I recently noticed that Gallup International reported the findings of their annual Voice of the People survey. In it, they found that Africa was the most optimistic region of the world. In an editorial piece the New York Times, writer Lydia Polgreen surmised that the reason for African's optimism was either the fact that the people are very religious or that things in many regions are so desperate that they can only get better.
I have a different take on it. While spending a few months living in Mexico each year and having the occasion to travel to Africa I am always struck by how optimistic and happy people really are. What I've found is people in places like Mexico and Africa focus on their immediate situation, their family and friends, and don't get obsessed by things they can't control like so many of us that live in the U.S. and Western Europe.
The story that tells of this contrast the best is the one about the Mexican Fisherman and the American Businessman that I wrote about in Beyond the Brand and blogged about last year.
I always have to remind myself to let go of those things I can't control and focus on the gifts that I have both in business and personally. That's a hard thing to do in today's hyper connected, over stimulated world we live in!
