Be Relentlessly Resourceful

Having huge agency moves the lever on your career and life.

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Welcome to 200 Word Tuesdays. Where we give you short, actionable ideas to implement in your project management. We promise that you haven’t heard these powerful ideas anywhere else. Let’s get started.

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Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator and a prominent thinker in the tech startup space, coined the term “relentlessly resourceful” to describe a key characteristic he looks for in successful entrepreneurs.

According to Graham, being “relentlessly resourceful” means the ability to find creative solutions to problems and make progress no matter the obstacles in your path. It’s about persistence, determination, and the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges while maintaining focus on the goal.

Graham argues that successful people don’t necessarily need to have all the technical skills or knowledge up front. What they do need is the drive to figure things out, work around challenges, and push forward when faced with adversity.

Essentially, it’s a blend of persistence, creativity, adaptability, and a “get it done” attitude. The phrase has become popular in the startup world.

Like startup founders, project managers face challenges that require problem-solving, adaptability, and determination. Whether you’re handling shifting deadlines, managing limited resources, or navigating unforeseen obstacles, a project manager who embodies relentless resourcefulness can drive a project to success, no matter the odds.

So next time you face a project problem, think of yourself as a “relentlessly resourceful” project manager. Instead of being discouraged by roadblocks, you will find creative solutions to overcome them. You will look for solutions in new places and use methods you might not have imagined before. This simple re-framing will drive all your actions.

You will get the job done, no matter what.

And in a role where success depends of your skills, relentless resourcefulness becomes the cornerstone of effective project management.

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See you next week,

Jonathan (The Effective Project Manager)

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