Sometimes the only difference between panic and perspective is the story you tell yourself at the top of the tree.
From Wikipedia: “Is the glass half empty or half full?” and similar expressions contrast an optimistic and pessimistic outlook on a situation or on the world at large. “Half full” means optimistic; “half empty” means pessimistic. The origins are unclear, but the idea dates back at least to the early 20th century.
And that’s really what Winchell was getting at — optimism isn’t about denying the lion, it’s about choosing the story that keeps you moving forward.
From my own history: When opening The Mirage, I recommended hiring for attitude and training for skills. Wynn asked me which attitude mattered most. After much research, we identified general optimism as the trait we should look for — people who see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
From my 30+ years of promoting and using this concept, I’ve learned that:
· People who are optimistic are actively engaged in acting that way
· They’re curious about the world and circumstances around them
· They are open to new ideas
· They’re flexible and adapt to changing situations
· They’re resilient and quickly bounce back when things change
· And they have the grit to see things through
For me, this wasn’t just a research project — I felt, and the results proved, that optimistic employees (1) loved to learn and were open to change (an interruption by a customer was an opportunity to shine), (2) engendered loyalty from the people around them (customers and employees), (3) were extremely loyal to other optimists on their team (empathetic, protective, and collaborative), and (4) had much higher performance and retention rates. It was good business.
Think about how often circumstances change throughout a normal workday — or a day in your life, for that matter — most likely more than you want. That’s why seeing those moments as opportunities to be your best and to roll with the punches is much more interesting and much less aggravating. That’s what work in a service job is all about. And since employees in every job are serving or servicing someone or something, you are better off hiring for an optimistic attitude and committing to training them to do what’s expected.
We all like being around upbeat, can‑do, happy people. Start by being one today.
Walter Winchell (1897 – 1972): American syndicated newspaper gossip columnist and radio news commentator.
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