Maintain your optimism.

There is this story about a salesperson who is to market shoes to some villagers. Upon arriving in their community, he saw that no one had shoes on. Feeling let down, he reported back to his company that it was difficult to make sales because nobody wore them.

His replacement was permitted to attempt again by the company's chief of marketing. When he arrived, he taught them how to wear shoes and pointed out their importance. The fact that no one was wearing shoes made it the most interesting market he had ever seen, he reported back to the company.

Moral guidance.

There was hope for one salesperson; the other had none, and there would be no effort without hope.