The Best Business Attitude
Does it really make a difference in a person’s success whether or not they are an optimist or a pessimist? Not necessarily. An optimist might look at the bright side of things and serve as an inspiration to keep pressing forward, but a pessimist may assess things more realistically and make less risky decisions. Either way, it is not necessarily how you see a situation, but how you respond to a situation that will either hinder or facilitate your success in business.
A true entrepreneurial attitude requires refusing to quit when things get tough but this has little to do with being a pessimist or an optimist. An optimist can always find a “bright” side to quitting; “Maybe I cannot do this, but I can always try something else!”
A pessimist might grumble about something being challenging or unfair, but it does not mean they throw in the towel. Even the most successful entrepreneurs have to do things that they are not happy about in the short-term, but are glad they did in the long-run. In fact, some pessimists who see an accomplishment as less than ideal may work harder to achieve even better results.
Refusing to give up on something should not be confused with just being stubborn. Holding onto ideas and practices that are not working is being stubborn (and foolish, too). Considering alternative approaches to overcome challenges is an example of “sticking-to-it,” not just being “pig-headed.”
The key difference between being stubborn and being tenacious is that stubbornness stands in denial of a problem refusing to accept a need for change. A “can do” attitude works through problems by considering a variety of solutions.
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