I see the glass half empty. I am an optimist.

Do you see the glass half full or half empty? We’ve been told that the optimist sees it half full and pessimists see it half empty. OK, that’s wrong.

It’s the pessimist who sees the glass half full. We have been taught to be content for what we have. Not long for more. We should be filled with gratitude because the glass is not empty. Or, put another way: things can be worse. So much for the old bible verse “my cup runneth over.”

Insider tip: You want your cup to runneth over.

So it’s the optimist who sees the glass half empty. A vessel just waiting to be filled. Look at all that room. That is called OPPORTUNITY. It’s just waiting to be filled.

I help people start a business. I seek out those who see the glass half empty. They have the drive to fill that cup up. These people are called entrepreneurs.

I speak to many people who wish to start a business but cannot get their focus off the half full portion. They are afraid of losing any more of the water. They see a glass half full of competition or other barriers. They simply cannot imagine the empty space filled with success. So they settle for the half cup.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s good to be grateful for what we have. I am everyday. But it’s no sin to want more. To strive for more. To improve our lives and the world around us.

This is a business post, so I am speaking to people interested in filling the empty half with financial success. But it applies to virtually anything. You can fill the void with peace, healthfullness, compassion, fulfillment or the world’s largest collection of bottle caps. But please don’t stop until your cup runneth over.

Last word: Have a back-up glass ready to catch the spillover. Then you will have a new space to fill.