From Issue to Insight - Mastering Resourcefulness
You have everything you need to make your next step
Resourcefulness is not a strategy or a solution. It’s a mindset and attitude towards solving problems as they appear with what you have at hand. It’s an improvisation and winging it when necessary.
Today we will talk about how to teach yourself a creative approach to problem-solving. How to use whatever resources you have, and you have many, to make your next step in your career.
Problem?
The first step is to focus on the problem at hand and learn how to re/define it in as many ways as possible. As we do this we can also play around narrowing or broadening the scope of the problem statement.
Often the issue is not the lack of options. It's solving the wrong problem.
I’m stuck in my dead-end job.
We can agree it’s a problem but it’s not a clear one. It’s a pretty wide one and focused on the external force of the organisation you have no power over. Let’s try to redefine it.
I don’t know what skills can help me land a better job
I don’t know what job is there I could take on with better perspectives
I don’t have enough skills to land a job in Software Engineering
I’m lacking the communication skills to pass the interview process in a tech company
I don’t know what opportunities are available in my current place
I don’t know what’s expected from me to get a pay rise
Redefining the problem helps you look at the issues from a different perspective. It also allows you to find out what you can do as certain problems are easier to solve.
Out of no options you have 6 different ways you can go to change your life.
Solution!
Redefined problems are easier to solve. But don’t get romantic about the first thing that comes to your mind. To be resourceful you have to keep being creative and often think outside of the box.
If you feel like you don’t have enough skills to be promoted
You may be wrong and need to build your confidence
You may need to learn communication skills
You may need to gain a deeper understanding of the domain
You may need to deliver more high-quality code in a shorter time
You may need more theoretical knowledge about programming
You can hire a coach to train you in what you need to know
You can buy and read a book about Software Engineering
You can go on YouTube and search if someone recorded a video about your problem
One redefined problem leads us to many new solutions. That's the core of the process. From one unsolvable problem, we got 10 variations and each of them can be easier to solve. With 10 different solutions each, you have now 100 ways forward.
It may be a lot to deal with.
Filtering out
We have a lot of options available. Many people will focus on the most efficient one, which often requires money and/or time. In reality, sometimes we can’t have nice things. But we have 99 other solutions to choose from.
If you don’t have money to buy a course it's not a solution for now.
If you don't have time to learn all day it's not a solution for now.
Go down the line and drop things that don’t fit your situation.
From what’s left you prioritise what’s in your opinion the most efficient solution. If you can’t decide which one is the best pick one and try it out.
If none works apply the same strategy to what's stopping you from picking it and repeat the process.
How do I find the money for the course?
How do I find time to learn?
You will fail but wisdom is the knowledge of what doesn’t work. Instead of saying you have failed think that you have validated that the solution didn’t work. It’s part of the process. Don’t be romantic about your strategy. If something didn’t work move to the next one.
The Mindset
You have the strategy but it’s 10% of what you need to be resourceful. The 90% is in how you think.
You have to remember that there is always a way, you may have not seen it yet but there is one that works. Getting certain things done by trial and error takes time.
To keep your motivation and energy you need to find your reason why you’re doing what you’re doing. This is what fuels your resourcefulness to run forever.
No strategy I can give you will help you if you give up. You need to ask yourself what you want to achieve but also what you want to run away from. Having no option to fail is a powerful motivation.
And you have it in yourself already. If your family was in danger if you had to find a way to feed your family or if you were starving yourself.
You’d find a way.
You’d figure things out.
Now it’s for you to learn how to do it every day and in less dramatic circumstances.
Keep on going
I’ve used this framework throughout my life. From being in a dire situation to landing my first job in Software. From escaping my house to a nearby town to moving to London in search of better opportunities. From PHP to Java and now to management.
Find your why and you’ll find a way.
P.S.
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Where I guide you in finding answers
✅ How to define your career goals when you feel stuck
✅ How to plan your path to promotion or a new job
✅ How to find time to learn in your busy life
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