiative is the spark that sets everything else in motion. It’s the rare energy that transforms ideas into action, dreams into reality.

Think for a moment about all the systems around us—schools, companies, even families. Most are built to reward compliance, to encourage us to follow instructions, check boxes, and wait our turn. Yet, all the stories we admire—those of innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers—begin with someone who simply decided to start. Not because they had permission, not because they were chosen, but because they saw a gap and leapt into it. The world isn’t changed by those who wait to be picked; it’s changed by those who pick themselves.

Consider the tale of a young woman working at a nonprofit, who called her boss one day and declared, “I’ve got an idea, and I’m going to start working on it tomorrow.” She didn’t wait for a green light or a committee meeting—she acted. That moment didn’t just change her; it changed her organization and the people it served. This is the power of starting. It’s not the idea that matters most, but the posture of action.

In today’s connected economy, the barriers to entry have fallen. Access to tools, information, and even capital is easier than ever. What’s scarce is the willingness to say 'go.' The author calls this the seventh imperative—after awareness, education, connection, consistency, asset-building, and productivity, comes the courage to start. You can master all the others and still fail if you never take the leap. Without the spark of initiative, we are doomed to react rather than create.

Think of organizations you admire. What sets them apart isn’t just their processes or products—it’s the habit of starting, of making a ruckus, of committing to action even when the outcome is uncertain. The challenge isn’t in knowing when to start, but in making starting a habit. The winners are those who make a practice of beginning.

As we leave this first section, let’s hold onto the image of that glowing button on the box. The world is full of boxes waiting to be poked, of opportunities waiting for someone to act. In the next section, we’ll explore the invisible forces that hold us back from pressing that button—and how to move beyond them.