The Myth of Resourcefulness

Reading Time: 1 mins 50 secs

One of the biggest problems with success stories is they find out of the box solutions that somehow make everything okay. It’s as if there’s a secret solopreneur checklist including ‘must be resourceful’.

 I’ve got to tell you, those podcasts can be misleading and semi-heartbreaking.  It’s almost as if ‘resourcefulness’ is a prerequisite for success.

My immediate thought: Well, that disqualifies me. My creativity peaked at finger painting in preschool.”

If you are nodding along, keep reading. If not, there’s an X button on the top corner of this window waiting for you.

Still reading? Let’s visit into my confessional booth or when my address was a 2006 moldy Volkswagen Beetle.

Fridays weren’t for finding ways to dodge social events. It was for exploiting a bank loophole. ‘Exploit’ sounds sinister so lets call it a ‘weekend loan’. I’d magically turn $10 into $50 of gas because banks don’t process transactions till Monday.

That fuel kept my car moving and supplied my personal space heater during chilly nights camped out in the most glamorous of locales — hospital and casino parking garages.

Before you confuse me as resilient, in a tight spot I’m more of a ‘play dead’ than ‘fight back’. Like a possum. But life has a way of rewriting your character arc. When tested even those of us who’d rather hide under the covers become resourceful. Or in my case, figure out how to not freeze to death in a casino parking lot.

Truth is, no one comes out of the womb with a ‘Resourcefulness 101’ manual.

Resourcefulness isn't genetic; it's situational.

And I'm guessing your personal battles aren't about questionable gas tactics, but you're still here, reading, which means you’ve got a problem where you doubt you can beat whether it be circumstance or belief in your own ability.

And I’m not here to sell you a motivational speech to inspire you or recycled ‘If I can be resourceful, you can too’ pep talk.

No, this is where I ask you: How many times did life kick your ass, but somehow you created a solution?

That’s you, being resourceful—without the applause or a featured podcast episode.

Every workaround, quick fix, and ‘wow, I made it work’ moments.

You may not feel like a titan of creativity, but who said you had to? Resourcefulness isn't about grand gestures; it’s about making it through the day.

So what is todays problem? How can you use the wins from your past to help find a solution? Because let’s be honest, those ‘I don’t know how I did it, but I did’ moments are your success stories.