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MacGyver Online Forums > MacGyvering Your Life > Doing What MacGyver Would Do.


Posted by: KiwiTek 31 December 2014 - 04:07 AM
We hear the phrase "What would MacGyver do?" used on an almost daily basis in reference to doing a quick fix or repair on something. But it can be used in almost every aspect of our daily lives to help us get through our day to day struggles of life. What kind of food to eat; how to deal with an unruly child; what type of light bulbs to buy; How can I cut down my costs, how should I handle my friends? Any situation can be helped if not solved by asking What Would MacGyver Do? If he were here what would he suggest? At the very least it's a nice way to give yourself an outside perspective of a situation which might otherwise have you locked in at an emotional level with no obvious way out.

I've found this question has served me well in being able to live a relatively simple stress-free life while raising 2 kids on my own.

The fist step to MacGyvering your life is to ask what would he do?


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Posted by: MacFan092985 2 January 2015 - 06:07 PM
Sometimes this is easier said than done. I'll admit I don't always handle things the way I know MacGyver would.

Posted by: KiwiTek 2 January 2015 - 06:27 PM
Yes that's true, but part of the process is that it gives you cause to stop and look at a situation objectively.

Obviously not all situations can be solved in a MacGyver-like way, but asking the question does at least live you the opportunity to assess the situation from all angles before acting.


Posted by: Joe SAKic 2 January 2015 - 08:07 PM
I find the whole 'MacGyver School of Thought' most useful in DIY projects and photography.

Photography shoots, in particular, are very much like an episode of MacGyver where you may only have a short window of time & associated prep work just to get you into position to get an opportunity for a successful outcome ..... or (as it were) rare shot of butterfly, bird, deer, rainbow or sunset.

How you set yourself up is make or break and analyzing the situation and improvising on the spot can be critical. Angles, lighting, positioning, weather conditions and camera control are the intangibles and analogous to Mac's technical dilemmas both in technical difficulty and real time stress. In other words - time sensitive, logistic conundrums.

When I first started photography, I would show up at a location, take a few snaps and leave. Later on, I would show up at a location, walk around for an hour, analyze every possible shooting scenario, then taken some snaps, and then leave. The 'MacGyver School of Thought' adds an additional level/dimension to this cerebral process .......

Posted by: MacFan092985 7 April 2015 - 01:30 PM
Hoping I'm not crossing the line of TMI, but I have started purchasing toilet paper that does not have a cardboard tube, thereby cutting down on the amount of material to be recycled and impacting the environment that much less. unsure.gif

Posted by: denizen 7 April 2015 - 11:23 PM
Hey, good for you, MacFan. As Mac always used to say, every little helps.

Posted by: Jediferret 21 April 2015 - 08:49 AM
I wasn't exactly sure "where" to post this, but I just thought it was a cool video and wanted to share. smile.gif


Posted by: Fellow Traveler 21 April 2015 - 11:05 PM
QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 1 January 2015 - 12:07 AM)
The fist step to MacGyvering your life is to ask what would he do?


macsak.gif


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Tie his shoe laces. SCNR

Posted by: Fellow Traveler 21 April 2015 - 11:12 PM
QUOTE (Jediferret @ 22 April 2015 - 04:49 AM)
I wasn't exactly sure "where" to post this, but I just thought it was a cool video and wanted to share. smile.gif


Thanks for sharing this video. I will share this through my various social media channels because there's a lot of truth in there.

Posted by: KiwiTek 22 April 2015 - 02:06 AM
QUOTE (MacFan092985 @ 8 April 2015 - 10:30 AM)
Hoping I'm not crossing the line of TMI, but I have started purchasing toilet paper that does not have a cardboard tube, thereby cutting down on the amount of material to be recycled and impacting the environment that much less. unsure.gif

Good one. Little changes like that can make a big difference.

It is after all the tiny drops of rain which fills the bucket with water.


Posted by: Jediferret 22 April 2015 - 08:38 AM
QUOTE (Fellow Traveler @ 22 April 2015 - 02:12 AM)
Thanks for sharing this video. I will share this through my various social media channels because there's a lot of truth in there.

Sure! I really like this guy. He's got some amazing videos.

Posted by: denizen 22 April 2015 - 10:04 AM
Powerful video, Jedi

Posted by: Barry Rowland 16 June 2015 - 03:19 AM
Great video! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Posted by: Jediferret 2 December 2015 - 04:50 PM
Prince EA just made another video. It's really good and wanted to share. happy.gif


Posted by: denizen 2 December 2015 - 08:23 PM
A great video. Now if we could only get the worlds leaders and the rest of society to watch it, understand it and make a difference.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 2 December 2015 - 08:43 PM
I agree Denizen. Thanks for sharing this with us Jedi.

Posted by: Maclover 3 December 2015 - 10:10 AM
So I am sometimes in a quandary as to whether people on the streets need your help, or whether they are just trying to take advantage of good nature to top up another life (there are a certain number of frauds out there). At the weekend on a bitterly cold day I walked past a seller who tried to get me to buy a copy of the Big Issue which I didn't really want, but she looked frozen and I found it hard to believe that she would be standing there if she had any option - I still didn't want the magazine though. It was almost December, the season of goodwill and I didn't feel good about walking past her. My solution was a trip into the local bakery and procurement of a cup of hot soup and a tasty bun which I took back and gave to her. I got a smile in response displaying a load of gold fillings! (clearly she hadn't always been down on her luck) so was she a fraud or not, I couldn't tell, but I still think the soup and bun was a better solution. What would Mac have done?

Posted by: Barry Rowland 3 December 2015 - 02:49 PM
I've done the same thing Maclover. On my nightly patrol, my partner and I come across people down on their luck from time to time. A nice hot meal is more than most folks do, and it goes a lot further. I like to think that Mac would do the same. Either way, way to go Maclover!! thumbsup.gif

Posted by: Grazer 3 December 2015 - 05:20 PM
Feeding someone sounds like a better option to me than giving money.


Posted by: Walter 3 December 2015 - 05:33 PM
QUOTE (Jediferret @ 2 December 2015 - 06:50 PM)
Prince EA just made another video.  It's really good and wanted to share. happy.gif


I'd like to know where and how he got the stats he uses. We've become to fond of just excepting what others say as fact.

That's NOT what MacGyver would do. He would want cold hard facts and citation to back them up as we saw in the Mask of the wolf when Jack came to him with his story his reaction was lets do some research first and find out what we're really dealing with.

Posted by: Jediferret 11 December 2015 - 02:00 PM
Here's an older one that you guys may like. smile.gif


Posted by: Maclover 13 December 2015 - 02:11 PM
I must admit I am not impressed by Prince. I guess the overall message presented is correct, but I find his delivery boring after a minute or so, and his attitude unconvincing. I've heard similar messages presented by lots of different people and been far more convinced than I am by Mr Prince. Sorry Jediferret, but he doesn't do it for me.

Posted by: Jediferret 13 December 2015 - 08:29 PM
No worries. smile.gif I just posted 'em because they struck a personal cord with me, and I felt they relevant. But, I can understand why these wouldn't impress some... my mother wasn't very impressed by these types of videos either. lol

Posted by: Maclover 22 January 2016 - 01:57 PM
So MacGyver was often written around doing the right thing, and like many TV series doing the right thing often brought its own rewards. Some religious people would invoke a higher deity, but as you know I am not overtly religious in any faith. However, despite that I’ve always tried to do ‘the right thing’ and have over the years handed in two full wallets, and a gold watch. I’ve also have my own full purse returned twice (I know, losing it once is chance, losing it twice verges on carelessness!) so maybe someone somewhere looks after me, I just don't know.

So this morning I realise that last night in the sports hall I have lost my much loved Leatherman – I was waiting for my son and knitting a coat for one of our ex. Battery hens with lost feathers and needed to cut the wool. I phoned the hall – nothing handed in :-( Very, very disgruntled I take mum shopping for the day and we stopped for lunch in a food court. Enter two grandparents (GP’s) with toddler. GP’s possibly not quite as nimble as they might have been a few years back, loads of shopping bags. GP’s obtain toddler seat – how hard can it be to fit toddler in modern toddler seat? Hole for child obviously too small. So it’s ensuing behind me so I get up and manhandle the seat. Within moments discover trigger mechanism that completely removes table, click off, click on, click off. Suggest GP deploys child in seat, arms clear – yes, successfully deploy table child in place :-D GP’s then decide to eat at far side of eatery! So I c.b.a. to remove child so I manhandle seat with deployed child to chosen table, resplendent with appropriate brrmm, brrmm, car noises and leave happy family to their lunch. I go back to my table and as an off-hand comment say “well if him upstairs was watching, maybe I’ll earn some Brownie points towards getting my Leatherman back!”, OK, I’d have helped anyway, but…….

So I get home phone hall, still nothing found :-( I have to take kids out tonight, so decide to visit the hall and take reward poster. On the way I drop off kids and on the way back to the car I am walking behind mum with another toddler in the dark. Toddler obviously drops a tissue in the mud and starts crying when mum won’t let her have it back (all muddy and soggy) – toddler is obviously tired and whiney. I’ve got a new box of recently opened tissues in the back of the car, so announce to toddler, I can fix this terrible thing and would she like a brand new tissue? Box is duly procured with big fluffy white tissue tantalising positioned to be grabbed. Tissue is ripped forth with great enthusiasm, tears cease and I get a beaming smile for my trouble – def. worthwhile : -)
Next stop the hall, hand in poster and ask lady if I might look where I was sitting on a bench when I lost the Leatherman. Can’t see anything on easy looking – well I’m here, hands and knees worth a try, there under the bench wedged almost invisibly in a ½” gap completely covered by the bench is the black pouch containing my beloved Leatherman. :-)

OK, so I’ll believe that weird things sometimes happen, but just on the off-chance I raised a nod skywards and said thank-you!! It all felt rather MacGyver!!

Has anyone else got a weird tale of coincidence to share?

Posted by: Barry Rowland 22 January 2016 - 09:45 PM
Outstanding story Maclover! I lost my first Leatherman, which we got for my Dad when they first came out, and never recovered it. It was an '83 PST which I'd kill to have again, so I know where you are coming from. I know that if I try to do anything but the right thing, it tends to blow up in my face so I have to feel that I'm being steered to do right somehow. Mac is a great role model in that he always tried, no matter the personal cost, to do what's right. Thanks for sharing that with us biggrin.gif

Posted by: KiwiTek 4 May 2016 - 04:22 AM
Here's a good resource to get kids started in recycling. It's what MacGyver would do. wink.gif


http://www.kenburn.co.uk/recycling-for-kids/

Posted by: Barry Rowland 4 May 2016 - 10:20 AM
I like it! biggrin.gif

Posted by: Scorpion Regent 4 August 2016 - 01:11 AM
It seemed that in the past that ingenuity and perseverance could overcome any problem. Now days I often find myself surrounded by people who can't be bothered to think their way out of a paper bag. It is not that they lack capability, but they are mentally lazy. MacGyver never "bought the win" by hiring someone else to solve the problem for him or buying a cool bit of equipment to do the job. The United States is running out of a Americans and is slowly being filled up with American'ts. It's not a panacea, but if more people were to ask themselves "What would MacGyver do?" when faced with a challenge the world would be a better place.

Posted by: IAMTHEMACGYVER 6 November 2016 - 06:01 PM
When you'r in a jam and you have to get something working or try to make something work, you have to use you'r surroundings. I had this super neat flashlight I loved it and then the wires tore off on the inside. So what I did we I found a used staple and wala it worked again. I always have those times were a Macgyverism comes to me so I have a few here and there. sak.gif

Posted by: beth 8 November 2017 - 06:40 PM
QUOTE (Grazer @ 3 December 2015 - 05:20 PM)
Feeding someone sounds like a better option to me than giving money.

This makes me think of when I was in Chicago 3 years ago for a photo assignment. I went into a Subway sandwich shop for lunch and there was a man there that was down on his luck. He asked me for money and I gave him a $5. I don't carry much cash. He got upset and his response was "Is that all? What can I get with $5?" It's Subway. You can get a 12 inch long sandwich which should feed you for two meals! Ungrateful.

Posted by: denizen 8 November 2017 - 07:58 PM
Giving to needy people has always been a debatable topic for me. Mainly because there is no way to ascertain whether they are really in need or just taking a chance. I see deceit in this area all the time, such as people acting like they are handicapped and when the day is over, they brisk-fully head home alas miracle cure.

If i can see someone is really struggling, they dont make it obvious or ask for change, or there is something about them that i feel needs assistance in some way, i will lend a hand.

Posted by: beth 8 November 2017 - 08:53 PM
QUOTE (denizen @ 8 November 2017 - 07:58 PM)
Giving to needy people has always been a debatable topic for me. Mainly because there is no way to ascertain whether they are really in need or just taking a chance. I see deceit in this area all the time, such as people acting like they are handicapped and when the day is over, they brisk-fully head home alas miracle cure.

If i can see someone is really struggling, they dont make it obvious or ask for change, or there is something about them that i feel needs assistance in some way, i will lend a hand.

I felt good about the fact that I tried to make someones day a little better. It just would have been nice to get a "thank you" instead of an "is that all?".

Posted by: Barry Rowland 8 November 2017 - 09:42 PM
I think if everyone tried to make someone smile everyday, the world would really be a better place. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Maclover 9 November 2017 - 12:13 AM
Hi Barry

Sometimes a 'Smile' is all it takes to make someone feel better. I am a regular 'Smile' giver and you can tell when it's worked because you often get a smile back. It is psychologically proved that smiling makes people feel better. It's what Mac did when he made the 'hanky doll' - it cost him very little and yet the smile he got made it all worthwhile. Sometimes it's attitude that makes the difference. Did you open the door for a struggling mum and a pushchair, did you move to one side when you saw someone with a white stick, did you smile at the lone senior citizen who thought they were out shopping, unacknowledged and lonel? As I am sure we all do (we are after all Mac fans), I do all of the above and I think what goes around, comes around.

I came home from the city last night on using the rail network with a very heavy case. I had a full 'up and over' bridge to negotiate at the last station and a great chap grabbed one side of the bag and helped me over. I gave him a huge thank you and made sure that he heard me tell my father that he'd helped me - mind you given the weight of the bag he might have regretted the decision, but it made my day and I hope he felt it worthwhile to have volunteered.

Posted by: denizen 9 November 2017 - 04:11 AM
You guys should watch the movie Pay it Forward, in case you never saw it.
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Posted by: Jediferret 9 November 2017 - 05:35 AM
I'm generally a friendly person, though I'll have days where I don't want to be bothered. I always try to be nice to people regardless. I've been used before (long story), so I'm very careful about my money. I don't usually have much to spare folks... if any.

Instead, I donate to charities. That way I know the money is being used properly. I'm very picky about who I support as well. Because of my job, I know the people that run the local community programs... likes food pantries. Because one of them is a co-worker, I can get information cards from him. So I carry those with me in case I run into a needy person. Instead of giving them cash, I give them a card and tell them... go here, they'll make sure you get food and/or a place to stay.

My co-worker actually runs three local programs. Bread for Life, a food pantry, Room in the Inn, for homeless and Celebrate Recovery, for addicts. He and his wife are actually really nice people. They've been through their own crap, and have since turned their lives around. Because of that, they try to help others and are sincere about it. It's nice to see that.

Because of my past experiences, I'm a bit on the jaded side.... so I'm very skeptical, even though I want to help. The information cards help because it takes the pressure off of me, and gives the person resources to get back on their feet. If they need the help, they'll get it.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 9 November 2017 - 11:55 AM
Jedi, you've brought a million smiles here to us over the years! biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

Posted by: Jediferret 10 November 2017 - 09:55 AM
Yeah? That's great to hear!

I'll do my best to continue that. biggrin.gif

Thanks Barry! happy.gif

Posted by: Logan_MacGyver 6 January 2019 - 01:01 AM
"What would macgyver do" is my favorite sorta motivational quote

Posted by: MacFan77 30 September 2019 - 09:25 AM
I believe my 8 year old (who is a huge RDA MacGyver fan as well) epitomizes the WWMD question. His heart is as big as his whole body. He gives without expecting anything in return. Recently, there was a fund raiser...everytime the kids sold 3 items they got to pick a toy. He had already gotten a couple of toys and when he hit the 9 item mark, my wife asked him what toy he got. He replied, "I let Mary get a toy instead of me. She hasn't sold anything yet and all of the other kids tease her. I think I am her only friend." Needless to say, he got hugs and my wife and I both shed a tear or two. On days that they have treats, my son always asks for extra money so he can buy for a couple of the kids who never get treats.

It just makes me feel good knowing that, even with all of the mistakes I've made, it seems like the kid is turning out A-OK.

Posted by: Maclover 30 September 2019 - 10:34 AM
So I have started running in order to participate in a, so called, 'fun run' raising money for a local hospice, It's in a couple of weeks. It's only 5Km (3.1miles), but I am finding learning to run rather hard going, but I am delighted that, with the help of sponsorship from friends and some rather overly generous support from my clients and regular employer I have already raised my somewhat optimistic online total. I might well end up knackered and might not be able to complete the whole distance without walking, but I'm giving it my best shot in an attempt to do my part in return for the generous sponsorship I've been given. I got soaked training in the rain tonight! I think that qualfies as DWMWD. biggrin.gif

Posted by: MacFan77 1 October 2019 - 03:43 AM
QUOTE (Maclover @ 30 September 2019 - 10:34 AM)
So I have started running in order to participate in a, so called, 'fun run' raising money for a local hospice, It's in a couple of weeks. It's only 5Km (3.1miles), but I am finding learning to run rather hard going, but I am delighted that, with the help of sponsorship from friends and some rather overly generous support from my clients and regular employer I have already raised my somewhat optimistic online total. I might well end up knackered and might not be able to complete the whole distance without walking, but I'm giving it my best shot in an attempt to do my part in return for the generous sponsorship I've been given. I got soaked training in the rain tonight! I think that qualfies as DWMWD. biggrin.gif

I think that definitely qualifies. Awesome job!

Posted by: Maclover 23 October 2019 - 01:49 PM
Ok, with around 36hrs notice thay cancelled the fun run due to the weather being bad. Not re-running it until June next year! I know that it is people that benefit from a hospice who are far worse off than I am and I will finally get to do next year, but I was quite disappointed when I found out. It was like losing something I never even had. I also feel a little guilty for thinking of my disappointment rather than thanking good luck that I don't their services unlike some others. All in all not a satisfactory outcome and I've got to keep running until next summer.

Posted by: uniquelyjas 24 October 2019 - 05:07 AM
QUOTE (Maclover @ 23 October 2019 - 01:49 PM)
Ok, with around 36hrs notice thay cancelled the fun run due to the weather being bad. Not re-running it until June next year! I know that it is people that benefit from a hospice who are far worse off than I am and I will finally get to do next year, but I was quite disappointed when I found out. It was like losing something I never even had. I also feel a little guilty for thinking of my disappointment rather than thanking good luck that I don't their services unlike some others. All in all not a satisfactory outcome and I've got to keep running until next summer.

So sorry to hear that! But weather is beyond your control (and even MacGyver's!). While you continue to train, is there perhaps an opportunity for you to help the hospice in another capacity? Donations, volunteering, etc?

Posted by: MarkD1733 27 October 2019 - 12:49 PM
Some things within my control that I have made a regular part of my life:

1) Donate blood regularly. (I am fortunate to be able to do this. Some simply cannot.)
2) Stay generally positive. Most of life's everyday problems have a solution. They're not that bad as they may seem. Just need time to figure them out.
3) Be ready to make a friend. If you ask the question, "How ya doin'?" be ready to listen--good, bad, otherwise. Be ready to learn their story. ("Learn how their different, or the same." -- The Guantlet)
4) Practice treating people with respect, empathy, and compassion, and give them the benefit of the doubt, push comes to shove. Don't just judge or rush to judgment.
5) Give time to someone else, regularly. (at some point, be a Big Brother/Big Sister. -- Pilot)
6) Cherish true friendship. ("I don't take friendship lightly. It's too hard to come by." -- Ugly Duckling)
7) Smile. (every episode)

Posted by: MacGyverGod 28 October 2019 - 02:36 AM
I'm a blood donator too.

Staying positive after what happened in the past seven years is kind of hard to do. I never asked for any of the problems that occured but I got sucked in, in ways you wouldn't believe.

I don't easily make friends and just like Mac, I don't like too many people around me.

I treat most people with respect, empathy and compassion. Depends on the relationship.

They get all the time they want.

There is one friendship I truly cherish and weirdly enough it's not a friendship I have with my any of my friends that I see regularly.

Again, after recent years, smiling is kind of hard to do.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 28 October 2019 - 06:07 AM
QUOTE (Maclover @ 24 October 2019 - 09:49 AM)
Ok, with around 36hrs notice thay cancelled the fun run due to the weather being bad. Not re-running it until June next year! I know that it is people that benefit from a hospice who are far worse off than I am and I will finally get to do next year, but I was quite disappointed when I found out. It was like losing something I never even had. I also feel a little guilty for thinking of my disappointment rather than thanking good luck that I don't their services unlike some others. All in all not a satisfactory outcome and I've got to keep running until next summer.

It's great of you to run though! In our own ways, we're all trying to make the world a better place 😊

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