No stranger to challenges, physical and otherwise, Tom Mullikin learned while still a toddler that life can be demanding. Blessed with parents who pushed and encouraged him- and accompanied by blazing optimism as his constant companion- Mullikin not only overcame his physical handicap through hard work and perseverance, but went on to serve as a reservist attached to the United States Army Special Operations Command, attain and compete as a Black Belt in martial arts and hike on all seven continents. Much like many of the individuals featured in these pages, Mullikin chose to see potential instead of pitfalls and he encourages us all to do the same. Profiles in Optimism celebrates the remarkable stories of others who have succeeded through the power of unyielding optimism in their pursuit of a lifelong dream. South Africa's Nelson Mandela- whose optimism enabled him to endure 27 years of political imprisonment and triumph as the country's first African president. India's Gandhi-a mild-mannered proponent of peace who possessed the optimism and spiritual energy necessary to lead India toward independence. Belva Lockwood-almost unknown to many Americans- the first woman to campaign for the presidency in 1884 and 1888, the first woman lawyer permitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court. These are the stories -10 in all- portraits of great optimists who, when faced with the most challenging of circumstances, chose to see the hope instead of the despair and became the change they sought for the world.