Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty?
A person’s answer to this age-old question demonstrates whether they are an optimist or a pessimist. An optimist will see the glass as half full, while the pessimist views it as half empty.
But what do these two different outlooks really mean? Are there any advantages to being an optimist or a pessimist?
And most importantly, how can entrepreneurs benefit from optimism or pessimism?
The Science Behind Optimism
According to psychologists, optimism is not just an outlook but it is a personality trait, meaning it is stable and consistent over time.[1] While a person’s level of optimism is more deeply seeded than emotions, it can also vary over time.
Science has revealed that being optimistic is actually good for humans and more advantageous than pessimism.
Studies have demonstrated that optimistic people enjoy better mental health, experience more academic and professional achievement, get better sleep, have better physical health, and live longer than pessimistic people.[1]
Scientists believe that optimists enjoy many of these advantages because they can cope with stress better due to their positive outlook. Instead of avoiding stressful events that pessimists view as catastrophic, optimists merely see these unfavorable events as minor bumps in the road.
While there are clear advantages to being an optimist, not everyone is one. However, there is good news for pessimists, as developing a more optimistic outlook is attainable since these traits are fluid and can be learned and nurtured.
Optimism and Enterpreneurs
Entrepreneurs can benefit significantly by understanding the science behind optimism and utilizing such an outlook for the good of their enterprises.
One of the most common threats entrepreneurs face is the significant number of challenges, big and small, that make starting a business such a complex and stressful endeavor. In fact, those challenges are why so few people can succeed as business owners.
An optimistic approach will help an entrepreneur navigate the many bumps in the road that come hand-in-hand with starting or operating a business.
An optimistic entrepreneur will not only be more likely to succeed with their endeavor but also reap the physical and mental benefits that come with optimism.
This information does not mean that a pessimistic entrepreneur cannot succeed. In fact, a pessimist can benefit from such an outlook by being prepared for, and leveraging against, threats.[1] However, a pessimistic entrepreneur should learn ways of developing a more positive outlook to maximize their ability to thrive and overcome the many challenges they will undoubtedly face.
Here at Visa Business Plans, we believe in the benefits of optimism and the advantages a positive outlook brings when making important business decisions. If you share our mindset and are thinking about starting a business, looking to grow your current operation, or achieving your business immigration goals, call us today!
Visa Business Plans is led by Marco Scanu, a certified coach from the University of Miami with a globally-based practice coaching Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in 4 different continents. Mr. Scanu advises clients on turnaround strategies and crisis management.
Mr. Scanu received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida and an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, and high-growth enterprises.
At present, Mr. Scanu is the managing partner and CEO at Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm providing attorneys and investors with business planning services in the areas of U.S. and Canadian immigration, SBA loans, and others.