My Ideal Client
- By: Jessica Faust | Date: Jan 27 2016
I’ve probably been asked hundreds of times what my ideal client is and typically my answer has always had something to do with professionalism, willingness to take edits, etc, etc. But the older I get the more I see something else that I really love in a client. Optimism.
I’m an optimist by nature. Even when things seem like they’re at their darkest, I tend to think they could always be worse and see a bright side to everything. A layoff can lead to an exciting and inspiring career change, a stitched head could have been a broken bone, a breakup gives you time to love yourself, and so on. It’s a trait that I know drives some people crazy and leads others to mistrust my judgement. I have no doubt that many think I don’t see the truth or that I’m just plain delusional when I tell them things are going to be just fine.
Over time though, I’ve learned that optimists tend to take charge and turn those bad times around. Pessimists, in my experience, like to moan and complain, but are slow to grab the bull by the horns and make a positive change. They feel frozen and angry. Of course this is a simplified definition of how optimists or pessimists might act in certain situations, but I think you get the gist of what I”m saying.
How a person reacts to bad news, or even good news, isn’t the only reason I prefer an optimist. I like to be surrounded by positive people. Good energy brings good things and I find that those who see the world with a negative eye tend to bring me down too. It’s hard to get excited about something when the person you’re talking to is busy telling you all the reasons you shouldn’t.
Do I require all of my clients to be optimists? Certainly not, but I also find surrounding myself with people who exude positive and optimistic energy is more fun for me.
Writers need optimism in spades because without it I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t continue to believe in our own ability. Writers are constantly being told to persevere and not to allow rejections to get us down. I think optimism is another word for belief, mostly in ourselves, but also in the abilities of others.
Very well said!! This is so important in every aspect of life, but especially in finding a business partner!
A few years ago I heard the following quote by Oprah Winfrey: Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher. People who see the glass-half-full would do that.
But surely any writer who is still at it after a few years of rejections has to be optimistic?
Optimism is a choice. It’s one of the most valuable lesson I try to instill in my students. I’m also optimistic my book will end up exactly where it’s supposed to be Thanks for the uplifting blog.
I’m an optimist, I usually described myself as a silver lining kind of girl.
I’ve taught my kids (see how optimistic I am) that ever situation has a silver lining, if we want to look for it.
People look at you strangly or like a child who doesn’t understand the real world.
Its nice finding another person who really knows what optimistic means, there isn’t many around any more.
I consider myself an optimist, though I tend to plan for the worst case scenario. Figuring out what to do should the worst happen gives me confidence to move forward. Also, thinking of the worst possible outcome makes other unfavorable outcomes look not so bad.
I have to think all successful writers must carry an optimistic streak. Pessimists would never be able to handle the emotional turmoil to which writers are constantly subjected.
Well Said indeed!. One of my favorite quotes is from Jacob Riis. I first read it when I was swimming competitively and posted it above my goals. Now it resides next to my computer in my home office. Perseverance with a dash of optimism I think.
When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
My favorite quote combines a bit of optimism with perseverance. It’s from Jacob Riis
When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before …
[…] course of that email I told her that her upbeat enthusiasm was something I always loved hearing (optimism again?). It is that person, the one who, no matter how fearful, moves with the change, who will be […]