Community Comment: Part 42 - Positive, negative & "realistic" company culture

• For a long time, I valued being a realist rather than a pessimist or optimist
• However, I've long discovered something
• The world is largely negative, so being a realist means largely being negative
• Making the choice to be positive is the only true alternative path

The comments I provided in reaction to a community discussion thread.

Founder & CEO at AI-native Analytics Platform Firm:

Startups operate in uncertainty 99% of the time, and it's too easy to become negative about the future. It is the job of the CEO to spot and deal with negativity, even if it uses realism as a disguise.

We all value the “realist” on the team — the one who keeps things grounded and spots risks early. But here’s the thing no one likes to admit:

Sometimes “realism” is just pessimism in a nicer outfit.

And when that becomes the dominant tone in your company culture, it starts doing real damage:

– Creativity gets shot down too early.

– Optimism is seen as naïve.

– Risk-taking disappears.

– People stop speaking up.

You end up with a team that’s great at identifying why things won’t work — and not so great at building what could.

“Just being honest” isn’t a license to be dismissive.

Realism should offer clarity and hope. It should acknowledge risk and potential. The best feedback includes empathy, not just bluntness. Because without optimism, innovation doesn’t stand a chance. And here’s the telltale sign you’re dealing with a pessimist, not a realist:

They preface negativity with “I’m just telling it like it is.”
The truth? That phrase often signals someone who’s already decided something won’t work — and just wants the last word.

Let’s be honest and hopeful.

Let’s be real and open to what’s possible.

Gfesser: