I came across the word "hopetimism" for the first time this week as a hashtag, and it really struck a chord with me. Being both hopeful and optimistic is something I've always wanted to be, but rarely am. I often view the world through a fairly jaded lens, and that perspective often seeps into my business.
When something great happens, I "hope" that the good fortune will continue. When I receive kudos from those I work with, I feel optimistic that the positivity will persist. But too often, I snap myself back to reality. I convince myself that those hopeful and optimistic feelings are fleeting, and I need to focus on the "reality" of the situation.
Simone Biles told reporters after her Olympic success to stop asking athletes, "What's next?" She explained that they had spent so much of their lives training for this very moment, and they wanted to be able to enjoy it. I've thought about that a lot lately. How often do I deny myself the chance to truly savor those hopeful or optimistic moments because I'm too quick to move on to the next task?
I want to be an entrepreneur who is not only grounded in reality but also takes the time to experience hope and optimism. I think too often we convince ourselves that embracing these feelings is a denial of reality, when in fact, we're simply denying ourselves moments of joy.
So this week, take a moment to enjoy the little victories, and don't be so quick to push them aside. Maybe they'll be the catalyst that takes your business to the next moment of hopetimism.
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