This feature is part of Reader’s Digest’s August/September 2026 print cover story, “The New Genius,” where we share tips on how to master valuable skills in an AI-driven world.
What would you do if you realized you didn’t have a key ingredient for the recipe you had already started making? What about if you were heading home from unfamiliar territory and your GPS suddenly conked out?
There’s no definitive right way to tackle these (or other) obstacles. But there is a word we use for someone who manages to overcome them: resourceful. Beyond sheer smarts, resourcefulness is “our natural ability to adapt, change direction and move forward when things shift,” says Rosa L. Antonini, a software engineer and “resourcefulness architect” who coaches people on developing the skill.
“Think about it this way,” Antonini writes in her new book, Resourcefulness: The Hidden Power Smarter Than Talent, IQ and Technology. “Intelligence is like having a powerful engine, but resourcefulness is the fuel. Without fuel, even the strongest engine sits idle.” These days, we’re never far from some of those strongest engines: sites like Google, virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, and AI chatbots like ChatGPT. No doubt these are helpful resources—powerful ones, at that—but they shouldn’t be the only tools in your belt. Otherwise, when your phone dies, your problem-solving skills die with it.
“The more ways you know how to get things done, the more options you have when your usual approach hits a wall,” Alice Boyes, PhD, writes in a piece published earlier this year on the Psychology Today website. “Resourcefulness can give you a greater sense of security in your life and more trust in yourself.”
Here are some strategies to build up your own.
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Take stock
Knowing what you have at your disposal helps you tap into exactly what you need when you need it—and you likely have more than you realize. Take a few minutes to list out everything (and everyone) in your corner, from the skills you’ve acquired to the people you’ve met along the way. (Don’t forget to include their skills in your list.) “This practice shifts your focus from scarcity to abundance,” Antonini writes, “showing you that you’re already more equipped than you think.”
Become alifelong learner
There’s no shortage of opportunities to acquire new skills. And whether you enroll in a class or watch free videos online, tackling new challenges boosts your brain’s ability to adapt and grow through a process called neuroplasticity. That’s why learning has such a powerful return, Antonini writes: “It pays you back with sharper thinking, quicker problem-solving and the confidence that you can adapt, no matter what life throws your way.”
Simplify where you can
If you’re quick to outsource problem-solving to AI, could it be because you simply have too much on your plate? Our energy is a finite resource, so we need to pay attention to where we spend it. “History is full of leaders who understood this principle. Steve Jobs famously wore the same black turtleneck and jeans every day. Barack Obama stuck to two suit colors,” writes Antonini. “They weren’t obsessed with fashion minimalism—they were resource-managing.” Her advice: “Remove low-value decisions to conserve energy for high-value ones.”
Ask for help
No one knows everything, but “lots of people have hidden pockets of knowledge,” writes Boyes. And being social is a form of being resourceful. “Tap into the microskills the people around you are happy to share and show off.”
Have patience
You’re not going to master new skills overnight. Developing your resourcefulness can take a lot of trial and error. But the payoff is worth it, according to Boyes, who writes, “Resourcefulness underlies resilience.”
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