When you were watching Winnie the Pooh with your kids, what word came to mind when A.A. Milne introduced you to Eeyore the stuffed donkey?  I’m guessing it wasn’t “optimism”.

There’s a presentation from Colin Powell outlining his keys to success that often makes the rounds in business circles.  The one that always sticks with me is:  “Perpetual Optimism is Force Multiplier”.  No truer words were ever spoken.

Each day, we come in contact with a number of people.  The optimists we encounter provide us with hope and energy that make our lives a bit brighter and a bit easier.  When ever I think of optimism, I think of one particular friend.  This guy’s ALWAYS in a good mood.  No matter what situation he is faced with, he finds the positive.  There have only been a couple of times that I have heard him speak ill regarding any person or anything.  In those situations, he always states “I just don’t understand” and closes the conversation in some positive way and you can just tell that he’s made a commitment to find the positive in the situation and make something good out of it.  Even at his “worst” he’s more of an optimist than 99.9% of the population!

Now the above would be a great story if I left it there.  But, it REALLY becomes powerful when I tell you that this person NEVER waivers in spite of the situation.  The past few years have presented him, his spouse, and his family with some huge health challenges.  In spite of these he continues to always be optimistic, always look for ways to help, and always finds a way to get things done — see Colin Powell’s principle above.  He has a gift that makes the world a better place and has helped me — and many others — grow as individuals.

As you go through today, you’ll be faced with many choices on how to respond to things that just didn’t go right.  Will you listen to Eeyore or Colin Powell as you face today’s challenges?

As always, thanks for the time.