Informed optimism
When you believe you have little or no control over your surroundings, your future becomes bleak. That is the pessimist’s worldview. Conversely, the optimist will charge forward and try more things by default - and while they may be wrong, they increase their chances of good things happening.
The difference between being an optimist 100 years ago vs. today is that we have access to a lot more information than we did before, so we can make more accurate predictions. Our optimism doesn’t have to be blind, it can be educated and informed.
Information on other people’s failures allows for an honest picture. It serves as a starting point to know what you’re up against and to understand what challenges lie ahead. Rather than deter us, it can help us succeed.
Some examples:
Want to launch a startup? You’ll probably fail, and here’s 339 reasons why. Use this knowledge to avoid the pitfalls.
Want to make a movie? 80% of movies never turn a profit in the box office. Learn what made them flops and look at the solutions (necessity breeds creativity).
Want to save starving children and do good in the world? Salaries at nonprofits start at $40k/year and your impact will be minimal. Consider working on Wall Street to earn beaucoup bucks and give it all away to charity as a more ethical choice.
Want to find a job you love and stay there for years? The quality of the relationship with your boss is consistently cited as the top reason why people love or hate their jobs. When interviewing, optimize for finding a good boss.
Want to win the $300 million PowerBall lottery? Your chances are 1 in 292,201,338. You’re more likely to be hit by lightning ten times this year. Put your money into literally anything else, like crypto.