Thursday, November 5, 2009

Resourcefulness

These days, there are plenty of roadblocks in the way of our goals. It is so easy to come up with an excuse for not pursuing our dreams. We can blame the economy. We can blame the banks for their unwillingness to lend. We can come up with all kinds of reasons why success is out of reach. There is another option, resourcefulness. It is what people do when they refuse to fail no matter how difficult the situation.

The first question I like to ask myself when I encounter a roadblock is “How can I make this work?” It takes the focus off of the obstacle and lets my mind explore solutions. Creative solutions come about when you are surrounded by people who can see past the hurdles. Reach out to others. Many of us are struggling with similar situations.

Dream killers do not believe in resourcefulness. They would rather talk about all the excuses for their lack of progress. It is so easy to fall into the trap. Did you ever read the story, "Mike Mulligan and His Steam shovel"? The story had a happy ending because Mike Mulligan found a way to convert his steam shovel into a heating system for the new building when Mary Anne was trapped with no way out of the hole they dug together. That is resourcefulness!

A resourceful person in today's world knows how to adapt. It is time to get creative. Concentrate on solutions and learn to see past the obstacles. You can get to the finish line by jumping over the hurdles, one at a time and one day at a time. Do you have your running shoes on?

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