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.
Caleb Folkerts
My optimism comes from a deep belief in the resilience of people and the power of transformation. As a psychotherapist, I’ve seen firsthand how individuals can overcome incredible challenges and rebuild their lives, even in the face of trauma or adversity. That’s what fuels my hope—witnessing growth, healing, and change in the people I work with. Read more>>
Lizette Castro
I feel in this day and age, optimism is something that people lack from uncertainty of the future. Which is really understandable, because oftentimes when we are struggling and things are looking so hopeless that we feel stuck. The flooding of internal crisis just starts bombarding the brain with the “what if”, “why”, “how”, and maybe “is this worth it”, making optimism feel like a delusion rather than an option. To me, this is an opportunity to be optimistic because instead of thinking about the worst-case scenario, I have to remind myself that not everything is ever completely doomed; sometimes things can actually turn out great or sometimes, nothing happens at all. Read more>>
Kaustav Sarkar
My optimism comes from my faith in the uncertainty of life on the principle that I do good and in the due course of time good shall return to me. There may be times that seem hard, but it shall pass too. It also comes from the generosity, belief, and honesty that I have grown up with. I realized that if you stick to your principles of being unconditionally good to the life of others, you get blessed at times when you expect the least from life. Sometimes when I have chased my desires in life they only seem to move farther and farther. Still, in the acceptance that I keep doing what I do and not worry about the outcome, life presented me with opportunities that resulted in progress and discovering newfound ways of finding meaning purpose, and a resource to thrive and grow to push my limits. Read more>>
Kolade Adekoya
My optimism comes from my life experiences, especially watching my parents build their businesses from the ground up. Seeing them create something meaningful taught me the importance of resilience and hard work. I also believe that we are shaped by the environments and people we surround ourselves with. As I move through my own entrepreneurial journey, I often reflect on those early lessons and how they shaped me. Read more>>
Billy Kheel
My optimism is deeply rooted in my sense of community, particularly within my immediate neighborhood in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles. I take great pleasure in collaborating with local businesses and curators to showcase artwork inspired by our unique culture and landscape. Currently, I have an exhibition at Say Cheese, an iconic gourmet food store in Silverlake. Through the owner, Glenn, I was introduced to Pastor Kyle at the Silverlake Community Church, and together we are working on a collaborative project that includes donating a percentage of sales to support the church’s programs for our unhoused community. It’s these meaningful connections that continually elevate my sense of optimism. Read more>>
Jessie Keylon
I’m a realist, and I think that’s where my sense of optimism comes from. Things are the way they are. Humans are the complicated dichotomy of tragedy and comedy, of love and hate. Having no expectations helps me not become fully deflated when someone or something doesnt follow through. I have standards and boundaries, but the ability to take action and not put up with disrespectful situations fuels a bit of personal optimism. It has taken many years and experiences, including meditation retreats, living off grid, running my own business and divorcing out of abuse, to sort of “level up” to a tolerable balance of putting in the work, relying on the right people and disciplining the stubborn negativity that still resides in my head. This balance gives me a sense of a realist point of view, which seems like the closest to optimism one can have in today’s world. Read more>>
Danielle Neely
My optimism is deeply rooted in the love and encouragement I received from my parents at a very young age. They instilled in me a sense of confidence and belief that I could overcome any challenges I faced. As I got older, that belief stuck with me, and I’ve always felt I could accomplish whatever I set my mind. Recently, I heard a message in church that resonated with me: there are “hypothetical” people and “hopethetical” people. I strive to be the latter, always choosing hope and action over doubt and hesitation. Read more>>
Joe Rodger
I have never been the most optimistic person. However, as of the last couple years I’ve been doing daily gratitudes, at least five each morning and that has made my out look much more optimistic! In my mom’s defense, she has been telling me to do this since I can remember! Read more>>
Aaqib Mohammed
My optimism comes from a combination of experiences, perspective, and a deep belief in the potential for growth and improvement. As someone who has navigated challenges and seen both personal and professional transformations, I have learned that obstacles often pave the way for new opportunities. I believe that with the right mindset, determination, and support, we can always find a path forward, even in difficult situations. Read more>>
Melissa Rappaport Schifman
In today’s world and 24/7 news cycle, it can be difficult to remain optimistic. But some level of optimism is essential when running your own business; otherwise, we might as well just hang it up, right?! As a husband-and-wife team, we help each other remain optimistic about the future, reminding ourselves about what we have accomplished so far and the obstacles we have worked hard to overcome. We’ve both been through difficult times and realize we have a choice about how to react. Most of our optimism comes from our upbringing and life experiences, along with a positive mindset. There’s a great quote from Victor Frankl that we look at every day: “Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Read more>>
Kim Kleeman
Generally, in my life, people have seen me walk into a room, light up and call. out, “Hiya Sunshine” My mom’s friends called me that (teachers did too) and even in my work life, I’d come walking into a networking event and hear the same callout and see a friendly face smiling back at me.
My preference is to look at the bright side of things. I’ve encountered some bad times growing up and in my adult life, but resilience and tenacity, are needed to overcome those moments of adversity by adjusting your mindset and moving into a place of abundance. Read more>>
Heather Elson
My optimism comes from my volunteers and community partners. Their eagerness to notice and decrease their single-use plastic consumption is what this movement is all about. Their excitement and willingness to help fuels every positive thought and feeling I have about No More Liddering’s artivism and eco-education movement. Sometimes, when I am discouraged, or experience self-doubt, I am transparent about it with my friends and family. I share my insecurities openly because I am a firm believer that authenticity brings us all closer together, and it allows others to experience altruism. Sometimes all I need is a hug, and an uplifting word from others to get back to a more believable, happy head space. Read more>>
Alix Azuike
My optimism comes from a place I continuously maintain; happiness is a feeling and to be happy is an active choice. My optimism lies in my love for humanity and culture, I believe people have extraordinary capabilities. I often reflect on where I am in life and the time in which I exist — is it perfect? No. There’s no point in looking for perfection it truly robs you of hope if you align with that way of thinking. Read more>>
Joseph Jesse Ovalle
Growing up in what felt like the middle of nowhere, I was fortunate to have parents who were unconditionally supportive and loving. I was often told I was one of three of the most beautiful children in the world, that I was a genius who sometimes made mistakes or chose not to try, and that I was talented, courageous, and funny. While this might sound like boasting, it truly forms the foundation of my character. I received unconditional love and support, and I wish every child could have the same experience. Read more>>
Nathan Neven
In the life of an artist, there are disappointments, wishes or dreams that don’t come true. I don’t think you should ask yourself too many questions, don’t think about it too much, take a step back and always try to improve your technique and your imagination. Tell yourself that there are other ways of getting there, and that this isn’t your path, and tell yourself that the future belongs to you. In my experience, this attitude has always benefited me. Read more>>
Hilary Kern
Strangely enough, my optimism comes from facing one of the most challenging experiences of my life. Through the pandemic, my father had both Alzheimer’s and cancer, and died in 2022. By facing the loss, and meeting it with support, I learned that even in the darkest and tragic of moments, there is hope. That hope came from learning how to let in support and care from my dear friends and the hospice team. I also learned how to focus my own energy by making the choice moment after moment to demonstrate being a loving daughter. It was something amidst so much loss that was within my control. Read more>>
Quinta Yu
My optimism comes from understanding that pessimism doesn’t really serve any purpose—it only drags you down with more negative energy. I see life as a journey to be experienced, like the creative process in design, where the focus is on the path rather than the outcome. I believe our mindset shapes whether the ride is enjoyable or miserable. I have a lot of things I’m dissatisfied with, but rather than wasting energy on things I can’t change, I choose to face them with optimism. I see what some might call “failures” as stepping stones to future success. So, instead of falling into the endless pit of pessimism, I choose to stay optimistic, because that’s what fuels personal growth. Read more>>
Risha Allen
As young adults when asked, “what do you want to do for a career”, we almost always have at 3 choices. What do we do with those? We start with our most passionate field and launch our lives in that direction. If that doesn’t work, we try something else.
My optimism comes from knowing there is always another option. I’ve applied this in my career choice by first dreaming then doing. A lot of practice in anything in life does not come easy (or at all), so me being optimistic has allowed me to overcome negativity that may follow. Read more>>
Kim Casa
My optimism comes from the belief that the universe is conspiring in my favor. I view setbacks not as failures but as opportunities for growth and learning. Whenever I face a challenge, I ask myself how I can learn from it and become stronger. Each day, I wake up with the mindset that the world is full of abundance, and I consciously look for the good in every situation. This perspective keeps me focused on positivity and personal growth. Read more>>
Catherine Dvorak
My optimism grew from many years and time wasted as a pessimist. Through high school and college, I burned the candle at as many ends as I could between classes, work, extracurriculars and maintaining a social life. I didn’t know what burnout felt or looked like in myself. I didn’t have the time or money to address mental health or get diagnosed properly for ADHD, which would go undiagnosed for another twelve years. My head space was not supportive or a happy place. Read more>>
Felix Levine
I’ve always been an eternal optimist. I kind of feel like it’s the only way to find happiness, or be on the path to finding happiness. I remember when I was younger and I’d watch sports with my dad and if our favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, would be losing, I would immediately explain to him what they’d need to do in order to get back in the game and potentially win. I always loved a comeback story and you can’t make a comeback if you don’t have optimism. And thankfully, even when there have been many hard days in the last couple of years in terms of not feeling good enough with work or my career, I always try to put the negative emotions aside and strategize a path upward. Read more>>
Koura Linda
Probably my parents. And my family in general. I come from a long line of really hard-working but also incredibly awesome people who taught me to see the best in the world even when there is a lot to see that makes it clear there is a lot worse out there. I was given a strong foundation of proof that most people are good at their core, and even when they do bad things, it is usually either because of being misguided, or misinformed, or thinking that they are actually doing the right thing. Read more>>
Preston Rakovsky
Every Saturday, I go to a park in New York City and invite people to write anonymous letters and share them with the world. On Sunday, I sit in a cafe and read them all. The letters remind me that the human experience is filled with hope, joy, loss, and pain, and everyone is trying their best. Everyone is learning as they go. And it’s everyone’s first time being human. It’s easy to fall back into my routine and forget these things— understanding of others can all too easily fade with time. But, each week, active reflection helps a little more of that truth stick with me. That’s what gives me optimism: regularly seeing the world through the lens of others, and spreading the same message of empathy to as many people as possible. Read more>>
Sonya Hensley
My optimism comes from the beauty of life. The sky ,nature, animals, children, senior individuals that I have always befriended. The pure lusciousness inherent in food, clothing, artworks, music the human touch, and traveling the world. I was a bookworm growing up in a household with limited funds and a single parent. Playing outside in nature, making fortresses and food from sticks stones and mud. Watching the diligent march of ants , watching the spinning ferocity of huge spiders on the cornerstones of my building made me forever curious. Read more>>
Victoria Gorman
I believe that we are all born naturally with optimism but through trauma and other life experiences the world often limits our optimism and can easily crush our dreams. In the past couple of years I have built and enhanced my optimism through connecting to my intuition and practicing inner child work. For those unfamiliar inner child work is connecting to the part of you that is lets say 6-15 year old. I started reflecting on what I liked as a child such as having an ice cream cone, playing with makeup and even having bangs. As I started to incorporate this work in to my life I felt a spark come back into my life and just started to naturally feel more at home within myself and noticed feeling more optimistic about things! Read more>>
Chayce Rodriguez
Going to through pain, not understanding the value of people, losing loved ones, major depression, loneliness, lost of self and growing up with Low self esteem, failed buisness career in Cybersecurity at 22, poor family situations and then realizing that happiness is a discipline and purpose is within me and same with Everybody else….and that contentment is a choice…Positivity is beautiful because it’s easier said than done however the rewards are greater from mind body, soul and externally. Read more>>
Faiza Muhambi
My Mum, She played a great role in the success of my business , she had a remarkable ability to remain positive even when faced by challenges, she always viewed setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. This mind set has allowed me to stay motivated and find creative solutions when obstacles arise, Growing up I watched her handle difficulties ‘with grace and resilience which taught me the value of staying hopeful during tough times in both life and and work. My mum’s optimism not only helped me in my personal development and business but has made me who I am today. Read more>>
