Times are hard no doubt, and if anything there seems to be no end in sight. The economy is bleak with the price of basic commodities such as maize flour hitting the roof.
If the cost of living continues with its upward trajectory, then Kenyans have no choice but to make do with whatever is at their disposal. Virtually all aspects of our lives have been affected by inflation and this calls for us to be resourceful with the little we have in order to live, nay, survive.
As we tighten our belts we need to be resourceful people, meaning we need to find ways of doing more with less.
Many companies and government agencies have been forced to either cut down on the number of staff or freeze employment. This does not mean that the load of work is on a plateau or has decreased; no, the workload continues to pile as the population increases.
However, there are no adequate funds to run the human resource and that calls for the drastic measures taken. So how do companies survive with the stretched human resource?
Simple, they retain the most resourceful of their employees and these are individuals who can do more than one job, or who are willing to go that extra mile to ensure the company achieves its objectives, limited resources notwithstanding.
As an individual, how do you solve problems? Are you the type whose first reaction is to seek help from your boss or do you try to find panacea first? Do you make the most of the sources you have been provided with or do you wait until the condition is perfect for you to carry out a certain task?
For sure, it is the individual who has the ability of finding ways out of difficulties and applies ingenious solutions to problems that succeeds in any role at any level.
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur who has been sitting on a grand business plan for lack of funds? Be resourceful. Start with what you have and do not despise humble beginnings.
The notion of resourcefulness may seem abstract or grand but if you carefully think through it, you will realise you apply it in your day-to-day life only that now you are called to replicate it on a bigger platform.
For instance, a while ago, the price of tomatoes hit the roof and they became a luxury item. How did Kenyans cope? Some decided to stop using them altogether but the resourceful ones decided to use grated carrots instead.
It might be a coincidence, but resourcefulness thrives in the face of challenges as resourceful individuals are forced to think outside the box to turn around an adversity to their advantage.
To be resourceful thus needs one to be open minded and stretching out one’s mind beyond one’s normal repertoire. As they say, there are many ways to kill a rat and if plan A doesn’t work, then there are 25 other letters in the alphabet.
You also need a certain degree of self-assuredness to enable you confidently try out the options before you. Other qualities of resourceful people include being imaginative, proactive, persistent and optimistic.
Finally, it’s one thing to have a great idea and another thing to execute it: being resourceful is key in turning ideas into reality.
Fashion9 years ago