The Go-Getter
by Peter B. Kyne
A 1920 short story about a young man given an impossible errand to test his initiative. It takes about forty minutes and the message is 'find a way, do not come back with excuses.' Managers have been handing it to new hires for a century and it still lands.
Read it if…
you want a quick, memorable story about initiative to read or give to someone starting out.
Skip it if…
you want anything more than a single lesson; this is a parable, and short.
Three things you will actually use
- Do not come back with questions you could have answered.
- Treat obstacles as part of the assignment.
- Reliability is the first thing anyone notices.
Do this first
Take the task you have been waiting for permission or clarification on and finish it today.
Our verdict
A brisk classic about getting it done; short enough to read on a lunch break.
Compare with other Character books
The Second Mountain
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A reflective book about the life after ambition; richer than most in the genre.
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The Road to Character
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Elegant and a bit wistful; a worthwhile pause from the self-improvement treadmill.
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey · Character
The foundational text of the genre; dated in tone, undiminished in substance.
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