I want to share with you a quick story about practical optimism.

Brandon Craig, President of  BiltRite, a Phoenix based metal fabrication company, loves his business, employees and community. When faced with a rapidly changing economy and the possibility of losing what he loves, Brandon asked himself “what are the opportunities in this situation?”

Brandon could have opted to endure our shifting economy (the path of the realist), but instead he chose to directly influence his life, and that of his community (the path of an optimist). He decided to host a free event entitled the Power of Economic Optimism for 200 of his customers.

This wasn’t a group of Law of Attraction diehards, but people seeking practical relief from life’s stresses.  Everyone  left the event with way more energy, ideas and connections than they came into the room with. Who knows what ripple opportunities this event will bring Brandon, his business, and those who attended the event!

Optimism increases your effectiveness in business, love and life because it expands your options.  As I look back over my first year as a solopreneur, I know that my feel good optimism fed my courage and vision, and was key to my success.

As you think about the upcoming year, or review this past year, consider taking an optimists point of view.

Below, I  provide some practices you can use to tap into your internal optimist, resources I’m offering to support your efforts and FREE stuff I’ve found that may interest you!

According to Dr. Martin Seligman, optimism is a learned perspective that leads to greatly enhanced success and health.

Here are a couple exercises that can help you tap into your optimist as you review 2008 and envision 2009.

An Optimistic Review of 2008
Try this process as a feel good way to review this past year.

Step 1

• What was good about my life this past year?
• What opportunities did I create?
• What difference did I make in other people’s life?

Step 2
Take the answers from Step 1 to complete this statement:
I am pleased that I . . . .

Envisioning 2009
Try this process as an alternative to setting new year’s resolutions.

Step 1
Think about both your “good enough” and “breakthrough” answers to the following question.

What do I want to create in 2009 in my:

• home
• friendships
• family
• romantic relationships
• money/finances
• health

Step 2
What is ONE step you could take that would possibly lead toward your “good enough” version in each area.

Step 3
Which of these steps puts an easy smile on my face?

Step 4
Start with your answer to Step 3, and enjoy!!!

Tap your optimist when confronted with a challenge.
Ask yourself any, or each of these questions when ever you find yourself in a challenging situation.

• What’s good about this?
• What opportunities can I create?
• What difference can I make in other people’s life?