A few weeks ago, I was hired by someone to help with their job search strategy, specifically to take a look at their resume and LinkedIn profile. Let’s call her Sarah. Sarah is a self-described middle aged mom with a young child and a career that’s “all over the place.” Her words, not mine. Right now, she’s working for 50% of her pay. Why? “Better than no pay. But this isn’t going to work for long,” she said with a deep sigh that’s very familiar to me. Been there. 

She started our call by telling me all the reasons this job search was going to be harder than ever. Age. Gender. The market. I got the sense she felt rude for having a dream. How dare she dream! In this market? *note sarcasm* My first instinct was compassion. I know what it feels like to look at the world and feel like the odds are absolutely against you. Then, something else came across me. Something that has been really rare in my life: optimism. 

Frankly, I’m really good at being a pessimist. I grew up surrounded by people who could suck the hope out of anything just to prevent a little disappointment. I'm well-practiced in applying my own brand of frustrating facts to convince myself I’ll never win. But not this time. This time, I was ready to reorient both of us toward the truth. That’s when I blurted out, to her surprise and my own:  “If you think it’s going to be hard, it will be. Let’s review every reason why you just said it will be hard and dispel some of the myths before we even open the resume.” 

Then, we went one by one through each of the reasons she told herself it would be hard. Yes, it is a hard market but not the hardest one ever experienced. Today, she has more knowledge and resources than she ever had in job searches of the past. That makes it easier. And yes, some people have biases against women and people who are over the age of 30. You don’t want to work for these jerks. I didn’t say jerks, just tailoring for the sensitive folks who think shit is a bad word. 

I watched the light pour back into this person right in front of my eyes. It was beautiful. I could tell she felt more free than she has in a long time. 

It’s true. If you think something is going to be hard, it will be. Simple or complicated, everything is harder when you are convinced it’s a challenge. Even something as simple as a goal in the gym. For the last 10 years I told myself I couldn’t do a pull up. The last few months, I started to tell myself I was getting closer. I would just try every once in a while. No pressure to be perfect, just a try. Then, on Tuesday? I did two pull-ups. In a row. A happy dance, too, because I surprised myself. 

I don’t want to pretend nothing bad is happening in the world. I can’t. I know bad things will happen. I won’t always win or like every outcome. But that’s ok. I can still make my reality a lot more enjoyable with a dash of unrelenting optimism. That? Well, that's worth it to me, even if it just makes one hard thing I have to do feel easier. 

Thank you for being a source of optimism in my life this year, dear reader. I write each week because it fills my cup to imagine a future where best in class isn’t just a dream and kindness is king. Your messages and responses are what keep me going when it feels like I’m yelling into a void. 

Your messages, shares, and referrals remind me every time I wonder “who cares” that there’s a long list of names who deeply care about making tomorrow better than today. Thank you - for reading, for supporting me, and everything else in 2025. Cheers to 2026 and all the ways we can find optimism in a future unknown.