Realistic Optimism

Wishful Thinkers believe they will succeed without putting in the work required to succeed.

Those who play the lottery are a good example of Wishful Thinkers.

The odds of winning the lottery are enormously stacked against you. Despite this, Wishful Thinkers play the lottery, expecting to one day win. But their success is predicated on taking very little action, other than buying a lottery ticket, and random good luck.

Optimism, without action, will get you no where in life.

Realistic Optimists, on the other hand, do not rely on external forces, such as luck. They rely on internal forces – their own individual efforts.

Almost all of the self-made millionaires in my Rich Habits Study were Realistic Optimists.

One common thread among these millionaires was the fact that their unbridled optimism was fueled by relentless action toward a specific end, coupled with realistic expectations.

Winston Churchill is an example of a Realistic Optimist. His “Never Surrender Speech” best describes the way Realistic Optimists think:

“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

Entrepreneurs who succeed, are Realistic Optimists. It’s almost a prerequisite, or necessary trait, every successful entrepreneur must have.

And because these unique optimists expect their journey to be difficult, their realistic expectations actually help them to persist when the going gets tough.

Their Realistic Optimism, fueled by action and realistic expectations, helps them to survive the difficult journey and, in the end, ultimately succeed.

Realistic Optimists never stop taking action on their dreams and goals, no matter what life throws at them, because they expect life will throw everything at them.

Realistic Optimists believe that success hides behind a mountain of mistakes and failures. They understand that the journey towards success is all about taking action, persisting and overcoming every obstacle life puts in their way.