American inventor, Beulah Louise Henry, wrote, “If necessity is the mother of invention, then resourcefulness is the father.” An attitude of resourcefulness inspires unconventional thinking and the capacity to visualize possibilities that extend beyond our periphery. Every problem has a solution, sometimes we only need to be more creative, flexible, and resourceful. Fathers should model and teach one of the most valuable of all human resources: resourcefulness.
Leadership
Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, says, “Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful.” Two renowned books by American author, John Maxwell, offer advice on strengthening our resourcefulness as a leader: Developing the Leader Within You and Developing the Leaders Around You. Aware of obstacles that are either in their face or on the horizon, resourceful leaders don’t stand still—they do more with less—opening doors, building bridges, and breaking boundaries to solve any problem that comes their way.
Look Within
Hardship often gives way to incredible resourcefulness. American author, Ernest Hemingway, wrote, “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” Turn innovation inward; don’t always seek to create something new, make old things work better. Re-invention is tempting, but sometimes, things that aren’t broken don’t need to be fixed. As we strive to redefine possibilities, remember the tools we’ve used to get to where we are today, have an open mind, and keep it simple.
Practice Resourcefulness
If we aren’t sure how to fix something, Google it, watch a YouTube video, or call a friend for advice. When brainstorming for solutions to problems we haven’t yet figured out, get children involved in the conversation. Teach kids that with creativity, initiative, and a growth mindset, we can repurpose challenges into opportunities. If they learn to be resourceful, this one habit will pay great dividends for the rest of their lives.
Ways to Inspire Resourcefulness
Let children try things and discover for themselves whether their approach does or does not work; mistakes and failure are two of life’s best teachers. Rather than praising intelligence, praise effort. Help children adopt a growth mindset, which will reinforce that hard work and creativity grant us almost unlimited capabilities. If we want to solve new problems, we only need to learn new things.
In the words of Tony Robbins, “Success is not about your resources. It’s about how resourceful you are with what you have.” Teach children that with complete and total commitment, they’ll be able to find the resources they’re looking for. Read the biographies of resourceful entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Walt Disney. Commend children anytime they learn from mistakes or anytime they discuss unconventional ideas to visualize beyond normal circumstances.
Technology
An ever-growing arsenal of tools continues to be introduced to the world by way of technology, allowing us to be far more productive than at any other time in human history. Exploration and discovery of available tech resources offer monumental efficiency gains that weren’t available for previous generations.
The Next Level
The next level of resourcefulness: when the mission is complete, we can survey both ourselves and our team to ascertain where different contributions might have produced a superior outcome.
Summary
Merriam-Webster defines resourceful as “able to meet situations; capable of devising ways and means.” American author, David Burkus, wrote, “This is a hard truth for some to accept: that a lack of resources may not be their true constraint, just a lack of resourcefulness.” As we create the life we envision for ourselves and our families, resourcefulness is one of the most important of all habits. With guidance and support, fathers can foster our children’s resourcefulness so they can create any life they’d like for themselves.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” —Colossians 1:15-17 NASB
The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman (9+ years)
Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers.
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk (10 – 12 years)
One night, a mysterious fire appeared across the water and the unspoken question of Crow’s history formed in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading her down a path of discovery and danger.
Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential by Matt Higgins
From Sun Tzu to Julius Caesar, the ancient Israelites to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there’s a bold and highly effective tactic seen throughout history—when leaders want to motivate their troops for success, they destroy all opportunities for retreat, and go all-in on the mission. They burn their boats; it’s win or perish, and the clarity of sheer desperation propels them to victory.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
The Effective Executive
by Peter Drucker
The measure of the executive is the ability to “get the right things done.” Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge may all be wasted in an executive job without the acquired habits of mind that mold them into results.
An essential guide for raising strong-willed, resourceful children. It offers clear insights into what motivates the most challenging behaviors, and what kinds of responses turn these behaviors around.
When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever. Made of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (12+ years)
Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept…
The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
by Elizabeth Letts
The triumphant true story of a woman who rode her horse across America in the 1950s, fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean.
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
by Marshall Goldsmith
There is something standing between you and the next level of achievement. Perhaps one small flaw—a behavior you barely even recognize—is the only thing that’s keeping you from where you want to be.
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy
by Charles Morris
Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth―and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.
PLEASE NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, Fathers Truly Matter earns from qualifying purchases. The information in this post should not be construed as providing specific psychiatric, psychological, or medical advice, but rather to offer readers information to better understand the lives and health of themselves and their children. It is not intended to provide an alternative to professional treatment or to replace the services of a physician, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist.
