In gloom, many eyes lock onto bright side

At the headquarters for the “Zac Team” in Atlanta, someone is clanging a metal bell. It’s a reassuring sound these days.

“All right,” said Zac Pasmanick, pausing to join his staff in a round of applause. “It means someone sold a house.”

When housing, finance and employment seem to be in a tailspin, hanging on to an optimistic attitude would seem to be a challenge. But glass-half-full types, like Pasmanick, an associate broker for RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, are hanging tough.

They view the recession as an opportunity to find the silver lining and encourage others to do the same.

Even in this market, Pasmanick finds enough material each month to send an upbeat, e-mailed message on housing trends to more than 2,000 agents around Atlanta.

A recent example: “In good news, economists are predicting that the recession may be over by this coming summer!”

His messages emphasize sales opportunities and attempt to counter the torrent of bad news.

“Everyone is looking at the half-empty glass,” he said. “It is brutal out there. I have to be honest with sellers. But there is positive news out there.”

Daryn Kagan could attest to that.

Six weeks after she left CNN, the former news anchor launched a Web site in 2006 devoted to inspirational stories —- www.DarynKagan.com.

Its theme: “Show the world what’s possible.” Being optimistic is a choice, said Kagan, whose company has since grown from Web site to media company.

Being informed is important, she said, but so is being inspired. “I like to talk about an energy budget,” she said. “You have a certain amount of energy each day. You get to decide how you are going to spend it.”

Her site visitors, responding to a query from Kagan, report that they need a jolt of optimism these days.

“Inspiring news is contagious,” wrote one reader. “When we talk about the good stuff, it gives people ideas about how they can make a difference in their own lives.”

An Alpharetta-based Web business, launched in November, is aimed at helping people “see the extraordinary in their ordinary lives,” said founder Kristi Turner, a former marketing executive.

Among other things, the site —- www.OrdinarilyAmazing.com —- allows people to send free, e-mailed note cards to friends, family or co-workers.

An example: “I watched you make a difference when no one else was looking. Thank you.”

For Turner, the recession represents an opportunity in disguise. A layoff, while potentially traumatic, can force a change for the good.

“Change can be a gift that jolts you out of inactivity or reactivates your life,” she said. “It can be an opportunity to look at who you really are. When you get laid off, you have no other choice but to look at yourself.”