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.

DORIS MUKANGU

My optimism comes from a genuine belief in the goodness of humanity and that there is abundance for everyone. I left my home country Kenya in 2002 in search of a higher education and found myself in a terrain that I was unfamiliar with. In the halls of universities that I attended and in the classrooms, I met professors and students who offered a warm smile or a helping hand to this foreign student. Read More>>

Christine Brinkman

My optimism stems from a lifelong perspective of seeing the glass as half full. Even in the face of adversity, I consciously choose to focus on the positive aspects and reflect on my blessings to avoid getting stuck in negativity. My greatest influence in cultivating this outlook is my mother, Belinda Galvan. As the eldest of six children, she embodies hard work, a deep love for her faith, and views each day as a precious gift from God. She maintains a steadfast commitment to avoiding gossip and pessimism. Read More>>

Adam Hersko-RonaTas

Surprises. When you think you know where the path’s headed, you don’t. We’re a wildly adaptive species I think, and our innate kindness and creativity have seen us through dark times, with unexpected twists for the better. Pessimism in the face of obstacles is often anxiety needlessly projecting itself. I’d guess it’s born from an illusion of total control and the fear of losing that. But cynicism is vile, paralyzing, and an enemy of survival. Read More>>

Kaj Falch-Nielsen

I believe that my optimism comes from my love of music, and everything surrounding the creation of music. From a young age I have always been drawn to music, both as a listener and creator.

Since starting my own studio, Blue Light Studio, in 2010, I have been following a path that is in line with this passion, and I believe this is incredibly helpful for having an optimistic outlook. Alone, this is likely not enough, but I believe that it’s easier to achieve my goals, and have a good time along the way, if I keep an optimistic attitude. Read More>>

Don Miroradoff

One of the best compliments I’ve ever received is that my optimism is infectious, that it brightened someone’s day. They’d never guess that optimism wasn’t always my middle name. Once, I was just a shadow, an outcast in a town where dreams were treated like fairy tales. In this sense, I was different, as I found solace in American movies, the promise of a brighter life out there. Deep down, I knew I was destined for greatness and riches. Read More>>

Madisyn Epps-Johnson

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been an overthinker. Even when things had a way of working themselves out, my mind would always find a way to convince me of all the ways things couldn’t work. I often approached situations with a negative outlook, even though I was proven wrong more often than not. Read More>>

Vy Pham

Staying optimistic can be quite challenging when confronted with life’s hurdles and setbacks. There have been moments in my journey where I felt overwhelmed, questioning how I could possibly overcome certain challenges. However, I’ve persisted and managed to move forward. While I still encounter daily struggles in maintaining optimism, I’ve come to a realization that everything will eventually work out. Read More>>

Luvenia Mayo

My optimism comes from my faith! Knowing I can do ALL things through Christ who strengths me, Philippians 4:13. Believing in something bigger than myself and knowing what’s meant for me will never miss me! NO ONE, can stop what God has for you. Its already written!! I also found optimism through empathy and self compassion. Reminding myself that even though I may encounter trails or setbacks, its only temporary. I had to learn to give myself grace, because mistakes are inevitable. I’ve recognized I can make the best out of whatever circumstance I’m in. Read More>>

Kingdawud Burgess

My optimism comes from growing up in a place I saw many people fail to escape. Washington, D.C was considered the murder Capital and it took a lot making it out alive. I was always optimistic that I would be the one to make it out. Read More>>

Yomi Gissel

You know what? Life can be a rollercoaster ride sometimes, and it’s totally normal to have those moments where you’re feeling a bit down and questioning everything. We’re only human, after all! But let me tell you, when I need a boost of inspiration and positivity, I turn to the incredible people in my life, my amazing adventures, and yes, even my faith in God. It’s the little things that make all the difference for me. Gazing up at the sky, cruising with the wind in my hair, and belting out my favorite tunes. Read More>>

Angel Lance

My optimism, well, it’s rooted in the experiences that shaped me. You see, I’ve been through some incredibly tough times in my life—mental and physical abuse, depression, even battling with suicidal thoughts. But the thing is, I always knew deep down that I had to keep going, not just for myself but for my children. Read More>>

Kadeem Chambers

So, I think, for me, my optimism stems from me being in a place where optimism didn’t live before. I’ve had some bad days in my life and I have had numerous thoughts and attempts at ending it all, but I thing the beauty in it, was that because I am still here, I get to see all the things I would’ve missed out on in my life. Yes, I have had bad moments and have been through terrible things that I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to experience, but to have the experience to live life and see it through is what makes me optimistic. Read More>>

Gloria Kum

I’ve been inspired from movies, shows, and people that I’ve came across in every part of my life so far. Through the highs and lows, I’ve had moments of self reflection on how I react and how I continue to thrive be the best version of myself. While I am optimistic, I stay realistic. Every problem comes with a solution, and while the solution may not be perfect, you do the best with the resources that are available around you. Read More>>

Becca LaMar

When I started Heylo Creative, I also knew that I needed to make some changes personally. I invested in my personal development and it not only changed how I show up in my business, but also in my life. As business owners we have a choice on how we can train our minds to think in either scarcity or abundance. Learning to trust that everything happens for us as a learning experience to gather information and makes changes to better serve our clients is what keeps me optimistic every day. Read More>>

Naira Cole

We live in a world full of negativism so it’s each and every single person’s job to keep an optimistic outlook on life. At Skinsation LA we intarct with so many people, particularly women, from different paths of life. Meeting so many people with amazing stories give us hope daily for a better and brighter future. Read More>>

Gabrielle Jameson

I have always tried to have a positive and hopeful outlook on life no matter the circumstance. Even through the worst moments in life, my goal is to be able to make something positive from it. Since 2020 I have been involved in a court case that has been dragged out into a monstrous ordeal with so much deceit and corruption. Read More>>

Alexej Savreux

We live in pretty cynical times. But holistically, we aren’t worse off at any other point or period in human history. History comes in waves. It would be a mischaracterization or misreading of history to view much of anything as a recent pivot. Newer manifestations of recurring or older phenomena might rear their head every so often, and so on. But I’m not discouraged, dispirited, or dismayed by much. If God exists, he can kill me but not break my spirit. Read More>>

Che’Rae Adams

During a board meeting at PlayPenn the other day, one of my board members asked me this exact same question. I was taken aback at first, but then reconsidered the relevance of the question. Given the current state of the American Theater, how can I remain so optimistic about the implementation of our initiatives and funding for our programs? Read More>>

Mayur Phadtare

Since I jumped into the world of business ownerships, I faced several professional challenges. And in the past couple of years, my family suffered several losses. Through all this turmoil, I have learned a couple of lessons.

First, situations are always better managed with a positive outlook. And second, while you may have many uphill battles to fight, there is always someone who has it worse than you. Therefore, it’s always better to be optimistic and consider yourself fortunate. Read More>>

Claudia Box

No matter what I’ve faced in life, one thing I’ve known to be true is that God will always make a way. My optimism stems from my faith. I went from leaving my home at 17 years old, to having my first child at 20 while being financially unstable for a while, to becoming married with 2 children, a homeowner and business owner. I never looked at my circumstances in those moments with defeat. I always knew that God had better plans for me and my family and that we would experience better days. Read More>>

Rylie Fisher

I’m optimistic because of my mom. She raised me to think positive about every situation and to keep a good head on my shoulders regardless of the situation. The problem is going to happen anyways but with a good positive attitude, you’re going to get a lot further Read More>>

Jaran Huggins

I love this question because it seems that the answer would differ depending on the day you asked. Today, I’ll try to answer as concretely as I can – I have always been someone who thinks positively about anything and everything while seeing the best in everyone. In an industry with so many ups and downs, I’d love to sit here and say that optimism is a choice; however, it’s also a necessity. Being a filmmaker has taught me to embrace my own passion and purpose through the creative lens. Read More>>

Ron Cable

I have been an attorney and magistrate for more than 20 years and was first elected to the bench here at the Akron Municipal Court nearly six years ago. I’ve seen a wide range of cases and have seen essentially every age and demographic during my tenure at various courts. Read More>>

Lucy Coutinho

My optimism comes from being intentional about reminding myself that what happens in life isn’t happening to me but for me. I have gotten better with not resisting the things that happen in life because there is so much beauty found in the ebbs and flow in this journey that we call life. I am constantly asking myself; what is the lesson that I am supposed to learn here, in this very moment? I am met clarity and a deeper understanding to guide my path as I navigate my way through it. To me, it’s looking for the rainbow in every situation and if I look hard enough I always find the beauty and lesson in every situation. Read More>>

Andrea Mayard

I believe that our cognitive habits, personal experiences, and gratitude have all shaped the optimist that I am today. I have always trusted that any situation can be turned around for the good if you are always on the lookout for opportunities. Read More>>

Stacey Andon

A few years ago, someone at a networking event commented how happy I always am. That my life seems perfect and wonderful and we can’t all be like that. I took a deep breath when she said that because my life has been far from perfect– in fact, it has been laced with childhood trauma, sexual assault, divorce and a slew of other messy experiences that I have navigated through. My optimism doesn’t come from a place of just being positive through it all. Read More>>

Brook Harless

My optimism, despite the challenging circumstances of my past, is deeply rooted in my personal journey and the transformative experiences that have shaped me. Growing up in a tumultuous environment marked by homelessness, neglect, and abuse, I learned early on that life could be incredibly tough. Yet, even in those darkest moments, I held onto a glimmer of hope. Read More>>

Claire Collins

Don’t just be a mediocre optimist
Be a violent one
Like you look death in the face and laugh
No, cackle.
Obnoxious in your silver lining shoes & rose-colored glasses.
Tally up all the reasons not to be:
3rd-year pandemic, a looming Climate Crisis
Hottest July on record
and rebel
against the machine. Read More>>

Rachael Dowd

I feel like people who have a rough past go in one of two directions. Optimism or pessimism. There are going to be exceptions like any thing else, of course. Optimist route was my choice. With a bit of realism sprinkled in. The experiences I’ve gone through and the way I chose to accept and heal from them are where my optimism comes from. You can either take it in stride or let it knock you down. I have long legs so striding seemed like the best option. Read More>>

Joey Mattina

My favorite book is the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. When I first read the book in my 20’s it left a major impression on me. If you haven’t read it, it follows a young shepherd as he goes off in search of his “personal treasure” that he saw in his dreams buried near the Egyptian pyramids. So moved by his dreams, the boy leaves his homeland of Spain and begins the long journey to Egypt (the period of this story is long before cars, trains and airplanes existed). Read More>>

Jenny Gano

I do worry sometimes. I think everyone worries at least sometimes but this is a good question. Optimism means that I still have hope that there are good things coming in the future. I think that’s really important right now. I hear a lot of talk about problems and bad things in the world. I hear about young people being depressed. So we really are in need of hope. But really if we look around not everything is bad. There are many good and wonderful things happening all around us and we have to take the time to remember those things and think about them. One thing that really made me feel much more hopeful is writing down lists of things I am thankful for. Read More>>

Amanda Neeley

I have been blessed with a good family, great parents, and loving grandparents. That’s a fortunate situation that sets one up to see the good and positive in most things. That doesn’t mean life has been perfect or things always go my way. That is not the case. I’ve had some very tragic events in my life. Those events taught me I cannot control others or specific circumstances. I have learned to go with the flow, let events play out, and make decisions that adapt to what may be happening around me. Read More>>

Art Arutyunyan

My Armenian parents survived poverty and hardships. Their parents’ parents survived the Genocide and ethnical cleansing. So, I come from a long line of survivors. Seeing my mother fall and get up over and over again and look forward to a new day gave me hope and a fresh perspective. No matter how hard things get, there’s alway a new day, a new start. Read More>>

Rokmarys Millan

My optimism comes from a deep belief in the power of family and the human ability to help others. When we see our families as a network of unconditional support, and when we feel the satisfaction of contributing to the well-being of others, we find a constant source of inspiration and motivation in life. Optimism is nourished by the idea that, together, we can overcome challenges and create a better world for ourselves and future generations. Family and the desire to help others are fundamental pillars that remind us that there are always reasons to maintain hope and work together to achieve a brighter future. Read More>>

Dyan Edwards

Great Question! My optimism is rooted in my inner knowing that my life has purpose. Purpose for me is a driving factor, it’s what keeps me pushing forward even when the challenges that I face seem insurmountable. My purpose in life is to leave a legacy for my children. To make sure that they are equipped to dream big and see those dreams come to life. Read More>>

Sam Taha

Wishful thinking leads to disappointment.

For a very long time, that was my favorite quote and only moto in life.

My answer to the conundrum of “Is the glass half full or half empty?” was:

Who cares, the glass is actually broken!

Look, there is a giant crack and a chip on its side!

Am I the only one who sees that?! Read More>>

Jhavali Harris

My optimism stems from my ardor for Music and Retail. Though told “mastering my own music” was unachievable, I achieved it effortlessly! I am forever discovering when it comes to my Business projects and recognize that things may go awry or not be perfect. Crafting music and running a one-stop-shop as an Independent artist and Businesswoman has boosted my self-belief and trained me to habitually pursue learning and progress, both as a creator and business proprietor. Read More>>

Julia Satterlee

My optimism is a combination of nature + well-nurtured habits.

I was born a “people person” – connection is one of my core values. I really enjoy and appreciate people, and I tend to see the good in everyone first. This is an important skill for a coach, and I was lucky to be born with that, as far as I can tell. Read More>>