2 minute read
Out Islands, Bahamas
Entrepreneurship is a way of living that calls for untiring drive, resilience, and an enduring sense of optimism. While technical skills, strategic thinking, and resource allocation are a “given” just to be in the game, the elusive qualities of positive energy and zest act as differentiators for high-achieving entrepreneurs. They are “attracting” personality characteristics, and these characteristics go far beyond merely rah-rah superficial enthusiasm; they represent a deep-seated vitality, liveliness; a magnetic force that can fuel teams, foster innovation, and overcome the inevitable challenges of building and leading an enterprise from little or nothing.
Positive energy is a contagious force that fuels momentum within entrepreneurial ecosystems. Barb Fredrickson’s work validates that leaders who radiate positivity broaden and build; they create an environment where creativity flourishes and individuals feel empowered to take risks. This is not merely “positive thinking” and has nothing to do with the smiley face yellow buttons. This energy doesn’t mean we ignore obstacles or setbacks; rather, it is about adopting a constructive mindset that views problems as puzzles to solve rather than as insurmountable barriers. As Carol Dweck’s research on the growth mindset also demonstrates, spraying positive energy all around you fosters adaptability and perseverance, allowing entrepreneurs to pivot when necessary while staying grounded in their vision.
Zest, a quality rooted in wholehearted engagement with life and work, is possibly even more critical. It drives the ability to approach challenges with enthusiasm and courage, transforming daunting tasks into opportunities for growth. Entrepreneurs with zest exude an infectious excitement that attracts talent, capital, and partnerships—key ingredients for building entrepreneurial teams. Beyond external relationships, zest also enhances one’s internal motivation. It infuses mundane tasks with purpose, ensuring that even routine activities align with broader goals.
The synergy of positive energy and zest often manifests itself in an entrepreneur’s ability to attract and inspire talent. Teams are drawn to leaders who embody positive energy and zest—those leaders create a shared sense of purpose and belonging and…fun. This dynamic not only improves morale but also enhances productivity and innovation, both of which are critical in today’s competitive landscape.
High-performing entrepreneurs understand that positive energy and zest are not infinite resources; they get depleted, and require intentional cultivation. Practices such as breathwork, exercise, meditation, and curating a strong network of supportive relationships help to access and sustain these traits over time. Sustained achieving entrepreneurs prioritize aligning their work with their personal values and passions, ensuring that their positive energy is perceived as authentic and unwavering.
Positive energy and zest are the engines that transform vision into reality. They empower entrepreneurs to embrace uncertainty, unlock their potential, inspire others, and persist to build self-efficacy through challenges. These qualities elevate not only the entrepreneur but also everyone around them—and the ventures they lead, creating ripples of impact that extend far beyond the immediate business. In a world that often celebrates technical prowess and strategic acumen, positive energy and zest remain singular, indispensable, catalysts of entrepreneurial greatness.
What I am Reading / Listening to
Proof of Heaven (2012)
By Eben Alexander, M.D
I am not an everyday reader about or follower of near-death experiences (NDE’s) or candidly much else that the pop culture thinks of as woo-woo and yet…in this case, this book called to me from where it sat in a Little Free Library. I picked it up and flipped through it. I had recently been listening to Sebastian Junger (the author of The Perfect Storm, Freedom, and other non-fiction books) on Peter Attia’s podcast THE DRIVE talking about his own NDE very earnestly and very seriously. Peter is the most coldly rational thinker I know, and the dialectic between their positions was fascinating. I wondered how Eben Alexander’s experience was similar to and / or different from Junger’s.
I find that the further I go in life, there more I am passionately committed to experiencing states of consciousness that, once we are full-out adults, may become more challenging to reach. Maybe because of that, I wanted to experience the insights in this book because the author's near-death experience isn't the only intriguing part—it was his perfect credentials for influencing everyone's (including my) opinion about that experience. I mean he is a neurosurgeon for goodness sake, what could be more materialistic than that point of view? He was in for an education, and so was I.
I've visited a few places that seemed similar to those this neurosurgeon visited during his 7-day coma. Where did he go? Can we access this consciousness at will? His experience had moments of stress, and yet was overwhelmingly beautiful, joyful, loving, awe inspiring, and relaxing. His death experience as described made it all seem normal and to be expected of someone in his dying situation. Interesting to apply it to ourselves actually, when you believe as I do that consciousness does not begin or end with the physical brain.
It's quick to read, because the story is so compelling, and the physician/author has gone to great lengths to explain why these were not hallucinations (that part of his brain was classified as completely nonfunctional at the time), or any other among a long list of conventional science's debunking explanations for NDEs. His unique experience refutes all of these arguments. The title made me think this was some kind of religious apology which doesn’t figure in to the work at all.
I highly, highly recommend this book.
Entrepreneur Owner-Manager Quote
“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
— Eben Alexander, M.D., American neurosurgeon and author of Proof of Heaven (2012)
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