🧠Strategic Optimism? Terminal Optimism?
A Commentary by Victor Perton
Strategic optimism is a concept I’m deeply familiar with and passionately advocate for. Optimism is the key to good strategy.
I encountered the term “terminal optimism” for the first time this morning in an article by T. Alexander Puutio entitled "The Case For Terminal Optimism In An Unpredictable World."
Alexander defines terminal optimism broadly as there’s always something you can influence, some next step that can make a meaningful difference.
He cites Jack Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group International, who calls himself a “terminal optimist."
I also like Alexander’s description of strategic optimism, which is “A decidedly positive outlook that helps leaders cut through the noise, isolate what matters, and steer their organizations forward even when others around them see no path forward.”
I say, “Optimism is a state of mind, not a state of the world.”
And I continue to ask: "What makes you optimistic?"