“Blind optimist” Entrepreneurs have been called that throughout history, and for good reason: Entrepreneurs have the unique ability to envision a future that doesn’t yet exist, and then take the steps to make that vision a reality, even if they’re not sure if the steps are in the right direction.
Ben Bierman MD Business Partner
“Just get started” is one piece of advice that many famously optimistic entrepreneurs give when asked how they got so far. To follow that advice and “just get started” – to start building what you truly believe will be the next big thing – you have to be optimistic. If you’re not, why start? After all, what’s the time, money, and effort worth?
Perhaps all entrepreneurs are optimists in some sense. It takes a relentless positive mindset and indomitable determination to find the opportunities that lie beneath our biggest challenges. Some might argue that many entrepreneurs are naive or shortsighted, given that one in nine startups worldwide fail within the first five years.
But optimism is an essential ingredient in entrepreneurship, especially since failure is so likely to be the outcome, rather than failing in spite of it. It is precisely that optimism that allows certain individuals to “move on from failure” and, perhaps, stumble upon the next best solution.
Of course, optimism alone doesn’t work in the broader business world, but it certainly does in the entrepreneurial spirit, for three reasons:
What makes you feel good when you fail?
If you ask any South African entrepreneur what it takes to succeed, they would probably say resilience. The personal and professional journey of an aspiring entrepreneur is rarely linear. In most cases, entrepreneurs go through many extreme ups and downs before they reach a plateau or achieve something close to what they envisioned. The difference between entrepreneurs who succeed in the long term and those who give up in the face of adversity is the ability to turn setbacks into stepping stones.
To make it happen, business owners need mental strength and the attitude that the goal is just beyond the next obstacle. It is no wonder, then, that some of the biggest names in business have had lives full of difficulties. Arianna Huffington, co-founder of the world-famous Huffington Post, wrote a book that was rejected by 36 publishers. Theo Baloyi, the 2023 Business Partners Ltd Entrepreneur of the Year® and founder of Bathu, had to make a living selling perfume door-to-door in the Alexandra area while studying for his accounting degree. He now employs over 300 people. These and other examples shine through the power of optimism.
The catalyst for action
Entrepreneurs are all very different – they have different backgrounds, paths to success, different mindsets and belief systems, different motivations, etc. But despite their differences, entrepreneurs have one thing in common: the ability to turn their vision into action.
As many prominent entrepreneurs can attest, will and drive are one of the most important factors that determine whether a business will move from an idea to a commercially viable enterprise. After all, this is why the advice “just get started” has become the watchword of the global business community.
Optimism is a powerful motivator for action and is the reason many of the world’s most successful companies get started in the first place. Once you’re past the growth stage, optimism fuels the passion and perseverance needed to navigate the complexities of starting and growing a business, from raising capital to scaling operations.
The science says so
The fact that optimism is “good for business” is not only anecdotally true, but has also been scientifically proven in many ways. One study published by the American Psychological Association found that people who have higher levels of optimism as an innate personality trait generally have higher levels of mental health and are more successful in various areas of their lives. Similarly, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that people who exhibit higher levels of optimism benefit from longer and better quality sleep.
Numerous studies support similar findings that optimism leads to improved physical health, longer life, and professional and academic achievement. All these health-related factors combine to create a scientifically proven fact that happier, healthier, and more fulfilled entrepreneurs are more likely to be successful than their peers. The synergy between a positive outlook and entrepreneurial spirit is not just a coincidence, it is essential to the success and growth of any business.
