The bright side and the dark side of ambition
Ambition. It’s that burning desire to achieve a big goal, to reach new heights, and to make something of oneself. It’s the fuel that powers our dreams, drives innovation, and transforms the impossible into the possible. But while ambition can be a hugely positive force, it also has a dark side, and this is why it remains such a complex and intriguing human trait.
On the bright side, ambition is often considered to be a key ingredient for success: it’s what pushes us to set goals and strive to achieve them. Ambitious individuals are usually characterised as the ones who take the initiative, who are not content with the status quo, and who work tirelessly to make their visions a reality. Think of successful entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and visionaries like Steve Jobs whose ambitions revolutionised entire industries. Think of Olympians like Sir Steve Redgrave and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson who reset our preconceptions about what it’s possible to achieve in sport. Without ambition, many of the world’s greatest achievements might never have come to fruition.
Ambition can also be incredibly motivating on a personal level. It encourages us to improve ourselves, to learn new skills, and to push beyond our comfort zones. It can encourage us to be more goal-oriented and disciplined, and it can support a greater tolerance for failure, as ambitious individuals learn to persevere in the face of challenges.
However, ambition is not without its drawbacks. The relentless pursuit of goals can lead to stress, anxiety, and exhaustion, and ultimately result in burnout. The darker side of ambition is also home to the potential for unethical behaviour. In the race to achieve, some individuals might cut corners or engage in questionable practices to get ahead. This can erode integrity and damage reputations, in all walks of life, and is very difficult to bounce back from. Ambitious people are sometimes described as selfish, blinkered, and lacking empathy, which can put huge strain on relationships in the short- and long-term. We can sometimes find ourselves in the never-ending cycle of wanting more, which can detract from the joy of what one has already accomplished.
Despite the possible darkside, ambition remains a vital and powerful force. It is neither inherently good nor bad but depends on how it is channelled and managed.
“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles that direct them”, Napoleon Bonaparte
Let’s keep our principles in mind and find a healthy dose of ambition to help inspire and motivate us today! If you need support realising your ambition, contact us for a free initial coaching introductory session.
