Let’s face it, it’s been a crazy tough economy for everyone. Especially marketers and those in advertising related businesses. Were it not for internet search and social media (ways to keep moving at reduced costs) things would have been even worse.
When money is tight people fall into two distinct categories: optimists and pessimists. The whole pessimism thing is easy to diagnose and figure out. It is an alterable condition cured by the passage of time. The optimism thing is harder to understand. And in business it’s less prevalent. Is it tied to a special neural gene? One thing that goes hand-in-hand with optimism in my view is the ability to view things not just in the here and now but with a historic perspective. Time passes. There is a now, a future and a past. Optimists tend to see them all.
New York University
New York University is an example of an institution surrounding itself with optimism. NYU has grand plans to grow the school’s footprint, stature and academic standing over the next 20 years. They will succeed because of optimism and planning. Do you think the day after healthcare passes and a huge part of the populace is angry is a good time to talk about this huge investment – probably not. That’s optimism.
When you meet marketers and corporate leaders you can often tell immediately which camp they fall into. And trust me it’s always best to do business with optimists. Not those of the “head in the clouds” variety but realists who are builders and forward lookers. Brands, businesses, organizations and departments need good leadership. Optimism and a positive view forward are cornerstones. Steve Jobs? Optimist. Peace it up!
