Being Resourceful: What Does It Really Mean?

Hello all and a very big welcome to 2017!

Now, it is the season of New Years resolutions where the majority of us look at ways of making our lives better. Some go drastic, some choose much smaller resolutions like drinking more water, eating less chocolate and looking after our skin a lot more (out with the baby wipes!)

Personally, I've found myself in the pursuit of stretching myself more creatively in 2017. I'm looking to make the most of my talents, gain experience and hopefully get more clarity on a path that I would like to pursue in the future. This path might be a different lean to the career I'm looking to pursue, or even just discovering that I prefer being creative in one particular way as oppose to another. In other words, I'm looking to be open-minded and resourceful.

But what does being resourceful really mean?

I don't know about you, but the mention of the word resourceful draws up images in my mind of Andy from Devil Wears Prada, rushed off her feet, doing a hundred and one things at once but ultimately getting the job done.

This mental image is true to some extent I suppose. Life as a fashion student/intern can be hectic, competitive, overwhelming and tough on the feet. Fashion is very much an industry where your associations through contacts, your appearance on social media and your industry experience is paramount. If you want to get ahead here, the start is often, if not always at the bottom of the pile.

This is why young women supporting other young women in this industry is so important to me. If you've got fashion life hacks, I want to hear them!

So back to being resourceful, what does it mean to me?

Well here are a few quick pointers on resourcefulness, how I make it work for me and hopefully how I can inspire you to make it work for you too....

• Make the most of the contacts you have, and if this is a particular area that you lack in, find ways in which you can improve this. This can be done by making and building a LinkedIn profile. Through this, you may find that you have more contacts than you realise!

• Have a grateful heart. In an industry, where sometimes to get ahead, others may do you favours by name-dropping or helping you with applications- make sure to be thankful. Don't expect anything from others, they've had to work just as hard to be where they are, but if they decide to help, don't lose contact. These kind of people are very helpful to you not only today, but also in the future and some will become your greatest of friends. 

• Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone is an individual, who has reached their destination differently. We all have something unique to offer if we learn how to harbour it correctly, through loving ourselves and working on our own goals. Instagram stalking of bloggers, famous interns, industry giants is great for inspiration but the minute you start comparing your own journey to theirs is where to draw the line. Social media is a public-facing platform for all to see and is used primarily in this industry to promote. In other words, what you see to be real on social media is just what that particular individual wants you to see, don't take it as gospel.

• Focus on your talents. Be open-minded to experimentation also. It's ok to take risks, some will work and some won't. That's life, but in the process you would have learnt an awful lot. 

• Take notes as much as possible. If something inspires you, write it down, this way you'll have it in the moments when you need it and even in the moments that you think you don't. Inspiration is everywhere.

• Read as much as you can. You'll never be wasting time by taking in new information and learning something.

• Use your money wisely as much as possible. This is a difficult one, I know. As a young person. budgets are tight enough as it is. In many ways, this is the most important time in your life to be resourceful with money. Buy a coffee or by a basic tripod and start producing your own content? - this sort of attitude is what I'm talking about. You never know what doors you could open for yourself. 

• Get yourself up and out doing what you want to do. Make an effort in other words, to pursue what you love. Don't rely on other people for company, again you'll never know what doors you could open for yourself and in what new ways you could be inspired.

• And finally, never count yourself out. You have no idea what the future has in store for you. You can achieve anything with the right mindset.