This phrase “Doing ONLY what you are told to do” refers to initiative. A quality that seems to be lacking more now then ever.

Some days, things are hard, some days, you’re tired, some days, you’re hurting,some days, you’re not driven.

On these days, we do the bare minimum, on these days, we do only what we must, only what we have to do, only what we are told to do.

On days like this back at school we’d stay home (if you wouldn’t get whooped!), we’d be noisy in class, some would even skip classes.

School was easier, what one was to learn in a day,accomplish and get ahead by was set. Educators to some extent followed up on our progress and we were rewarded for doing what you was supposed to do.

Real life doesn’t work that way, yes you get acknowledged for doing your job but as adults and thus peers, we aren’t impressed by the bare minimum. If you in University or College, at a job or running a business, it’s doing that little extra that puts you ahead.

Initiative was as a children something we got praised for,so it was something I sought out at times just for the feeling of being acknowledged by people elder to me. As adults we grow out of wanting to please others and thus the motivation for initiative now has to be internal.

As an adult everybody is stressed, everybody hurting about something, everybody has problems so most days we all doing the bare minimum.

This means it’s easier to get ahead in life, all you have to do is show some initiative. As an individual,as a student, as a employee,as a entrepreneur and business owner. Start practicing it in your own life, do it for yourself, for better grades,for a better package,to secure a business deal and it becomes a lifestyle. A lifestyle of always being the standard by which any room is measured by.

Mediocrity is easily found, initiative,drive and desire is lacking.

So start today! Do that little extra and change your life!

What things above do you disagree with? Let me know.

Want to read more? Check out these other articles about this literary series 10 Things to Unlearn from School.

1. Failure is the opposite to Success.
2. Following the given process is better than seeking out efficiency.
3. Being told what to do before doing it.
4. Doing ONLY what you are told to do.
5. Everybody is restricted by the same rules as you.
6. Using free time to escape from the reality of school
7. Living for the weekend.
8. Doing things you don’t enjoy just because everybody else is doing so.
9. Letting your haters affect you.
10. Working for money.