Seth Godin:

Of course, the challenge of being the initiator is that you'll be wrong.  You'll pick the wrong thing, you'll waste time, you'll be blamed.  That is why being an initiator is valuable.  Most people shy away from the challenge.  They've been too abused, they're too fearful, they hold back, they're happy to let someone else take the heat.  Initiative is scare.  Hence valuable.

Poke the Box, p. 27