Seven Powerful Characteristics Of A Person Of Action

Many people will move out of the way for a person on the run; others are caught up in the wake. My activity will create a wave of success for the people who follow.
Andy Andrews, The Traveler’s Gift

A few years ago, I put together a personal mission statement. The goal was to become motivated to act like the person I really wanted to be. I know this kind of talk sometimes sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but writing things down helps me take action.

Like the age-old question, “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?,” it’s difficult to tell if the characteristics of a person of action come as a result of taking action, or if taking action brings on these characteristics.

Here are what I believe are characteristics of a person of action. I hope these words inspire you to take action.

Now

The word “now” has a lot of power. When I’m under pressure, I tend to go philosophical, thinking about why I procrastinated, what I need to do differently next time, how we should change things next year, etc. After listening to me for a bit, my wife will finally say something like, “Yes, but right now, you need to get this list of stuff from Sam’s.” “Now” means taking the next step, whatever is in front of us, this very minute. “Now” makes a huge difference. If you want to accomplish something, take action – no matter how small – right now. Read more – The power of now.

Bold

Becoming a person of action means having bold courage. We can be comfortable or courageous, but not both. How do you need to be bold today? Ask people questions. Find out why things aren’t right between you and someone else. Go big. Take a chance. All these actions require boldness. I once heard someone say, “Today’s church prays for safety, and the early church prayed for boldness.” I want to fall into the camp of praying for a bold life. Read more – Two questions you can ask to infuse boldness into your life.

Decision Maker

Actions often come from making a decision. In a sense, indecision is an action, but not one typically associated with moving forward and getting things done. I have a vague recollection of hearing my grandpa, who was a farmer, say something like, “Well, I guess I better get outside and do something, even if it is wrong.” There may be times when the decision you make isn’t the perfect one, but to be a person of action, you must learn to make decisions. I haven’t always been the best at this. My personality type loves love keeping the options open. But I understand the importance of decision-making, and can look to times when the payoff was incredible because I took a risk and made a decision. Read more – Insights into making decisions that help your organization grow.

Pray-er

John Wesley was quoted as saying, “Prayer is where the action is.” It’s tempting to think of prayer as inaction. It’s easy to think we will pray for a brief moment, then get out there and work. Christians who invest time in prayer will find becoming a person of action much easier because we are in step with God’s will for our lives. Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do, I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Another saint said something like this: “I usually spend an hour each morning in prayer, unless I have an unusually full agenda for the day, in which case I pray for two hours.” If you want to be a person of action, be a person of prayer.

Energetic

A person of action has a sense of energy. When we put energy into our work, relationships, and disciplines, it begins to snowball. We don’t want to be hyper about things, but a life that is passionate, alive, and awake makes taking action easier. Read more – Practical steps you can take to energize your organization.

Future Thinking, Present Living

Actions are sometimes motivated by what you want to see in the future. If you want to get in shape, action is required today. If you want to feel healthier tomorrow, don’t eat the candy bar now. If you want a better relationship with your kids next year at this time, schedule a memory maker today or soon. Live in the moment, and be aware of how your actions will affect tomorrow.

Inspirational

Being a person of action requires motivation. Two of the best sources of motivation are reading and spending time with others. What books are you reading? With whom are you spending time talking about life and faith? These two components can inspire you to take action and inspire others.

The above characteristics aren’t easy. If they were, everyone would be a person of action. Sometimes you know you need to do something, and you don’t. Take small steps and determine to keep trying. Action fuels action. Become a person of action today.