Introduction: Why do some individuals and organisations succeed despite limited resources while those with abundant resources fail? How do we multiply the value of our current resources?
Scott Sonenshein is an American Professor of Management at Rice University. He was the strategic consultant of many multinational companies such as the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and Microsoft. He has also experienced the prosperity and decline of the dotcom bubble at a start-up company in Silicon Valley.
The main question for this book, ‘STRETCH’, is: Why do some individuals and organisations succeed despite limited resources while those with abundant resources fail? How do we multiply the value of our current resources?
Regardless of what kind of resources we have, most of us would readily agree with this: “Embracing more resources” means “obtaining better results”. As Christians, when we pray and ask God to “expand our boundaries”, a lot of us would think of greater scope for developments, extra resources, more buildings…we hope for augmentation in “quantity”.
According to such logic, if you want to accomplish a project faster, you need more manpower. If you wish to have greater influence in your work, you need bigger job titles. If the organisation has to embark on a project, it requires a larger budget. If the church wants to develop, it must raise more money to build bigger churches.
The author of the book ‘STRETCH’ thinks that such perspectives could cause people to pursue unnecessary resources or resources that are out of their reach. They neglect the potential of their own resources. He hopes to remind everyone not to focus on acquiring more resources, but to learn to emphasize how to utilise what we already have. In order to elaborate his view, the author recorded many examples of individuals and enterprises in his book. Let us look at some of these examples.
(Picture from the Internet)
When Phil Hansen was a youth, he was obsessed with pointillism – which was using small dots of colour for creative art. He had to stand from afar to see the whole painting. He was entirely devoted to this form of art and believed that he should pursue it as a career. However, during high school, his right hand started to have tremors. It deteriorated till he could hardly draw anymore. His neurologist told him that the tremors were the result of permanent nerve damage. It was a depressing diagnosis. However, the doctor also gave him a suggestion that changed his life. The doctor said: “Mr Hansen, if this is the reality, then you should gladly accept it.”
What a suggestion! Truthfully speaking, when I read this part of the book, I was wondering if it hurt Phil when the doctor said this? Dear friends, if your doctor suggests this to you, what would you think?
What gains our respect was that he did not overreact. He seriously contemplated his doctor’s suggestion and decided not to draw again. He overcame pessimism and focused on “What can I do now?”
Dear friends, Hansen was compelled to cultivate a mindset of stretching his potential as there was no cure for his condition! He started to think of a new way to paint with his trembling hand. He thought: if the small dots can form a complete picture, can the zigzag lines drawn by his quivering hand do the same thing?
After graduation, Hansen found a job for a living. Upon receiving his first salary, he went to purchase supplies and invest in his dream, just like everyone else! He believed that if he replaced his patchwork tools with brushes and paints of better quality, it would greatly raise the standard of his artwork. However, with each passing day, he still did not have innovative ideas despite having adequate painting tools. These tools that were supposed to inspire his painting hurt him more than his trembling hand.
In order to change the situation, Hansen decided not to focus on painting tools. He asked himself, “Can I be more creative under such constraints?”
Since then, he did not use those high quality painting tools anymore. He attempted to use very few things for his creative art. For his first artwork, he used 50 Starbucks cups and US$1 worth of paint to depict a picture of a boy. It was called Daudi. As a result, there were numerous good reviews about it (You can see this picture in our script.) In another piece of artwork, he used his own chest as a painting cloth and drew a few paintings along his body. Then, he took a picture of it for an exhibition.
(Picture from the Internet)
Hansen gladly accepted his limitations and pushed himself to learn a new method for his creative artwork. Later, he was chosen as the official artist of the 51st Grammy Awards. Presently, this artist is still seeking new ways to overcome his physiological limitations.
Dear friends, we see that limiting conditions, such as a trembling hand that is caused by nerve damage or painting materials that are put together at the last minute, have inspired Hansen to creatively use his resources. He realised that “limited conditions can advance creativity”. This is stretching the “limits of art”.
Today, what are your dreams? What are your limitations?
Hansen learnt to utilise his resources fully, so he did not give up his goal because of inadequate resources. On the contrary, he thought: How can I use my possessions to accomplish the task?
Let us take some time to ponder: What is God’s calling for me? What prevents me from progressing forward?
Let us learn to take stock of our resources and see what is lacking between our goals and resources. Take a step further to think: Is this ‘inadequacy’ necessary? Or is the ‘insufficiency’ an opportunity to turn our lives around?
Like Hansen, every one of us will face some constraints when pursuing our goals. It could be that we have a weak body, do not enough time, or lack funds, knowledge, news, networking and other resources. It is common to see something missing between our goals and the resources. However, the book ‘STRETCH’ points out that people usually overestimate the importance of obtaining resources but underestimate the utilisation of their own resources fully. Why is this so?
The author thinks that the most important reason behind this is “comparison”. Actually, I live well without having certain things. However, one day, I suddenly realise that I wish to possess what others have.
Comparison with others will result in overreliance on resources in our lives. When we are busy chasing after resources, we forget to consider an important question: How can we fully use our possessions to create a more meaningful life?
Having a fixed mindset is another reason that prevents people from unlocking the potential of their resources. They think that the specific function of each resource does not change, such as the rocks covering the road, drinking water in cups, and competitors who are a threat to their business. Those products that do not comply with the required standards are a waste…
If we stereotype resources, it could prevent us from finding creative ways to utilise them. Yet, it drives us to pursue more things that we don’t currently have, and will result in wastage. The author of ‘STRETCH’ believes that all resources have potential regardless of whether they are tangible or not. We need to explore other new ways so that we can fully unleash their potential. For example, a stone is a useless object that obstructs traffic on the road. However, when David held it in his hand, it was a weapon to defeat the giant. On the other hand, calligraphy lovers use them as a paperweight…
(Picture from the Internet)
Architects know that the quality of the building does not depend on the quantity of building materials. On the contrary, the best engineering projects use the least amount of building materials to build the largest spaces and strongest buildings.
Such an explanation is appropriate for different facets of our lives. When people have plenty of manpower, money and resources, they are laid back towards the use of resources. As a result, the project is launched in haste, defective work often occurs, and there are purchases and hoarding of things that are not of much use. However, if we have a budget limit, it stimulates creativity, enabling us to use our resources more effectively.
Dear friends, at times, we think that our resources are scarce, so our path in life is narrow. The book 'STRETCH’ reminds us to take this perspective: Does the word ‘narrow’ points to our narrow-mindedness? Are we restricted by our prejudices and limited viewpoints? Is our inward narrow-mindedness the cause of our narrow path outwardly?
We need to implore God to ‘extend our boundaries’, not only in terms of the increase in quantity, but also the expansion of our inner spiritual boundaries. May the Lord open our spiritual eyes to see the potential in our lives so that we have more opportunities to serve God and man.
Finally, I would like to share with you a quote that I have read in ‘STRETCH’. A producer, who spent US$3000 to make an award-winning movie, said: “…You must make the most out of your disadvantaged situations. You have to maximise the usage of your limited resources and strive harder than others.” The theme for this book is: Use whatever you possess to the fullest.
Thank you for listening to today’s program. Tune in next time as we continue to explore workplace strategies that glorify God and bless others.
Critical Thinking Questions:
1. What are your dreams? What are your limitations?
2. What do you think you should do so that you can push your limit?
3.What do you think you can do so that you can extend your boundaries at workplace even though you have limited resources at your workplace?