We’re often asked if we’ve seen a pattern of success among the many thousands of entrepreneurs and creatives we’ve interviewed over the years and when we say yes, folks naturally ask what it takes to succeed and without a doubt one of the most essential ingredients for success is optimism. Cynics may often be right, but it’s only when an optimist is right that the world changes. Below, you’ll find more discussion around optimism and how to develop and foster it.
Thomas Cepeda
When I was in 4th grade, all of us in our class were tasked with creating a presentation on a cardboard about a planet in the solar system. I took it as an opportunity to have some fun and went all out and used glitter to create stars, glue to draw the shape of Saturn, a red cardboard paper for contrast and all the color pencils I had to color in the planet and the space it was in. Read more>>
Lisa Ascolese, The Inventress
My optimism comes from my faith in God, first and foremost. I come from a family steeped in positivity, from my grandparents to my parents, aunts and uncles, my brother and sister. My mom was the most nurturing person, kind, loving and caring. My dad was a great disciplinarian who showed us the importance of respect and gratitude. Coming from a West Indian family, respect is paramount! We have all walked by faith, not by sight, and they instilled this mindset in me from a young age. Read more>>
Vivian Tat
My optimism comes from my beliefs that anything is possible and that we can and will be better. As a child of immigrants, this idea is influenced by the American Dream. My goal is to ensure that each of us has the opportunity to live our happiest and healthiest lives. Though barriers exist, I have faith in humanity’s goodness. Read more>>
Mike and Jessica Barakat
Our optimism comes from being around wonderful people. We feel so blessed to be able to work for ourselves, as husband and wife and have a family business we will one day pass on to our kids. We absolutely love getting to know the great people that come into our shop and being a part of the community. It makes our day to hear how people love our pies and the stories of how our pies become a part of peoples lives, whether it be a special event or a weekly treat. Read more>>
Vanesia Bowden
My optimism is a direct correlation to my faith. The more I believe God and take him at his word, the more I trust him with the outcome knowing all things work together for my good. Additionally, I have been blessed to experience God coming through for me and showing his mercy towards me. So when very challenging situations arise, I remind myself of my victories and optimism grows. Read more>>
Belynda Montgomery
My optimism comes from watching my patients and clients get better after putting in the hard work in therapy. It’s very exciting and rewarding to see someone go through a terrible situation and come out on the other side stronger. This deep knowledge they wouldn’t have gotten without their life being in the balance. Read more>>
Randy Robledo
I believe my optimism comes from life experience. Through all of the hardships I may have gone through, everything will work out one way or another. It may not always be what you want it to be but life will take you in directions and open doors that you are meant to walk through that you didn’t even know you wanted or needed. Read more>>
Lamar Atkins
Growing up in humble beginnings in rural South Carolina, all I had was love for my craft and my faith. I have found my optimism through my adversities and obstacles I’ve faced through life. I lean on my faith to keep my head up and go to artistic crafts to find solace and understanding of the world around me. Read more>>
Elizabeth Solar
Much of my optimism is innate. I also have a skeptical side, that balance out any over-exuberance. So, I’ll call myself a skeptical optimist. But even with our personal and collective challenges, I often see the upside. Years ago, when I ‘lost my religion’ in a traditional sense, I put more faith in people, especially in the goodness of my children. That faith extends to these next generations, with their energy and promise. Read more>>
Mile Vasquez
Optimism in my life stems from the rich and vibrant environment my parents created for me. My parents were eclectic individuals with a deep love for nature, animals, art, and culture. My father was a renowned botanist in Bolivia, and he shared his passion for nature and conservation with me, fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity. Growing up surrounded by exotic plants, cactus gardens, and a home filled with laughter and life shaped my optimistic outlook. Read more>>
Madisen Judge
I think that humans were made to make art. It makes me so overwhelmed with joy to remember that humans have covered the world in art for as long as we’ve existed and shared that with other humans. To make bad art, good art, any art at all is the easiest way to keep the joy of being alive lit. I love knowing that for forever humans will continue making art bad or good. Read more>>
Stacey Hoyt
When you tell yourself that everything is going to be alright, you are inclined to do what needs to be done to make sure that everything is indeed going to be alright. Having a positive attitude as a default is something that can be practiced. Read more>>
Jay Martens
Can you imagine being in great physical shape, training for a full marathon, being able to doing all the things you need and want to do? Well that was me, then I slowly developed a brain tumor in my pituitary gland and didn’t realize it till i suddenly got double vision. There were signs that I clearly missed, like when i would glare to the left and it took more time for my vision to catch up and focus with my head as it turned. Read more>>
Fangjian Li
I have never been an optimistic person. Before making a decision, I might consider many things, such as the potential consequences and impacts on me, repeatedly thinking about the worst possible outcomes. However, I found myself rarely regretting my choices. On one hand, regret holds little meaning; on the other, I believe that as long as a person is alive, there are infinite possibilities. Our eyes are on the front of our heads, not the back. Read more>>
Laura Marie Rubin
My optimism comes from my belief that joy is a state of being. This perspective helps me maintain a positive and resilient outlook on life because I focus on the intrinsic ability to experience joy regardless of external circumstances. My work in helping women find what they need to come alive and providing spaces for transformation further reinforces my optimism, as I see the potential for joy and change in others as well. Read more>>
Marilyn Nguyen
My optimism comes from my passion for capturing the unique beauty in every individual I photograph. Seeing the confidence that my portraits bring to people inspires me and keeps me positive. Additionally, the challenges and creative opportunities in photography push me to always look for the best in every situation. Read more>>
Marcus Hamm
I had a beautiful childhood, one that allowed my imagination to thrive. I fell in love with film from the time I spent with my family watching both in theaters and at home. That fondness led me to gain optimism as I would always look forward to what’s coming next. Read more>>
Dr. Shannon South
Having overcome debilitating panic attacks, post traumatic stress disorder, trauma and depression, I know that complete and total healing is possible. This gives me so much optimism for the world and whatever challenges we face. (and I know there are many) I know we have incredible strength and the capacity to rewire and re-fire new patterns, mind-body and Spirit. Read more>>
Tiffany Conway
My optimism comes from the simple fact that I’m still here. Every day that we wake up is another day and an opportunity to try again applying whatever you have learned from the day before. My optimism comes from the fact that I’m still standing, regardless of the odds and obstacles that are temporarily in my way. Read more>>
Marianne Renauld
My optimism comes from a combination of my upbringing, personal experiences, and a conscious choice to focus on the positive aspects of life ♥️ Read more>>
Bayan Kabbani
I always try to see the bright side of things, even when it seems difficult to. I really believe that things will work out and there’s always a silver lining to every situation. It’s easy to get caught up in negatives, but I filter that out and focus on possibilities rather than limitations, and approach life with confidence and a sense of humor. Read more>>
Nathaniel Richards
My optimism stems from observing people I know endure struggles that darkened their spirits. From a young age, I promised myself that no matter what trials I might face, I would never live my life negatively. Instead, I choose to support and praise those around me and to be mindful of the energy I put into the world. Read more>>
Lisa Febre
I am a naturally positive person. I don’t know where it comes from or how it developed, I only know that I’ve always been someone who sees the positive in nearly every situation. For most of my life, that usually meant being optimistic about normal every day things. I’m the rare person who find the Los Angeles gridlock amusing as I creep along with the other cars. But after my cancer diagnosis, it seemed like everything suddenly snapped into sharp focus. Read more>>
Seiji Yamaguchi
The lessons of my youth have woven themselves into my inner dialogue as a young woman, guiding my optimistic outlook and shaping the way I navigate life. Growing up in a household where energy was a central theme, I learned from an early age the power of a positive outlook. My parents were my biggest influences; my father always described his work as play, showing me that loving what you do can infuse joy into every aspect of life. Read more>>
LUZ NINO
My optimism comes from the desire to be the best I can be, from the love and support of family and friends. Also, believing that everything I do matters. Read more>>
Olivia Ruuska
My optimism comes from real-life experiences. Even at what I’ve felt is my lowest, something positive always comes out on the other side. It’s not easy to see it in that moment to pull yourself up and keep going. When it feels like the world is against you, it can be easy to quit and say, “I tried.” But, it’s those who push past the, “I tried,” phase and continue moving forward who end up successful on the other side. Read more>>
Annika Koser
I find a lot of optimism in knowing how temporary everything is- that really helps me keep my stress level down. Whether that’s thinking “I’ll never have this moment again so I want to enjoy it while it’s here” or “a month, a year or a few years from now this won’t be a big deal so why stress over it”. Plus I lean pretty heavy on the idea of YinYang where you can’t have the dark without the light so I know that if I’m going through something not so desirable it’s not going to last forever and that really helps me get through it. Read more>>
Camille Kouyoumdjian
As an artist focused on portraying fragile ecosystems, my optimism comes from the landscapes I visit and paint. Exploring national parks like Shenandoah, Acadia, Glacier, and beyond provides me with the opportunity to witness nature’s resilience and beauty, despite the impacts of our human footprint and climate change. For example, seeing the gradual melting of glaciers or the erosion in Shenandoah is sobering but also hopeful. Read more>>
Audrey Glass
Honestly, it’s come from my mom. She’s shown me to always see the best in every situation and that positivity attracts positivity. Focusing on the negative will make you spiral and only make things worse. However, the second you focus on the positive side of things, you find solutions to your problems and new doors open. Once you experience the power of optimism, there’s no going back! Read more>>
Crystal 佳音 Ren 任
In my personal view, optimism is an attitude towards dealing with the events in life. From a secular perspective, I don’t consider myself an optimistic person. However, people around me often describe me as someone who always has high energy and faces challenges positively. As more people expressed this view, I began to seriously reflect on why I received such judgments. Summarizing my relatively short life experiences, I found that I have always had a perception of external things that surpasses my peers. Read more>>
Jacqui Getz
I connect being optimistic directly to being solution- oriented. As an educator for 36 years, 25 of which was spent as a school leader, believing that problem-solving and seeking solution in a collaborative manner is an essential attribute. These habits of mind are also the underpinnings of being optimistic. Read more>>
Jessyca Bluwal
I just really love my work. I’m a Costume Designer and have been for 12 years. I was a late bloomer and didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to be a creative. I’ve had office jobs that sucked out my soul, but doing what I love really makes me happy. This is a career most people dream about and I get to do it, so I’m very optimistic. Read more>>
