“We will naturally pursue our goals on the strength of our own resources, skills and enterprise. But, we know that we will be more successful when we do this in partnership with the world.”
When I started owning investment properties, I was not handy and hired tradesman to do my repairs. Having other people do my repairs was expensive and also limited my growth and development. To gain knowledge and overcome my deficiencies, I asked the tradesmen questions and practiced what they were teaching me. I eventually learned how to do most things myself and saved money in the process. I realized that the world has many valuable resources and my development was improved by taking advantage of them.
It is not realistic to be skilled or knowledgeable at everything, and when you are deficient in areas, the challenge is to thrive despite your weaknesses. There is a tendency for people to not utilize available resources and this often leads to poor outcomes in life. I believe one of the most underused ways to improve your life is to ask others for guidance and also take advantage of the many resources available to you.
The benefits of utilizing your available resources
Expands your knowledge
There is a tendency for people to act on things before doing their due diligence and this strategy can lead to bad outcomes. Expanding your pool of resources is an excellent way to gain knowledge and promote personal growth.
Saves you money
Before making a purchase, you will benefit from doing your due diligence and seeking an opinion from someone that is more knowledgeable than you. Example: My wife is knowledgeable in vehicles and does her due diligence to find the best deals. I take advantage of her strengths and never make a vehicle purchase without her. She has saved our family thousands of dollars over the years.
Saves you time
Before you tackle a project, practice this rule: Who can I ask, or what resources can I use, to help make this project easier?
I recommend calling someone you know that can offer advice or go on YouTube to learn what you need to know. This strategy has saved me time over the years and this gives me opportunities to be with my son, wife or friends.
Improves your emotional health
Reaching out to others is not only an effective way to gain knowledge, it is also a great way to maintain social connections and avoid living in isolation. This is an excellent way to maintain optimal mental health and establish a great support system.
Tips to develop the habit of utilizing your resources
Tip 1: Know the strengths of the people in your life
Knowing the strengths of the people in your life is an excellent way to identify who you can reach out to for help. These people may have an area of expertise, and if they are kind enough to share their knowledge, take advantage of their time and narrow your knowledge gap. There advice can provide valuable information and give you shortcuts to accomplish your goals. I believe talking to someone can give you a unique, real world perspective and improve how you respond to challenges in life.
Tip 2: Keep your ego in check
There is too much to learn in one lifetime and it is not realistic to be knowledgeable in everything. The problem is not your lack of knowledge; the problem is not recognizing your deficiencies or utilizing resources to narrow the gap from where you are to where you need to be.
Tip 3: Overcome limited beliefs
I believe it is an admirable quality to acknowledge a weakness and seek out someone that is smarter or better than you. Some people try to hide their lack of skills or knowledge and this often leads to avoiding new experiences or not gaining new knowledge. Overcoming your feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, or lack of self-confidence will help you change this mindset.
Tip 4: Establish a growth mindset.
If you keep an open mind, you can learn from anything and anyone. There is wealth of resources and knowledge in our society and it is wasted if you choose to ignore it.
“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.”
Final Thoughts:
There are so many untapped resources, and if you establish the habit of reaching out to a mentor, reading books or articles, or watching videos on the internet, you will add knowledge and give yourself the tools to realize your full potential. Becoming open to the many opportunities to learn and grow will help you transition into a growth mindset. As your enthusiasm to pursue self-improvement grows, this can lead to a meaningful and happier life.
