​RESOURCEFULNESS: An Excellent Mindset

by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

“Success in not about your lack of resources, it’s about being resourceful with what you have.” These words came from Harvey Mackey, a seven-time New York Times best-selling author of inspirational business books. These past two years have been both VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) and BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible). But in the midst of these kinds of environments, a resourceful person always rises to the occasion, and so the need for resourcefulness to be part and parcel of all modern leaders.

Resourceful people possess an excellent mindset. When confronted with challenges, barriers, or hindrances, their minds are open to possibilities. Their positive mindsets overtake the uncertain “what ifs”. Resourceful people are not confined in a box and always find ways to make things work. Sometimes, what hinders people from exploring the possibilities is their scarcity mindset or poverty mentality. People with a scarcity mindset or poverty mentality think that they always lack things, or what is available is not enough. They could not fully accomplish the task because they are barred by the thought that the resources are scarce. Remember the boy with five loaves and two fishes who offered it before Jesus to feed the five thousand? He could have thought that the loaves and fishes he had were not enough to feed the many, and he could have stepped backwards. But his mindset is different. If Jesus could heal the sick, and cast out demons, nothing is impossible for Him. The boy’s mind tapped on the possibility, and he was able to witness one of the greatest miracles in history.

In times of difficulties, resourceful people solve problems in innovative ways. Resourceful people account what they have, come up with a plan, and start on what is there until they accomplish the task. They just don’t easily give up but are firm that, “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”  Remember MacGyver who always finds a way to escape from his antagonists and from dangerous situations? By using the things around him coupled up with his knowledge and skills, it allowed him to survive and thrive wherever and whatever situation he is placed in. He always sees the opportunities in the midst of adversity. It’s like sailing a boat where you use the wind and the waves to work with you and not work against you. They use the circumstance to come up with brighter ideas or better ways of doing things.

Resourceful people have foresight. They are not confined in the now but also prepare themselves for the future. Having the foresight, they upskill themselves for whatever will come their way. They are prepared to meet the opportunity so that for every eventuality, they have the set of tools to properly assess, diagnose, and solve, making them ever-ready in every situation. Have you read the story of Joseph on how, under his governance, Egypt was able to overcome the famine? Having interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, he was able to maximize the years of plenty to answer for the future scarcity. Resourcefulness does not only come into play in times of difficulties or scarcities but also even when all are calm and are abundant. Joseph even during the years of plenty, saw to it that whatever they have is multiplied, saved for the future, and to be used in the future. He portioned the harvest to what amount can be eaten, what can be saved, and what can be planted. In that way the present and the future needs can be addressed.

Lastly, resourceful people are not only confined to their own needs but look after the needs of other people. As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention” and whatever innovations or inventions there are, they are for the benefit of the people. Looking at the many examples of what we have today, these innovations or inventions were created in the midst of the needs of time, but were not created just for one person’s use but for the use of humanity.
We may experience rapid changes, chaos, or uncertainties now or in the future, but with resourcefulness innate and ingrained in us, we shall overcome.