How to Be Resourceful 167,000 viewsEdited by KnowItSome and 21 others Edited 14 weeks ago Life doesnt always hand us solutions to go with the problems and situations we encounter. If youre in a pinch, sometimes you have to use what you have, along with a bit of creativity and ingenuity, to get through it. No guide can address every possible situation that might arise, but here are a few general suggestions. Ad Steps Be Resourceful Step 1.jpg 1Be prepared. You cant anticipate everything, but you can anticipate many things, and the more you can prepare ahead of time, the more resources youll have to draw upon when faced with a problem. Also find ways to curb future problems if you can. Prevention is better than cure. Build a tool kit and learn to use it. The more tools you have to draw on when met with a challenge, the more resourceful you can be. Depending on where you spend your time, the tools at your disposal could take the form of a true tool kit, or they could go in a purse,a survival kit, a workshop, a kitchen, an equipment truck, or even your selection of camping gear. Learn to use your tools. Then, make sure you have them with you when you need them. Be Resourceful Step 1Bullet1.jpg Practice at home. If you dont know how to change a tire, try it in your driveway before you get a flat miles away from home, in the dark, in the rain. Learn to pitch your tent in the back yard, or take a short day hike to get used to your backpacking gear. Refine both your tool kit and your skills before you must put them to the test. Be Resourceful Step 1Bullet2.jpg Anticipate likely problems and deal with them before they become problems. If you worry that you might forget your keys and lock yourself out, hide a spare key in the back yard. Attach your keys to something large and visible so you dont lose them. Coordinate with others who are coming and going so you dont accidentally lock each other out. Be Resourceful Step 1Bullet3.jpg Ad Be Resourceful Step 2.jpg 2Assess the situation. When a challenging situation comes in your way, try to clarify and define the problem as best you can. Finding a solution to the problem is better than worrying. This can be learned by training your mind each time you start worrying. How severe is it? Is this truly a crisis or merely an inconvenience or a setback? Does it need to be addressed immediately, or can it wait for an appropriate solution to be developed? The more urgent the situation, the more creative youll have to be. Calm yourself first, think clearly before taking any action. Be Resourceful Step 2Bullet1.jpg What is the nature of the problem? What is really needed? For instance, do you need to unlock the door, or do you need to get in or out? These are two different problems, since the latter might be accomplished by passing through a window, by climbing over or under a wall, by going around the back way, or by removing the hinge pins in the door. For that matter, do you need access at all, or could you get what you need somewhere else? Be Resourceful Step 2Bullet2.jpg Be Resourceful Step 3.jpg 3Assess what is available to you. Being resourceful is, above all, about clever, creative use of resources. Dont forget that resources arent all objects. Do you have access to, or could you obtain, any of the following? People. Whether you need bus fare to get home, good ideas, moral support, the use of a phone, or simply extra hands, involve others if you can. Brainstorming together may result in some great, joint solutions. Ask people you know and trust. Seek professional help. Or, as appropriate, ask anybody in charge (authorities, employees, docents, ushers), since these people often have access to additional resources. Even if you end up asking help of strangers, you will probably be pleasantly surprised by the results. If one or two people are not enough, could you form a team or task force? Could you persuade city hall or another organization to further your cause? What separates those who achieve from those do not, is in direct proportion in their ability to ask for help. That quote was by the CEO of Coca Cola as spoken in the movie The Journey. Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet1.jpg Communications. Could you contact somebody who might know the answer, lend a hand, etc.? Could you ask a question, get somebody or something started, coordinate, cooperate, or commiserate? Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet2.jpg Information. Has somebody solved a similar problem before? How does the thing (or system or situation) work that you are trying to deal with? Which way is home from here? Whom can you contact, and how? How do you build a fire? Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet3.jpg Money. It cant get you out of every jam, but it can be pretty powerful in some situations. If you dont have money and you need it, being resourceful may consist either of doing without it or of raising some. Could you ask people, hold a fundraiser, or get a job? Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet4.jpg Objects. Dont be afraid to use these in unconventional ways. Wire coat hangers can be incredibly flexible and while screwdrivers arent really intended for chiseling, prying, pounding, scraping, etc., theyll often do in a pinch. Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet5.jpg Intangibles. Sunlight, gravity, and good will can all act in your favor and even be harnessed to your advantage. Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet6.jpg Time. If you have it, use it. Again, you may need to figure out where you can get some more. Depending on the situation you need to overcome, you may need to work longer hours, ask for more time, enlist the time of others, implement temporary measures while you can develop something more permanent, be patient, or ask the patience of others. Be Resourceful Step 3Bullet7.jpg Be Resourceful Step 4.jpg 4Work backwards. Take stock of what you have available, then consider how you can apply it to the problem. Be Resourceful Step 5.jpg 5Break the rules. Dont go around carelessly disregarding the law, but do use things in unconventional ways or go against conventional wisdom or societal norms, if it will help. Be prepared to take responsibility, redress wrongs, or explain yourself if you do overstep your bounds. Be Resourceful Step 6.jpg 6Be creative. Think of crazy possibilities as well as obvious or practical ones. You might find inspiration for a workable solution in one of them. Be Resourceful Step 7.jpg 7Experiment. Trial and error might take awhile, but if you have no experience with a particular situation, its a very good way to begin. At the very least, you will learn what does not work. Be Resourceful Step 8.jpg 8Use the situation to your advantage, if you can. If you missed the bus and the next one doesnt come for another hour, could you enjoy a cup of coffee or browse a store nearby while you wait? If the weather is freezing, could you use snow as shelter or ice as a building material? Be Resourceful Step 9.jpg 9Improvise. Dont box yourself into thinking that only a permanent solution will do. Use what you have at hand for a temporary solution. Fix your bike enough to limp home and do a proper job later. Be Resourceful Step 10.jpg 10Be an opportunist. If an opportunity presents itself, do your best to take it. Dont over think. Be Resourceful Step 11.jpg 11Act quickly. Often an effective solution hinges on a speedy response. Be decisive, and once a decision is made, dont analyze, act. Be Resourceful Step 12.jpg 12Learn from your mistakes. If you had to scramble to correct a problem, take steps to make sure that it doesnt happen again. If you tried something that didnt work, try it a different way next time. Be Resourceful Step 13.jpg 13Be persistent. If you go away before the problem does, then you havent solved anything. Try again, a dozen or a hundred different ways, if thats what it takes. Dont give up. Never consider not succeeding immediately as a failure - consider it practice. See the positive in every situation. Ad Add your own method Save Tips Dont dwell on the past. If the root cause or original problem is something you cant fix, simply work to recover as best you can. Practice being resourceful before the pressure is on. Try cooking a meal with whatever is on hand in the pantry rather than going out to the store. Invent what you need instead of buying it. Build or create your own, even if something is ready made and available. Being resourceful is an ultimate source of knowledge. Sometimes you can always look at a successful person who has many useful experiences that helped him/her get to where he/she is and you can try asking them simple questions that you might be curious about. Also researching, reading is also very helpful. Being updated with important things can help you in the future. Focus on something you like and look for different links that are related to the topic or idea so that not only do you learn about it, but you can master it. Human contacts, like physical tools, can be collected in advance of when you need them. Networking, formal or informal, is one way to go about that collection. Also, if possible, offer others favors before you need to ask for any. Dont panic. Pressure may be a good motivator, but not if its clouding your thinking. Think about why you cant just give up on this and that will give you the edge for the persistence you need to succeed. If youve Jerry-rigged something to get through an immediate difficulty, make sure to do a proper job of repairing it as soon as possible. Ad Warnings In case of a true emergency (an immediate threat to life or property), usually the best and most resourceful thing you can do is to summon the appropriate authorities, give them the information they need to do their jobs, and then stay out of the way. Make sure you know what you are doing. Otherwise, you could make a new problem entirely. Related wikiHows How to Become What You Wish to Be in Life How to Solve a Problem How to Form a Plan How to Be Creative How to Be Proactive Article Info Featured Article Categories: Featured Articles | Goal Realization & Problem Solving Recent edits by: Maluniu, BR, Jeff In other languages: Español: Cómo ser ingenioso DiscussPrintEmailEditSend fan mail to authorsAd Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 167,069 times. Did this article help you? YesNo Random Article Write An Article Related Articles How to Make Decisions How to Develop the Sherlock Holmes Intuition How to Find the Light at the End of the Tunnel How to Accomplish a Goal Share 140 Featured Articles How to Make a Wedding Ribbon Wand How to Show Respect How to Tune a Mandolin How to Keep Salad Fresh Meet a Community Member Meet Martyn, a student from England who has been on wikiHow for over 7 years. He’s an Admin, Featured Author, and Booster, and he loves copyediting and taking care of title changes on articles. His favorite article he’s worked on is How to Change an Acce Chek Spirit or Combo Insulin Pump Cartridge, which he started and took great photos for to turn it into a Featured Article. When it comes to his work around the site, he’s most proud of helping to overhaul the wikiHow Tour to make it more helpful for new editors. He appreciates editing on wikiHow because he feels like he can make a difference to people’s lives, and he loves the dedication and perseverance of the community. To new editors, he says, “Give it a go! You can’t go wrong on wikiHow, because everything is fixable. And if you’re a grammar freak like me, there are plenty of articles out there that need your skills!” Join The Community Follow Us On... HomeAbout wikiHowTerms of UseRSSSite mapLog In All text shared under a Creative Commons License. Powered by Mediawiki.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 10:15:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015