Member-only story
Hope Is Not Naive
Why perspective — in the workplace and beyond — truly matters.
You’ve undoubtedly been there, too. Someone overlooks your contribution at work. A meeting that you set up and prepared diligently doesn’t go as planned. Your one-on-one with your supervisor turns into a nightmare.
It’s easy to think hope is just a four-letter word when it comes to the workplace.
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Hope is not a strategy.”
“I wouldn’t get too hopeful.”
Each of these sentiments has varying levels of usefulness. At the same time, I think we’ve lost the plot when it comes to hope. I’d like to try to make a case for it — both in the workplace, and beyond.
But — let me warn you — things are going to get a lot darker before they get better.
Light and Dark
I walked outside the other night and looked up at the stars. I had been taking out the garbage, but that ever-present wonder of the night sky made me stop in my tracks.