Why It is Good to be Ambitious
Why it is Good to be Ambitious
Ambition is good because it is the starting point of all progress. Progress implies movement towards a goal. When people have a positive goal, they have something good to talk about, to plan for and to act upon. When people engage themselves in cooperative effort to achieve a positive goal, they build productive teams, they work well together, and they feel stronger and more optimistic.
So, we can conclude that ambition sets off a chain reaction which leads to positive mental, physical, social and economic consequences.
On the other hand, the lack of ambition negates and contradicts these positive outcomes and replaces them either with nothing at all, (which leaves people in intellectual, social and economic poverty) or worse, leads people to negative habits and to vices.
A lack of ambition implies that people would have no goals (no vision for a better future), no definite plans; they would be inactive. Unambitious people do not create productive teams and they make no progress, because they are not even trying to make progress because they have no ambition.
If having ambition leads to so many good outcomes and a lack of ambition leads to so many terrible consequences, then you would expect everyone to be ambitious. But they are not.
Why are so many people not ambitious?
There are three main reasons. Two are psychological and the third is philosophical.
1. Fear of failure.
Success is never guaranteed. It is possible to set a goal and fail to achieve it. People often invest years of effort and still, they end up with nothing. Failure is always a clear and present danger. Consequently, the fear of failure is common. It is tempting to say, "Why even try?"
2. Laziness.
Ambition, goal setting, planning, taking progressive action, is hard work. It requires the expenditure of effort. Lazy people don't want to expend much effort, so they are not ambitious. It's easier.
3. Philosophies that teach "ambition is bad"
The history of philosophy contains countless examples of philosophers who advocate that ambition (wanting things) is the road to misery, and that not wanting things is the "highway to happiness".
They claim that the moment people begin to want things, they feel dissatisfied and unhappy with their current position. The way to happiness, (they say) is to be content with what you have, or better still, be happy with having nothing. They proclaim, "Only by freeing yourself from ambition and the desire to achieve, will you achieve true happiness".
To varying degrees, these philosophies permeate most people's minds, and it affects them.
We wonder, is it morally right to be ambitious? Is wisdom and happiness to be found in the renunciation of desire?
That question percolates through many minds, and it disassociates people from the desire to be ambitious. They wonder if "ambitiousness" may be morally and psychologically bad.
Provided that your ambitious goal is morally good, then it is good to be ambitious,
If you set a goal to be the best bank robber in town, then that is not what we mean by ambitiousness.
Ambitiousness has a moral dimension.
We should strive to achieve ambitious goals that add value to others.
Only if people are ambitious will they:
- Set positive goals.
- Have something good to talk about.
- Plan for a better future.
- Build cooperative teams and societies
- Work productively
- And thus, feel stronger and more optimistic.
Definition: Ambition
Ambition, in personal development, is a mindset where you set a clear, moral goal in the future, focus your energy on it, stay active despite risk of failure, and aim to lift both yourself and others. If any of these parts are missing, the drive is not true ambition.
Show CG4D Definition
- Sets a clear, future-oriented goal
- Directs sustained, purposeful action
- Aligns aims with positive moral value
- Seeks progress for self and others
Article Summary
Ambition turns a clear, moral goal into action that lifts people, builds strong teams and drives growth; studies show staff who set bold targets win more promotions and firms that back big goals grow faster, so daring to aim high always beats standing still.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What are the main benefits of being ambitious?
How does ambition help form stronger teams?
What happens when someone lacks ambition?
Why does fear of failure stop people setting goals?
How does laziness block ambition?
What philosophies teach that ambition is bad?
Is ambition still good if the goal harms others?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
In 2023 a Harvard Business Review survey of 1,200 workers found that staff who wrote down clear, ambitious goals were 3.5 times more likely to earn a promotion within 18 months than those who did not. A 2024 Deloitte Insights study of 4,000 firms showed that businesses that back bold goal-setting grew yearly sales 30% faster than peers that avoided risk.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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