Having a do-it-yourself attitude is essentially about being a self-starter: someone capable of recognizing and seizing new opportunities. While it’s easy to think that some people are simply more assertive than others, being a self-starter is more than a personality trait. It takes work, and through concerted effort, many people can train themselves to become a self-starter both on the job and in their personal lives.
What Does Being a Self-Starter Mean?
Some people are more inclined than others to take a hands-on approach when it comes to their life or work. What are the common features of self-starters and how can we learn to better embrace the do-it-yourself spirit?
"In a perfect world, we’d all wake up early, go on a run, eat a healthy breakfast, and then head into work to tackle our next big project. As self-starters, we’d be brimming with energy and enthusiasm and wouldn’t even consider procrastinating before a deadline,” professional development site Excelle explains. "In the real world, however, we don’t always live up to our highest ambitions. But just because we don’t always do something, doesn’t mean we can’t ever do it.”
How to Become a Self-Starter
There are a number of qualities that distinguish self-starters from others. The first is being active in seizing opportunities, such as the desire to start a business, invent a new product or improve an existing process. In other words, self-starters like to stay busy and are always on the lookout for new projects to tackle.
Another important characteristic is the commitment to work. Self-starters immerse themselves in new endeavors and remain passionate about pursuing their vocation and honing their skills. Their dedication can even lead to taking a "busman’s holiday.”
"For those who don’t know the expression, a ‘busman’s holiday’ refers to leisure time spent doing pretty much what one does at work,” Forbes.com explains. "Taking busman’s holidays doesn’t have to mean you’re a workaholic — it could mean you are passionate about your vocation and love honing your craft.”
Finally, resilience in the face of challenging circumstances is a crucial element in being a self-starter. Persevering through disappointments, failures and unfavorable odds is necessary if you hope to accomplish your goals because self-starters often face an uphill road.
Cultivating a do-it-yourself attitude isn’t simply about changing your behavior, but also changing the way you think. If you’re looking for tips on how to become a self-starter, Psychology Today recommends taking the following steps to increase your assertiveness:
- Overcome your fear of failure. Many people hesitate to change an unsatisfactory aspect of their life because they’re afraid of failing. Don’t be the one who’s too scared to take an opportunity. Remember that it’s possible to recover from even the worst situations and that often it is actually other people’s perceptions that keep you from striking out on your own rather than the fear of the unknown.
- Embrace risk and novelty. People tend to regret the things they didn’t try even more than the ones at which they failed. Striking out for unexplored territory, taking risks and staying open to new ideas is vital for being a self-starter. Of course, don’t put yourself in the way of outright danger, but bear in mind that we often overestimate risks and how they will affect us.
- Repaint your self-image. Try to imagine new possibilities for yourself by changing your "internal vision.” Picture yourself in a better situation — a better job, a better schedule — to give yourself the extra motivation you need to try something new. Having a new self-image serves as a strong reminder that you need to stay motivated.
- Learn to handle discomfort. Taking the initiative sometimes means putting yourself in uneasy situations. Grow accustomed to discomfort by doing something you don’t like doing (but need to take care of) every day. Eventually, any potential awkwardness will roll off your back.
One of the most important qualities among self-starters is their ability to be comfortable with acting on their own. Of course, this sense of independence can also cause problems for a self-starter, depending on the circumstances.
"These high achievers feel they know how to get things done, regardless of what the rest of their team members think. What they call vision, others experience as hubris,” another article from Forbes.com explains. "With self-starters, more is not necessarily the merrier. These folks want freedom and support — not internal competition. If you crowd an A Player, she’ll back off, or quit, assuming she can accomplish what she wants elsewhere.”
Another issue that can hinder a self-starter’s success is the lack of accountability that can come from being granted too much independence. Even if you’re confident in the progress you’re making in an assignment, finding someone to check in on your work can be an effective way to avoid mistakes and stay on-target.
Being too confident can also lead to biting off more than you can chew.
"Depending on the intensity of the project, it can be a challenge to juggle the work required for it and your other day-to-day responsibilities. Perhaps your supervisor thought you could handle the whole project by yourself, and you felt you were up to the challenge so you accepted,” professional development blog WorkAwesome explains. "As the project progresses, if it becomes too much for you, don’t hesitate to speak up. It’s better to have a well-designed finished product that several people worked on instead of a shoddy, careless effort that one person tried to fit in between other responsibilities.”
By focusing on a specific set of changes that will reorient your view of the world, it’s possible to build a stronger sense of self-confidence, become more assertive and ultimately transform into a self-starter. But it’s equally important to remain realistic in your expectations: know when to act and know when you might be getting in over your head.
Self-Starter Resources
- 4 Steps to Becoming a Self Starter by Adam Starr, Excelle (Monster.com), 2011
- Unleash Your Inner Self-Starter by Steven Berglas, Forbes.com, July 30, 2009
- You 2.0 by Carlin Flora, Psychology Today, Nov. 2, 2006
- Self-Starters: Blessing or Bane? by Steven Berglas, Forbes.com, July 22, 2009
- Team Player vs. Self-Starter by Sara Hodon, WorkAwesome, Feb. 3, 2011