Optimism is the only barrier to your success

Economic success is a function of solving many puzzles thrown at you in random order over a long period of time. If you stay optimistic and don’t let the puzzles take you out, you’ll reach your goal of making money. Almost everyone gives up because they lose their optimism.

I’ve seen different eras of entrepreneurship in my time since 2008.

2008-2011: Economic recession, people generally psyched out

2012-2020: Overly exuberant entrepreneurship stance, lack of real value created.

2021-2026: General exhaustion, dissonance, and lack of sustained effort.

I’ve managed to build successful companies in all of these stages, and I’ve seen many others do the same. I think what you have to do is remove yourself from the zeitgeist. Withdraw from the rhetoric of the world, not get caught up in how people are feeling. If you do, you’ll go down the rabbit hole of whatever is currently infecting the minds of humans. Which is typically either overly positive or overly negative.

I turn to books. I turn to long conversations. I turn to history as a teacher. No short form, no clips, no overnight success stories. Those things infect your mind with whatever bullshit people are on in this era. Let that all go, focus on longer term things that actually work, and stay focused. You can build in any economic environment at any time. It just looks different in different times. Don’t fall for the mind virus of broader society.