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.
Renato Fernandes
Optimism isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build, piece by piece, especially when life challenges you to keep moving forward against all odds. For me, optimism is a practice, forged through my experiences as a father, an artist, and a dreamer who refused to give up on the impossible. Read more>>
Zaysha Hambrick
I have learned to see the good in all the struggles in life, without the struggle you can’t appreciate the good you got out of that time in life. Struggles build character, helping me to understand everyone deals with struggles not just when it comes to money, struggles can be anything in life. learning to overcome the struggles made me the person I am today and who I will be in the future. I always look at life as another opportunity to do better and be better. When you think positive you get positivity back. I put all my faith in God even when I can’t see the obstacles I overcame through me staying optimistic and learning to keep going no matter what is thrown my way. Read more>>
Arnyce Foster-hernandez
I grew up with my identical twin sister and mom. My mom is a single parent. She loved us dearly but couldn’t provide for us as other parents did for their kids. Our grandmother died from breast cancer when she was only 48 years old. My mom was 25, and my sister and I were 6. This was traumatizing to my mom. Not only did our father leave my mom when we were one years old, but then her mom died, leaving her to raise us on her own. And that she did. Read more>>
Donnell White
My optimism comes from the people I’ve surrounded myself with throughout my life. From a young age, I’ve always gravitated toward relationships that are uplifting and inspiring. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have wonderful friends and mentors who have a forward-thinking mindset and who remind me that challenges are additional opportunities to grow. Read more>>
Miranda Malone
My optimism comes from the resilience I’ve cultivated through loss and the grounding I’ve found in spiritualism, which has shown me there is more to life than just the pain of losing my mom. Growing up without her left me with a deep sense of longing and questions that shaped much of my early journey. For a long time, I felt untethered, defined by grief and the absence of that maternal connection. But as I began to explore spirituality, everything shifted. Read more>>
Caleb Rouse
My optimism is deeply rooted in my faith in Jesus Christ. He gives me hope and purpose, even when life feels overwhelming. There have been seasons where circumstances seemed bleak, but through my relationship with Him, I’ve learned to see beyond the immediate challenges. Jesus gives me clarity and vision, showing me that no matter how difficult the situation, there’s always a way forward. He has never failed to provide me with the strength and solutions I need to navigate through. Read more>>
Redd Coltrane
My sense of optimism comes mostly from trial and error. Having now lived through what seems to be a nonstop barrage of “unprecedented times,” I have found that choosing optimism is the only way to keep myself from wallowing in debilitating sorrow. Being optimistic just makes life a little bit easier. Focusing on the positives in every situation — and there are always positives — gives the world so much more brightness. I work hard to foster a greater sense of gratitude for every moment of my life. When the world seems to be burning around us, I find joy and peace in being physically able to walk around my neighborhood, to exchange pleasantries with those in my community, and the simple pleasure of watching a sunset. No matter what life throws at us, time will continue to tick onward and we have no choice but to get through whatever we’re going through. I just choose to do it while focusing on the positives. Can you tell I’m a sagittarius? Read more>>
Javier Sabanza
Well, my optimism always comes from my ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, that’s how my professional career began, I got a job out of a bad moment. Read more>>
Miho Hatanaka
My optimism come from knowing my purpose and goals. In 2019, I wrote my bucket list of 100 things I want. Things I want to have, things I want to do, things I want to do for other people. From then, I’ve developed a habit of writing down and journaling to fulfill my dreams. I’ve been a dreamer but I didn’t know where to start, so writing down my dreams and goals really helped me organize my thoughts. Reflecting back on what I’ve journaled helped me to identify there are little things I can start working on. Now I see my big audacious goal as like summiting a mountain, one step at a time. So my optimism comes from knowing where I am going and looking forward to the view from the summit! I keep revisiting my purpose time to time, my purpose has grown over time too, so now I have a really really big mountain that I’m climbing. I want to build a healthy, supportive, prosperous community and businesses that supports all healers & healthcare workers. Read more>>
Nadeen
I believe my optimism is deeply rooted in my faith. Life is unpredictable, and nothing is promised, so I’ve learned not to waste energy worrying about the future. Instead, I focus on the present and the opportunities it holds, even in the face of challenges. Worrying only distracts from the growth that can come from finding ways through difficulties as they arise. Read more>>
Emily Larsen
I’m lucky that it’s easy to be optimistic at my job at the Springville Museum of Art. I truly believe in our mission and the transformative power of art to enrich lives, so I know that everything we do contributes to the greater good. Plus, the stakes are low on the downside but huge on the upside—we might make a small mistake, but we also have the chance to inspire hope, connection, and joy for each of our visitors. I also believe most challenges can be solved with money, time, or creativity, so it’s easy to stay positive when you see problems as opportunities. Read more>>
Fanicia Rogers
Being the youngest of 4 children, my mother and father provided a safe, calm, fun, and stable home for us. As a child, all my needs were met, and I lived a good life. After I became a teenager/young adult, I realized that we were not rich and that my mom and dad sacrificed a lot just to make sure we were comfortable. I have gone through some trials in my life that I thought I would not be able to make it through but with my upbringing and being grounded in my faith, I made it! Many times I have thought about those obstacles and how hard they were to cross but then realized that someone, somewhere was dealing with something more tragic or devastating than what I was going though, so I should just be thankful and grateful for what I had and to use that trial as a stepping stone to keep moving along. Read more>>
Kamoni Renee
My optimism has can from my very own life experience. You can truly change your life with a simple thought along with taking action. Environment is paramount in their process. Going someplace or surrounding yourself with things that contribute to make you feel your best. The best thing I every did for myself is as “What makes you happy” Be honest with yourself and move in that direction. Read more>>
Roman Slappey
My optimsim comes from my upbringing. I just always felt that things would get better no matter how bad things were for my family and I. Thats where my ambition, discipline and work ethic come from because I know that bad times dont last forever. The only constant in the world is change. Nothing lasts forever, whether it be good or bad but you should always stay optimistic and resilient because it will pass. This will sound very corny but one of my favorite exapmles of resilience and optimism would be Spongebob. He has a terrible boss, co-worker and neighbors. Everyone is mean or annoyed with him, but everyday he wakes up positive and ready to get it. He’s failed his boating test countless times, but it doesn’t matter. He’ll keep trying. Read more>>
Laura Lee
My optimism comes from a deep-rooted belief in reinvention and the potential to create meaningful change. As a child, I was often told I wasn’t a good writer, which was disheartening because I loved storytelling. Instead of letting that define me, I turned to drawing to capture the moments and memories that mattered most—like sketching my grandparents during a quiet lunch together. That passion for storytelling eventually led me to architecture, where I found a way to express myself through spaces and places that could inspire and bring joy to others. For me, optimism is about finding creative ways to tell stories and connect with people, even when the world says ‘no.’ Read more>>
Veronica Gomez
Optimism didn’t just happen—it grew. My years in healthcare taught me that even in the toughest moments, there’s always a seed of hope. I saw firsthand how small changes, like better habits or a positive mindset, could transform lives.
When I started Pure Sprout Microgreens, I carried that lesson with me. Planting tiny seeds and watching them grow into something vibrant and full of life reminded me that big results come from small, consistent actions. Read more>>
