20Forty’s Newsletter

20Forty’s Newsletter

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20Forty’s Newsletter
20Forty’s Newsletter
What are the Consequences of Unbounded Optimism? 2040’s Ideas and Innovations Newsletter, Issue 94

What are the Consequences of Unbounded Optimism? 2040’s Ideas and Innovations Newsletter, Issue 94

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Kevin Novak
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Deborah Patton
Feb 09, 2023
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20Forty’s Newsletter
20Forty’s Newsletter
What are the Consequences of Unbounded Optimism? 2040’s Ideas and Innovations Newsletter, Issue 94
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Issue 94, February 9, 2023

All societies live by stated or perceived mantras. In the United States we reach for the stars, believe the sky is the limit, and if we build it, they will come. These sentiments permeate our culture, inspire our children, and guide our business leaders.

20Forty’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We love entrepreneurialism; we reward it, admire it, and aspire to it.  The entrepreneurial spirit and manifest destiny represent the American can-do ingenuity and genius of overcoming adversity and risk. Agility and being nimble are standards of excellence.

Optimism on the Edge

But not so fast. Blind embrace of optimism can result in a misperception of true reality. Unbounded optimism can infuse organizational actions and decisions and make them out of step with current or emerging market conditions and customer needs.

We’ve seen the tech unicorns breakthrough with impress…

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