I'm a business school professor at Rice and have a new book coming out called, "Stretch: Unlock the Power of Less -- And Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined." I was a big fan of MacGyver growing up and my book unpacks my decade plus of research behind what makes people and organizations resourceful (i.e., act like MacGyver). The book teaches how to get into a resourceful mindset by not asking what you don't have, and instead focusing on what's around. It then has different chapters covering the skills of being resourceful, such as diversifying experiences to look at resources in new ways, setting expectations about resources to make them more valuable, making unthinkable combinations, and learning to improvise.

I want to be polite and respectful of the forum, and not be too promotional. But if there's interest in the book and how it applies to living and working like a MacGyver, I'm happy to answer questions.

Please accept my apologies if I've intruded.

Hi ScottSonenshein and welcome to MacGyver Online.

Sounds fascinating and i wish you well in the success of your book.

Welcome to MacGyver Online !☺

I see you have it listed on Amazon for preorder already with a release date of Feb 7.

Sounds very interesting and I'm sure there will be some interest from the MacGyver community once it's released.

Yes, it should be of interest to MacGyver fans who want to understand what allows someone to be resourceful in work and like.

I do recount one episode in the book -- the time when Mac saved a hockey player he was coaching who was a troubled kid. The idea was that Mac was able to be resourceful not just in disarming bombs and taking down criminals, but with lots of different resources.

Well, you sold one copy anyway. Started reading it on Kindle today. Very good so far. Love the subject matter.

Yes, good question. Is one born resourceful or do they evolve/meld into being so as a result of their own life's trail? I mean if Daddy buys you a brand new BMW @ 16 with 5 years warranty, as opposed to buying an old clunker with your own paper route money and having to tinker with it every day and just to keep it going - who's more likely to become MacGyver-like?

This book is now available for purchase.

We have it in our store or you can jump straight to Amazon with the below link.

"How can I accomplish THIS task/solve THIS problem, with the resources (manpower, things, money, time), that I have on hand?" This is the driving question that all "Stretchers" ask themselves when seeking solutions to their dilemmas, big or small. This book teaches one how to do this via anecdotes and exercises designed to get one out of the traditional mindset of acquiring more and more specifically designed tools for a particular problem. The book is clear and well written, and causes one to reflect and think about what one truly needs. I highly recommend it.