When we set out to achieve any goal, big or small, chances are we will encounter an obstacle at some point along the way. How we approach that obstacle can make all the difference in reaching our desired outcome. Too often, at the first sign of a problem, our brains decide to give up. So, for our first ever Let’s Talk About series, I’d like to talk about the power of A Resourceful Mindset (and the dangers of a resourceless mindset). If you have a goal, read on…
To understand the importance of a resourceful mindset, we must first understand a resourceless mindset. A resourceless mindset tricks you into believing that you don’t have the ability to find and use available resources to solve a problem or achieve a goal, and therefore, you don’t. When we approach problems from a resourceless mindset, we have a much harder time solving problems, overcoming obstacles, and obtaining the outcome we hope for. Now, don’t get me wrong, resources (money, technology, tools, people) are important. But I’m not talking about having or not having access to actual resources (but you do have lots of those at your disposal and I’ll talk about those in a second). I’m talking about your MINDSET. When you are in a resourceful mindset, you figure out how to solve whatever problem or challenge is in your way (and you use the tools, people, information, and technology around you to do so).
So let’s put this into a career context. Say you want to get an internship next summer or land a job post-graduation. Examine your thoughts and actions and determine whether you are approaching this search from a resourceful or resourceless mindset. Here are some thoughts and actions we hear from students who are in a resourceless mindset and a suggestion for how you might reframe that thought or action into a more resourceful mindset.
| Resourceless Mindset Thought/Action | Resourceful Mindset Thought/Action | |
| I looked on Handshake and other sites and there are no internships/jobs available. It’s not worth my time to look there. | ➡ | If I spend 15 minutes setting up automatic alerts, I’ll see all new things that are posted and the opportunities will come right to my inbox. |
| I don’t have enough experience to land the internship or job that I want. | ➡ | I have access to career coaches and they can help me best articulate the experiences I do have. |
| I don’t have any network connections and it feels like everyone else does. | ➡ | The Denison Network is large and I can learn how to better leverage tools like LinkedIn to build my network |
| I’m awful at interviews so I’m going to avoid thinking about it and just wing it. | ➡ | My friend just had an amazing interview. I should talk to her about how she prepared. |
| I’m not as skilled as students from xyz school, so I’m not going to apply to this position. | ➡ | I’m going to apply, but I’ll need help to make my application strong – I’ll make an appointment. |
So ask yourself, are you operating in a resourceful mindset? Which mindset will serve you better? When you find yourself thinking in a resourceless mind try catching yourself and reframing your thought into one that will help you solve the problem at hand. Resourcefulness is a skill sought out by employers. So practice it now!
A side note about resources: You have them. A lot of them. But sometimes, our mindset doesn’t help us see that. You are at Denison. A place where you are surrounded by people, technology, tools, information, mentors and friends. Those are all resources, but you have to have the mindset to put those resources to use.
