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.
Debbie Williams
My optimism is something I’ve always lived with throughout the years. When asked what word I use to describe myself, I always answer, ‘I am a peacemaker.’ I like doing things that make other people happy. People tell me I’m a good listener and they appreciate the ways I do things that show my concern for others. Read more>>
Mamen y José
We believe that nothing comes easy, so we know we have to work very hard to achieve our goals. Our job allow us to travel, to feed our family and do the things we like, but we know that nothing last forever so bad things come to an end. Life is just one so we do not want to waste it. Read more>>
Flanagan Brassfield
Overall, my optimism comes from personal experience and a deep-rooted belief in the possibility of a better future. Every person’s journey is different, and I’ve seen firsthand how circumstances can shift in an instant – how the process of growth & healing sheds light on the progress that can come from the most unexpected places. Read more>>
Katrina Kelley
My optimism comes from experience—both the hard lessons and the beautiful surprises along the way. Building a business like Cigar Bella from the ground up, especially in a niche like live cigar rolling, has taught me that things do fall into place when you’re consistent, present, and open to growth. Read more>>
De’Vonna Pittman
When people ask me why I’m so optimistic, I smile and say, “Because I’ve seen too much not to believe.” I was raised in the church—where belief wasn’t just a concept, it was a way of life. I grew up watching people pray over bills and watch checks come in the mail. Read more>>
Alex Duvall
It was instilled in me from an early age that people were inherently good and had value. If God sees us as unique, valuable, important individuals to love, then we should see each other that way, too. I think the crux of Christianity, down to the most basic concept, is that we are to love each other because God first loved us. Read more>>
Antwan Lawshe
I believe my optimism comes from the “What If?” mindset mixed with a healthy dose of belief in my own ideas. Understanding that things can take time and having good creative sounding boards around you will keep you motivated to get that next project out because what if that’s the one that gives you the opportunity you’ve been looking for. Read more>>
Ahmad Fielder
I believe my optimism stemmed from the obstacles I encountered along my creative journey and realizing that things could change if I remained positive and kept the faith. There were multiple moments where things didn’t go as planned, but as I continued to persevere, I saw my goals and accomplishments come to fruition. Read more>>
Garima arya
My optimism isn’t loud or obvious. It’s quiet, creative, and deeply emotional. It comes from the way I see beauty in small things, memories & constant efforts. I reimagine the world through colour, nostalgia, and story. Even when I feel low, something in me keeps moving: showing up at the gym, creating, loving, caring, reflecting. That steady rhythm is hope disguised as resilience. Read more>>
Megan McCarthy
Honestly I’ve always considered myself a ‘glass half empty’ person. Not that I’ve been pessimistic, but I due tend to anticipate and prepare for the worst. I believe embracing creativity and making it a priority in my life has helped me become more of a ‘glass half full’ person. Read more>>
Adam Degi
A lot of my optimism comes out of necessity and perspective. I think it’s necessary and never really felt like not having optimism was an option. Having a son definitely just reinforced that belief. I can’t imagine giving up or feeling sorry for myself. From the beginning I’ve had the perspective that things could be worse. Read more>>
Emma Whitehead
Honestly, my optimism comes from seeing how far I’ve come with AlySwim and how much I’ve learned along the way. When I first started, I had no idea what I was doing — I was just teaching myself how to sew swimwear and decided to post a few pieces on Instagram to see if anyone would be interested. Read more>>
Noel Ferreira
My optimism comes from my journey. I grew up in Camden and later moved to Georgia, and I’ve had to balance a lot working full-time, putting myself through school, and stepping into leadership roles at a young age. Along the way, I’ve seen that even when life is demanding, consistency and resilience can turn challenges into growth. Read more>>
Jiyoung Lee
I get most of my positivity from my family. Watching my 10year old daughter play softball with so much joy and determination inspires me every day. She is still so young, yet she works hard and never loses her smile- it reminds me to do the same in my own life and work. Read more>>
Julie Swanson
My optimism probably came from my mom initially. She is optimistic to a fault. My dad always said she wore rose-tinted glasses (with a roll of his eyes). She believed that one should focus on the positive and not dwell on the negative, She believed that so strongly that she tended to not even acknowledge the negative (anger, sadness, disappointment, tension…). Read more>>
Elan Barnehama
From my parents who passed on their heritage of the gloom of war and the promise of peace. They exhibited the kind of self-assurance that comes from having survived and the mistrust of having had to. And yet they were focused on moving forward and doing stuff rather than hanging on to bitterness. Read more>>
Caroline McFarlane-Watts
I think I’m a born optimist, if there’s such a thing. But the reason I am happy each day is because I do something that I love to do. I never take that for granted. Read more>>
Josh Saleh
My optimism comes from loss. I lost my father when I was seven, and was raised by an incredibly strong, hard-working mother. Through that experience, I learned that life is fragile and unpredictable—and that what we choose to do with it is entirely up to us. Watching my mother raise me on her own showed me what resilience, persistence, and strength truly look like. Read more>>
Claire Xiao
Considering my habitual worrying and overthinking, I would have never expected to learn optimism from a regular hospital shift. While volunteering at my local hospital, I met a boy around my age. From first impression, he was genuine and caring — chatting about daily news with the elderly and pouring coffee with a smile. Read more>>
Alexandra Smith
My optimism comes from my grandmother Elizabeth Smith. She was a k-12 school teacher at York Country Day School for many years and knew how to encourage children. She always reminded me to stay persistent and do what you love in life even at a young age. Always providing me with crayons and supplies to nurture my craft. Read more>>
Adam Cozens
I think my optimism comes from falling on my face so many times that I’ve developed a strong appreciation for the taste of concrete. It is so much harder to grow creatively, or as a human when everything’s going great. You need to fail. Failure isn’t the enemy. Failure is such a key component to anyone aspiring for long-term success. Read more>>
Samantha Garrison
My optimism comes from being able to laugh at absurd situations and from painstakingly realizing that everything good or bad in life brings you to irreplaceable experiences. I have always been somewhat of an annoyingly optimistic being, especially to my peers when things have gone wrong, but I’d like to think it’s one of my superpowers. Read more>>
Mike O’Hara
I’ve always been optimistic. I’ve learned to believe that the pasture really is greener on the other side—not because life magically gets easier, but because perspective changes everything. With the right mindset, even challenges start to look like opportunities waiting to unfold. Read more>>
Melissa Balderas
Optimism isn’t something I was born with-it’s something I’ve grown into. Like a muscle, it’s been stretched, tested, and strengthened over time. People sometimes ask me why I’m so hopeful, how I manage to keep a positive outlook even when life gets hard. The truth is, my optimism doesn’t come from naive belief that everything will always be okay. Read more>>
Dr. Selma K. Bartholomew
Did you know, that I can make the sunrise? Without an alarm clock and while my sister, brothers and the many cousins slept, I would hurry out of bed and navigate the chairs and small wooden table to find her sitting on the veranda in the dark. I would make my way next to with excitement. Sit quietly and wait. Read more>>
Youstina Sadek
By being optimistic you are actually taking the harder choice, you are not weak by any sense of that word and you are not unrealistic. Read more>>
Gina Starbuck
I feel like I’m a born optimist, and for that, I’m so grateful. It’s like a soul code that I have that I am meant to share with others… This being able to extract the sweetness of life through any and all situations, without bypassing the hard stuff. I feel like my soul chose to be an embodied optimist. Read more>>
