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.
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Pursuing country music is our dream, and it doesn’t come without its fair share of no’s. There has to be a certain level of resilience and optimism to keep going despite all of the hardships that come with the dream and journey. Read more>>
Shay Webb
My optimism truly comes from my faith. I lean on Romans 8:28—‘all things work together for good’—which has guided me through every stage of my life. That scripture reminds me that even when situations don’t look hopeful, God is still working behind the scenes. I’ve experienced that firsthand. Read more>>
Jarrett Woolfolk
I truly believe that what I’m doing is my God given calling . Health and fitness has brought me a long way, and has allowed me to be a positive impact on others lives. That along is something to look forward to, being able to actually affect the work around me. Read more>>
Isaura Rosario
For me, it’s not so much about optimism as it is about gratitude. My joy and positive outlook come from being grateful for everything God has given and continues to do in my life. I’ve learned to live in gratitude no matter the situation, trusting that His plan is always greater than mine. Read more>>
Layl McDill
It’s always hard to tell if you are born optimistic or if you learn it but I know that optimism was definitely encouraged in my family. As kids my parents always encouraged us to try new things and then to make the most of the outcome. Read more>>
Allie Hardesty
My optimism comes from a mix of motherhood, creativity, and connection. Being a mom to Colton and Davina has completely transformed the way I see the world. Kids have this incredible ability to find joy in the smallest moments, and watching life through their eyes reminds me daily that there is always something worth smiling about. Photography fuels that optimism too. Read more>>
Liisa-Katariina Sünter
I used to struggle with optimism when I was younger, I always thought that everything in my life was negative and I was destined to fail no matter how hard I try. But over time I learned to be grateful for how I grew up and for all of the challenges that I faced and opportunities that I got. Read more>>
Kamelah Clark
My optimism comes from the young people I work with every day. Seeing their resilience, creativity, and capacity to heal reminds me that transformation is always possible. Read more>>
Amanda Kirby
Optimism comes from within, but surrounding myself with positive people has helped me develop resilience and a more positive attitude. Working around mental health professionals, I have learned that starting a daily gratitude practice is often one of the first recommendations for someone hoping to develop resilience and optimism. Read more>>
Luisa Azevedo
Honestly, I think I grew up wired to be optimistic. My dad was always telling me to chase my dreams, to stay curious, to believe that good things can happen if you keep moving forward and that really shaped me. Read more>>
Kenneth Webb
My optimism didn’t start as a personality trait — it started as a survival lesson. In the beginning, I wasn’t someone who naturally expected the best. I’ve lived through poverty, isolation, incarceration, and moments where it felt like nobody was in my corner. But each time I came out on the other side, I noticed a pattern: I made it. Read more>>
Matthew ‘Marcello’ Haynes
I have always been a firm believer in going where I was led, and all of the important turning points in my life have happened because I was willing to do so. Some may call it the Universe, the Source, or faith in God, but I will give you these instances where doing so was the right thing to do. Read more>>
Alina Adams
I was born in the former Soviet Union. The first 7 years of my life were spent living in a single room with my parents in a communal apartment in Odesa, Ukraine. We then spent four months in a series of trains, hotels, and rented apartments across Vienna, Austria and Rome, Italy while we immigrated. Read more>>
Matthew Cockrell
My optimism comes from my faith in Jesus, strengthened every day by the love and support of my wife. When we got married during COVID—right as the whole country shut down—our guest list dropped from over a hundred people to barely twenty. It was a tough moment, feeling like one of my biggest dreams was slipping away. But we held onto faith. Read more>>
Guri Stark
After 40+ years in high-tech, I now focus on my life-long hobbies which are painting, playing music, writing and teaching art history. I find that art and music are the common denominator to all people around the world. Everyone love art and music regardless of who they are and what their religions or opinions are. Read more>>
Jasmine Frink
My optimism comes from knowing that no matter what life throws my way, I can always pick myself back up. Things can shift for the better in an instant, and that possibility excites me. In a world that can feel overwhelmingly negative, I make a conscious effort to focus on the bright side. Read more>>
Daniela Peckova Watanabe
Optimism, for me, is a form of faith. When you have a business, you need that—whatever you call it—because it’s what keeps you going, helps you hold a vision, and allows you to grow. Without optimism, you simply can’t be an entrepreneur. Read more>>
Jay Montoya
It’s always been my goal to succeed in anything I do. I get this a lot from my mom who has been the best role model for me and shows me we can succeed through any obstacle that comes to put us down. Its best to always think positive no matter what and to smile through it all. Read more>>
Michael Oilar
Optimism!!! Ah yes!!! Sometimes I feel like I have too much of this. I tend to see the best in situations and, as a result, see the best outcomes possible in the future. I think optimism goes hand in hand with Gratitude. By looking at what you have, and being able to give Thanks for those things . . . Read more>>
Christopher Payton
Optimism is not a natural state for me. It has come from many many years and experiences that I have seen God show up in my life when things may not have looked good at the time. Optimism is a great synonym for faith or trust. Read more>>
FREYA ADAMS
I stay optimistic by treating optimism like a practice rather than a fixed personality trait. Every day I choose it intentionally, the same way I choose my morning coffee, because I know it fuels everything I’m building. Read more>>
Dawnette Palmore
My optimism comes from my faith and from seeing, time and time again, how faithful God has been in my life. I know life can be challenging, but I choose to focus on the moments of goodness, growth, and grace that show up along the way. Read more>>
Haleigh & Maggie
Our optimism comes from a deep love for Denver and the different perspectives we each bring to it. Haleigh is a Denver native, Maggie moved here 5 years ago, and those lived experiences give us a really unique, well-rounded understanding of what it feels like to build a life here. Read more>>
Caroline Koziol
My optimism comes from deciding to leave my small town and chase something I didn’t even fully understand yet. When you do that, you sort of learn to bet on yourself, even when things look uncertain. A lot of the positivity I have now comes from experience — travelling with barely anything, getting rejected a lot, messing things up, learning as I go. Read more>>
Payton Hartsell
I’ve always been a glass half full kind of person by nature. Jesus saved me and that foundation shapes how I move through life and through my business. It keeps me grounded even on the busiest or hardest days. When you focus on the good, the good grows. Read more>>
Neal Greenberg
My optimism isn’t something I was simply born with; it’s something I’ve intentionally built over time. For as long as I can remember, I’ve immersed myself in business books, biographies of great people, personal development writing, and anything that expands my mindset. Read more>>
Dalia Drake
My optimism comes from having to rebuild myself more than once — as a Cuban immigrant, as a former athlete, and as a woman creating her own lane in fashion with no safety net. Read more>>
Cristina Damis
Growing up with a Greek grandmother, yiayia, filled my life with vitality and optimism. When I think of my yiayia, I remember her traditional rituals, her stories of the old country, her ethnic foods, her icons and embroideries and her singing and dancing. My yiayia woke up with the sun and kept the sparrows company in the garden. She roamed the neighborhood in search for human connection, a conversation…she loved to speak even if she didn’t not know the language of the listener. Read more>>
Roberto Prado
I draw inspiration and optimism from others. I love watching anyone who’s truly passionate about their craft. It doesn’t matter what they do; if they’re smiling while doing it, I’m all in. I try to notice the bright things in life and remind myself that it’s short. Whether it’s watching a little bird or seeing my name on the big screen, I do my best to make the most of every moment, even when times are challenging. Read more>>
Dion Foley
My optimism comes from observing and learning from others who squandered away opportunities and destroyed everything good in their lives— primarily due to their mindset. I realized what we expect is what we look for, and what we look for is what we find. We create most of our own obstacles, leading to inaction, and often bitterness. Recognizing some of those traits in myself, I worked very hard (and still do) to break those patterns. Read more>>
Tenley Kellogg
In this industry, for every yes you will also get 1,000 no’s. That was told to me right at the beginning of my career. So I began to practice submitting and forgetting. After I submit an audition, I move on and go do something else and usually end up forgetting about it by the end of the week. If I’m not cast, and see it in theaters or on a streaming platform, I will always support the movie by watching it. At the end of the day, you really have to remember that timing is everything, and if you don’t get that one role, it just means that another one is coming your way. Read more>>
