Newsletter 110: On Optimism
Sometime in my 20s, I realized something concerning about myself.
It roughly happened when I met Clarissa. She quickly pointed out my tendency for pessimism, a trait, I believe, rooted in my upbringing.
Raised in Eastern Europe by a hardworking, blue-collar family, I saw firsthand a life of relentless effort met with minimal financial rewards. That was the reality of most people around me, which created a culture of passive pessimism and even hostility toward new ideas.
Growing up in such an environment wires your brain a certain way.
Luckily, my 20s were the very definition of change. I lived across seven countries, launched companies, and, most importantly, met my soulmate Clarissa, whose bubbly personality greatly impacted me.
These experiences gradually reshaped my reality until a new worldview set its roots — optimism.
A few years back, I read a quote by Naval that resonated: “Pessimism is self-fulfilling.”
Pessimism is the path of least resistance, yet the one that drains us slowly but surely.
Optimism, on the other hand, charges us with energy but requires a lot of effort. It does not come naturally to most of us.
We have evolved to be cautious, favoring survival over risk. In the past, pessimists avoided the forest—and the potential danger of predators—while optimists, perhaps, faced harsher fates...
But the world has changed quite a bit since then.
Pessimism costs nothing upfront, and it shields us against uncertainties.
Optimism, on the contrary, demands a continuous effort, e.g., choosing the right friends, reading inspirational books, and consistently viewing the world more positively than most.
That chain of thoughts led me to the question, what does it mean to be an optimist?
Firstly, it’s about believing in a better future. My time in fast-developing countries like Indonesia exemplified this. Witnessing the swift progress and the upliftment from poverty profoundly impacts your perspective. It’s akin to time travel, observing the future unfolding at an accelerated pace.
Secondly, it involves trusting in the goodness of people. This is a challenge I continue to face. Assuming positive intentions in others isn’t easy. Yet I've learned that this belief can be reciprocal. People often reflect the trust or skepticism we show towards them.
Lastly, optimism is about nurturing ideas during their infancy stage. In the world of startups, every venture begins as a fragile thought. While most startups fail, some ideas are fortunate to align everything that matters (e.g., execution, market pull, product, team) and transform into successful ventures. In the process, jobs are created, problems are solved, and wealth is generated for everyone involved. The benefits far outweigh the downsides. That’s why supporting embryonic ideas is vital. This doesn’t mean blind encouragement. It means balancing enthusiasm with constructive feedback. It’s about helping ideas evolve without crushing the dream behind them.
Going back to Naval’s point, I believe that both pessimism and optimism are self-fulfilling.
But if that’s true, why choose a worldview that will drag you down?
Pessimists may criticize from the sidelines, but optimists engage actively, shaping a better future for themselves and others.
Someone once said that founders are activists who actually do the work. I think that’s the highest form of optimism, and we need to cherish it.