I love eternal optimists.
They see the good in everything.
Some optimists SO want to see the good that they sometimes imagine (hallucinate) unrealistic fantasies . . . and then fall into the trap of making promises they cannot keep.
When the optimistic prophecy fails to materialize, it’s as if the optimist has lied (not told the truth) and credibility plummets.
What they don’t get is that when folks hear the optimistic prediction, they plan their lives accordingly . . . and when it doesn’t come true, there’s disappointment.
If this happens repeatedly, it not a stretch to think that even the most highly regarded optimist can significantly damage his reputation simply by overdoing one of his qualities . . . his optimistic outlook in the form of . . . Overpromising and underdelivering.
This begins with little “white lies” . . . Things like: “I’ll be there in 20 minutes.” . . . When there’s no WAY to get there sooner than 45 minutes thereby creating an uneccessary wait.
or the ol stand-by for optimists: “Everything is going work out!” when there’s really nothing solid that supports that comment.
The volume turns up significantly in a real estate transaction when more than person arranges life based on the optimists’ overpromise . . . effectively ADDING unnecessary stress when event the slightest blip shows up and creates delays.
I am NOT advocating death to optimists . . .
No gag orders . . .
Just a simple request. Be as optimistic and positive minded and bubbly as you can be and take a moment to ponder the whole situation and temper that optimism such that what you promise is realistically deliverable.
Stick this in the back of your head:
Make it a goal to consistently Underpromise and overdeliver.
When you promise you’ll be there in 20 minutes, be there in 15.
Tell the TRUTH – ALWAYS . . . don’t sugar coat issues because they’ll only get larger once the sweetness wears off (reality happens).
Voila!
Be your bubbly optimistic self AND consistently overdeliver and the HERO you’ll be every time 🙂
I’m just sayin’
Best,
b