Employers and business leaders need people who can think for themselves - who can take initiative and be the solution to problems.

The remark distills a recurring theme in Covey’s work on effectiveness and leadership: organizations do not primarily need compliant “order-takers,” but self-directed contributors. “Think for themselves” points to independent judgment and moral agency rather than mere technical skill. “Take initiative” echoes Covey’s emphasis on proactivity—acting from values and responsibility instead of reacting to circumstances. Framing employees as “the solution to problems” shifts work from task completion to ownership: anticipating issues, collaborating, and improving systems. The quote functions as both a critique of dependency cultures and a call for leaders to cultivate environments where autonomy, accountability, and problem-solving are expected and rewarded.