--- title: "I am an optimist because I believe in the potential of people: Curt Carlson" description: "Curt Carlson tells Victor Perton, \"I am an optimist because I believe in the potential of people.  When motivated people identify an important problem, they become engaged and refuse to accept failure.\" " image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Curt%20Carlson.jpeg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/people) # I am an optimist because I believe in the potential of people: Curt Carlson "I am an optimist because I believe in the potential of people.  When motivated people identify an important problem, they become engaged and refuse to accept failure."  That's what Dr Curtis Carlson told me when I asked him what makes him optimistic. We corresponded on Singapore Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam's speech ["Creating Bases for Optimism in an Era of Insecurities." (Watch the Speech)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tharmanshanmugaratnam?hsLang=en) Curt was on the Singapore Innovation Council for 12 years when the foundations of Singapore's innovation economy were being built — starting from zero.  Curtis got to know Tharman and all their leaders, including PM Lee.    Curt made the point *"**Notice how Tharman insists progress is essential for all, including the middle class with the poor.  No de-growth thinking in Singapore.  No, identify problems and innovate."*   Curt is the Distinguished Executive in Residence, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Professor of Practice, at Northeastern University; Founder and CEO of Practice of Innovation, LLC; and President and CEO of SRI International, 1998-2014. ### Some other Thinkers on Optimism and People **Dr Ross Honeywill, Executive Director, Centre for Social Economics** “Optimistic people have high social intelligence - that ability to use our improbably large brains to successfully navigate complex social situations. Let’s use our social intelligence to invoke a simple world view: Do not be careful what you wish for.“ **Maureen Metcalf, Author and Radio Host** “Optimism is the fuel that powers our vision and aspirations. The combination of worth vision, passion and optimism make almost anything possible. During challenging times, by surrounding ourselves with people who possess this combination we will find joy in the struggles and create a positive outcome, even if not what was originally planned.” **Daniel Kahneman, Author** "Optimistic people play a disproportionate role in shaping our lives. Their decisions make a difference; they are inventors, entrepreneurs, political and military leaders - not average people.  They got to where they are by seeking challenges and taking risks"     [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/people) , ###### [community](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/community) #### [There remains light in people and in the Bonds of Community](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/anup?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/anup?hsLang=en) ###### [People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/people) #### [Richard Munang: The Unstoppable Spirit of People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/richardmunang?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/richardmunang?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### [Services](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop?hsLang=en) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ##### The Centre for Optimism - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### Services - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ©2026 The Centre for Optimism - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Victor Perton", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton" }, "dateModified" : "2022-10-10T02:04:33.326Z", "datePublished" : "2022-10-10T02:04:33.000Z", "headline" : "I am an optimist because I believe in the potential of people: Curt Carlson", "image" : [ "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Curt%20Carlson.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/curt-carlson", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg" }, "name" : "The Centre for Optimism" } } ```