Adding Value by Taking Initiative
When we introduced our Guiding Principles to leaders across The Johnson Group a few years ago, my father shared that “initiative” is one of his favorites. He didn’t say that to signify that any of the other principles are less important, but instead he went on to explain that initiative, or taking action, is what separates people who make things happen from those who don’t.
One of the reasons that I love this particular Guiding Principle is because every person in The Johnson Group can add value by taking initiative. If each of us proactively and continually strives to identify and pursue opportunities with a sense of urgency and passion, even the smallest of improvements, when multiplied across our 3,200+ team members, leads to incredible results.
Our ability to look to the future, anticipate change, and take action based on the information we have on hand is what will continue to drive our businesses forward. As my father says, “What will get us is inaction and accepting the status quo.”
I’m very proud of the stories of initiative in this issue. They inspire and motivate me, and I hope they will do the same for you. Whether you are interning with us for the summer or have been on our team for many years, the initiative you display makes a great impact. I’m grateful to be looking to the future with this team!
Geordy Johnson
President, The Johnson Group