The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow

Maxwell presents initiative as the essential quality that transforms leaders from passive observers into active catalysts for change. He illustrates this point through the story of Kemmons Wilson, who founded the Holiday Inn chain after experiencing the inconsistent and overpriced state of American motels during a 1951 family vacation. Rather than merely complaining, Wilson recognized an unmet market need and acted decisively. Within a year, he opened his first Holiday Inn in Memphis, establishing standardized family-friendly accommodations. The chain expanded rapidly through franchising, reaching 1,000 locations by 1968.

Wilson’s entrepreneurial journey began at age seven and included various business ventures before he went into the hotel business, demonstrating a lifelong pattern of recognizing opportunities and taking action. Even after retiring following a heart attack in 1979, Wilson rested for only a month before returning to active work, exemplifying the restless energy that Maxwell says characterizes true initiators.

Maxwell argues that effective leaders possess four key qualities that enable initiative. First, they maintain clarity about their goals, which allows them to recognize opportunities when they arise. Second, they push themselves to act rather than waiting for external motivation. Third, they take risks that others avoid, understanding that calculated boldness often separates successful leaders from cautious followers.