But there are times when the right-hander has caught himself thinking negatively this season.
Cricket can be a very tough game for a top-order batsman and the reality is you are going to have a lot of bad days. You have to learn to embrace those failures and find a way to contribute in other ways.
But this summer has been particularly challenging for Otago and for Nicol personally.
The former international transferred south from Auckland this season with high hopes for the team.
That confidence seemed well-founded. He was joining a team with an experienced batting line-up featuring Neil Broom, Hamish Rutherford, Anaru Kitchen and Brad Wilson.
And the bowling unit was spearheaded by Black Caps left-armer Neil Wagner and also included classy all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and off-spinner Mark Craig. The trio have all played test cricket, so there was good reason for Nicol's optimism.
Fast-forward six months and all Otago has left to play for is pride. The Volts finished last in the twenty20 and one-day competitions and are in a dire battle for the wooden spoon in the Plunket Shield, having lost their last six first-class games.
Such results provide lush pastures for doubt. Add in a run of low scores and it would be easy to become disconsolate.
Nicol has scored just 132 runs at an average of 12 this season. That is well below his career first-class average of 32.85 and not how he imagined the season would pan out.
"It hasn't been as I would have liked in terms of runs and what have you," Nicol said.
"I'm constantly trying to turn the stone in terms of why it has not gone so well.
"The main thing for me is trying to contribute something good for these last three fixtures.
"I don't judge myself purely on runs. It is at the forefront of your mind but I can't be walking around complaining I've got no runs.
"I've got to try to help out the group or try to do something in and around that side of it."
Nicol is not alone in his struggles. There is barely a player in the team who has not experienced a lean patch throughout the season.
But, as captain, he has felt the disappointment a bit more acutely. The team has won just five games across three formats.
"It hasn't been the best. I'm pretty disappointed and just feel like we have let down a few people.
"It isn't through lack of trying, though. It is something we've been working on throughout the season, so it is not like we've shirked off."
The Volts have actually played some decent first-class cricket in patches but have tended to have one really bad session and it has proved costly.
"That is definitely the trend and we've been asking that question internally - how do we rectify that situation?
"Individually you have to ask yourself ... what does the team need at a certain point in time? Do they need me to graft through to lunch, see the new ball out or get through a certain spell?
"I don't think we've really got the finger on the pulse in and around that area."
Nicol has kept despondency at bay but it has not always easy.
"We are conscience that we need to use the right language and look at the positives or look for solutions. But it is difficult. You do catch yourself saying something that is not really helpful."
Otago has made two changes for its Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts in Whangarei today.
Shawn Hicks is out with concussion, so Josh Tasman-Jones gets an opportunity, while Neil Wagner has joined the Black Caps in preparation for the test series against England and has been replaced by Matt Bacon.
Hard-hitting all-rounder Corey Anderson will make his first appearance for Northern Districts this season following his recovery from back surgery.
Wicketkeeper Peter Bocock will make his debut in the absence of BJ Watling and Tim Seifert.
Black Caps leg-spinner Ish Sodhi also returns to domestic cricket, but veteran seamer Brent Arnel and batsman Dean Brownlie are being rested.
- Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Rob Nicol (captain), Neil Broom, Josh Tasman-Jones, Derek de Boorder, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rae, Matt Bacon, Michael Rippon.
- Northern Districts: Daniel Flynn (captain), Henry Cooper, Bharat Popli, Corey Anderson, Daryl Mitchell, Nick Kelly, Peter Bocock, Brett Hampton, Ish Sodhi, James Baker, Zak Gibson, Joe Walker.
Cobham Oval, Whangarei, 10:30am.
