initiative is the best friend

 

उद्यमो मित्रवद् ग्राह्यः प्रमादं शत्रुवत् त्यजेत्।

उद्यमेन परा सिद्धिः प्रमादेन क्षयो भवेत्॥

बुद्धचरिते

udyamo mitravad grāhyaḥ pramādaṃ śatruvat tyajet।

udyamena parā siddhiḥ pramādena kṣayo bhavet॥

buddhacarite

One should nurture the initiative and hard work as friends and should abandon slothfulness and negligence, treating them as stiff enemies. All success comes through hard work and initiative and negligence can lead only to downfall.