GPS for Success

3 Be an Optimist: Look for the “Good” in People and Situations

DOI: 10.4324/9781003260387-5

Here’s a story to illustrate dueling perceptions: An American shoe company sent two salesmen to the Australian Outback. They wanted to find out whether there was any market for shoes among the Aborigines. They received telegrams from both salesmen. The first said, “No business here. The natives don’t wear shoes. I’m coming home.” But the second telegram proclaimed, “Great opportunity here. The natives don’t wear shoes. If I can convince them of the advantages in wearing shoes, we will have a brand new territory here!” Every day, I see examples of this scenario. Two different people are confronted by the exact same scenario, and one has a positive response ...