Optimism is viewed as a desirable attribute in business, but to my mind it is only helpful if it is within the realism spectrum. Unrealistically optimistic people often repress or ignore problems, insisting that everything is fine and the future is rosy. They are then surprised by trouble and wonder why it happened to them. Leaders can no longer disregard a stated and lived Godly Vision, a Godly Purpose and Measurable Goals. This “fairy dust” view of leadership obstructs the need to alter course, to govern well, to plan for sustainability and to achieve business goals.
Most successful businesses have both a gatekeeper and an Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are often very dynamic. When / if they bullishly ignore the “Elijah” in their circle, or the truths hear for long enough, they lose the ability to lead with direction and become like a vessel without course. Unless Purpose is of God, life turns into pipedreams, and we will continue to work without sustainability.
When your life is a pipedream, you keep running to the next thing, to the material thing or the next habit to satisfy the need for short term gratification. The new car, the second car, the third car or whatever it is that blows your hair back at the moment, but it is not the way to experience peace and wellbeing. Chasing the wind is a sure recipe to plough the same unproductive field for years. The thing is, bad leadership habits lead to consequences, which leads to pain, and that pain often involves many stakeholders.
A good Leadership and reputation is built on truth, an expression of hope and inner joy. Truth is not build on sugar coating messages of a fairy dust of a good future, but on reality and measurable fact. Deceived others about the rosiness of their future cannot become a business strategy. Creating illusions of wellbeing creates incapability to connect and developing real intimacy with others. Unrealistic promises to stakeholders make them disillusioned, untrusting and the leader lonely and miserable.