There’s a saying I like that goes, “Whether you think you can or
think you can’t, you’re right.”  While that’s certainly an
over-simplification to some degree, there’s a lot of truth in it.  When
we start to think negatively, we make what I call “self-preservation”
choices.  In other words, instead of making choices to grow the
business and move forward regardless of the conditions, we start to
think more about protecting what we have and that can have a huge
negative impact on the business.

Of course I’m not suggesting you take a “pollyanna”view of the world
and rush blindly and stupidly into things.  Optimism is more about
saying, “I see that the economic environment of today may be more
difficult than yesterday, but I’m still very good at what I do.  The
playing field is still level, because every one of my competitors has
the same economic challenges I do.  I’m every bit as capable of
competing with them today as I was yesterday.  And furthermore, I have
an advantage, because I’m not going to let the circumstances make me
react out of fear, as many of my competitors will.  Yes, this is a
difficult time, but I know that working through these challenges will
make me even stronger.”

That type of optimism is very productive.  Is optimism overrated? 
Not by a long shot.  The world was never shaped by the pessimists.  It
has always been shaped by optimists.  Nobody will follow someone who’s
always preaching doom and gloom.  Everyone wants to feel like there is
something better out there.  The good news is, there really is
something better out there, even in difficult circumstances.