[stephp]

I would argue that there's a difference between "overly optimistic" and "overly confident."

VCs may find overly optimistic people suspicious, but I think overly confident is met with boundless praise in most spaces.

The first is about the project and the latter is about the person. Someone can say, "Oh you know, we have x, y, and z obstacles, but I know we're going to beat them." That's admitting there's problems. But if they said a word about doubting themselves, well, no one ever applauds that. And the inability to be truly open and vulnerable as a human being seems to be the stuff that leads to desperate loneliness and suicide.

[neltnerb]

Agreed.