During the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln sent a letter to one of his generals, William Sherman, expressing his conviction that he was about to lose the election and that all that remained was for him to hand-over matters to the next president as smoothly as possible.

The reason Abe was so pessimistic was that the war was not going well for the Union (the north), and after four years of pain the public had lost enthusiasm.

His opposing presidential candidate promised to end the war and let the south secede from the United States.

The polls showed that Abe would lose in a landslide.

Three weeks after sending the letter, Sherman managed to take Atlanta, the logistical hub of the Confederates, achieving a moral victory of massive significance.

Overnight the citizens of the Union become optimistic and supporting of the conclusion of the war. Abe was reelected in a landslide, and the rest is history.

In startup life, things can sometimes look bleak. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do except wait and see how it pans out.

Abe Lincoln succeeded in the face of insuperable odds and with no light at the end of the tunnel.

So can you.