Last time we explored self-awareness. This time I’m turning to the next one. Resourcefulness.
We all face constraints. They can be hiring constraints, time constraints, travel constraints — and so many more. I’ve complained and whined so many times because I didn’t have “X” or couldn’t use “Y”. Yet my failures are rarely due to not having something, but because I didn’t accept and find another way. Put another way, My loss isn’t due to the lack of availability, but my lack of ingenuity on finding an alternative.
It’s when we find ways to outpace competitors by 25%. It’s when we can find efficiencies that allow us to do the same — or more — with less. It’s what inspires creativity when we don’t see the way through.
Take the Wright Brothers, they were focused on flying yet man had never flown before (except maybe in mythology or for halloween). For years they studied birds and flight patterns. They used their ingenuity and focus to move from Ohio to North Carolina for winds. They explored different types of gliders, weight of wood, and weight of the engine. They had to push themselves and invent (or innovate) to achieve their high goals.
Take it a step further — or years ahead — much of our success in future years is contingent upon our resourcefulness today. It’s how we think, how we act, what we can do today to create ideas, change the approach, and build the case for something that’s around the bend.
As depressing as that can be to me, resourcefulness can be learned. But by being in bad, confusing, and declining situations. It’ll be that way until we can figure it out.
The bottom line for me? Figure. It. Out.
Originally published at www.jeffreybeaumont.com.
Jeff Beaumont 