OPTIMAL THINKING PROTECTS YOU
FROM FINANCIAL DESPAIR
By Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D.
Many people jump into get-rich-quick
schemes, create ruinous debt, and fail to
employ solid strategies that serve their best
interests. So what really happens to disap-
point and frustrate these people? How do
they sabotage their financial success?
Many positive thinkers judge, suppress, and
ignore negativity. They may have legitimate
concerns about a business venture but
choose to ignore them. You have probably
heard these people say, “I don’t want to
hear any negativity!” These people are
afraid to face the truth.
Negative thoughts and feelings are not
resolved when we suppress, deny, or
devalue them. We simply function with
layers of unresolved problems and
compromise our choices, morale,
productivity, and teamwork. Applying
paint over rust doesn’t remove the rust.
So how can we give ourselves the best
chance of success? Use Optimal Thinking,
the language of our best self! Instead of
applying paint over rust, Optimal Thinkers
acknowledge the rust, treat it, and then
apply the best paint. We respect negativity,
seek to understand it, and immediately ask
the most constructive questions in order to
find the best solution.
Do you know people who believe that their
dreams will be achieved by a magical divine
process that is triggered by the intensity of
their faith? Armed with unrealistic expecta-
tions, such optimists approach life with a
false sense of security, and are ill prepared
for negative consequences.
In today’s heated real estate market, many
investors employ wishful thinking. These
optimistic thinkers have convinced them-
selves that real estate can be evaluated with
unrealistic criteria. They assume that prop-
erties can be bid up to any level, and will
remain there. When the cost of failure or
probability of failure is high, optimism is
the wrong strategy.
Optimal Thinkers eliminate unnecessary
disappointment, because we entertain
realistic expectations. We accept what is out
of our control, and focus on optimizing
issues within our control. We explore our
options and make the optimal choice from
realistic alternatives. Instead of hoping for
the best, Optimal Thinkers embrace reality
and ask: “What are my/our options?”
“What’s the best thing I/we can do under
the circumstances?” When the stakes are
high, we employ an optimal contingency
plan against the worst-event scenario to min-
imize danger and negative consequences.
Have you participated in a conversation
where positive thinking has become wishful
thinking? Here is an example:
Warren: I am having sleepless nights.
I’m worried about buying this property with
an interest-only loan.
Wishful Wendy: Just stay positive and
everything will turn out fine.
Now let’s experience the difference when
two Optimal Thinkers confront the same
issue:
Jack: I am having sleepless nights. I’m
worried about buying this property with
an interest-only loan. What is the best thing
I can do?
Ralph: What’s the worst thing that could
happen? What do you think is your best
strategy if the worst occurred? How can you
minimize your risk? What are the most
constructive actions you can take under the
current circumstances?
So how does Optimal Thinking protect the
best interests of businesses? Most compa-
nies understand that data loss caused by
computer hardware failure is costly and
can even be catastrophic. The probability
of such failures is also considerable. As the
cost of duplicating records is not prohibi-
tive, it is common practice for companies
to establish back up systems. The most
prudent companies back up their records
and house them in external facilities in
case of fire, flood or earthquake. In such
instances, where employees are unable
to gain access to the company’s premises,
damages are significantly reduced.
When evaluating risk, the probability
and cost of failure (including the ability
to cope with the consequences) must
be weighed against the cost and benefits
of prevention.
ROSALENE GLICKMAN, Ph.D.
is the creator
and best-selling
author of
Optimal
Thinking
(Wiley). She
is President of
The World Academy
of Personal Development Inc., a Los
Angeles, California training and consult-
ing firm. Dr. Glickman has provided
consultation and training for individuals
and organizations including Warner
Bros., Johnson & Johnson, U.S. Army,
Young Presidents’ Organization, BP,
Internal Revenue Service, and Bristol-
Myers Squibb. She has been repeatedly
honored by the media as “Australia’s
Most Successful Woman.” She is the
recipient of the “Woman of the Year”
award for National Business Women’s
Week in Hollywood.
This Optimal Thinking woman has
been featured on Bloomberg TV, Fox
News Channel, New York Times and
Association Management Magazine.
For more information, visit
http://www.optimalthinking.com.