Ambition is defined as "an eagerness to attain success, honour, power." In it's positive light, ambition is the motor behind the boat................... or the heart of a goal. It gives oxygen to a new idea as it inflates an individual's incentive to aim higher. Feeling ambitious can be exciting and energizing when one's sights are honourable, attainable and motivating.
On the other hand, one can still feel the buzz of ambition even when one's aspirations lead a person to plough forward, oblivious of others who may be in the way. This always leads to others feeling threatened, angry or even disenfranchised. The world of work and politics is chock full of examples of individuals who are so hungry for power that they'll do anything to get ahead. Maybe because there are so many examples of this type of ambitious self-absorption that any time a person has a strong desire to aim high, they are now brushed with the same tint.
Most of my career life has been spent working in the public service. It's what I know best, and consequently, it is the lens through which I must observe. Though there have been ongoing rumblings from management types who attempt to fabricate a business-like environment, it always misses the mark by a long shot. Sure, private sector business terminology has infiltrated government civil service, the implementation of the concepts behind the words falls flat..........especially in the social services area. Always trying to turn the "art" of human social services into a "science/math" of the private sector, their ambitions fall flat. Heck, in this province, they can't even get tourism marketing right.........completely missing the mark unlike how it would be handled in the private sector.
Why? There's a fear of ambitious people. They are all smeared with the same brush Even if a person has good intentions, good ideas and a good heart expressed ambition is now considered a scary thing. Even if it is accompanied with integrity, the public sector monster has a tendancy to prefer mediocre.
Just go with the flow, be grateful you have a job, don't rock the boat........................... be satisfied with your station in life.
I find it all very strange, because if aspirations are muted, motivation and self-satisfaction of a job well done is strangled out of the workforce. Ennui sets in. Old ideas and ways of doing something are recycled over and over and over again in order to avoid an enthusiastic fresh perspective. Whatever happened to the lesson we were taught as youngsters that if you work hard and show your best, you will be rewarded?
Yes..........lets all swim in the same direction...........let's all sing like the birdies do......tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet. The tune is familiar. Gee, doesn't familiarity breed contempt?
Ambitious people in the real world..........the private sector, on the other hand are rewarded more readily. New ideas are applauded, taking risks are encouraged. Change leadership is interactively sought out. My feeling is that there isn't the same fear factor in the world of business when working with someone who has aspirations and dreams, especially when it is obviously for the greater
good of the company as well as the individual.
We are all ambitious in our own way. It simply manifests itself in different parts of our lives. We may not use the word to describe the personal drive or incentive that we feel when it comes to our personal lives, but it is ambition all the same. Aspirations for our children, goals for our family life, dreams that shape our individual personal aims................one can't even take on a hobby without the little engine of ambition to drive you towards learning how do master it.
You want to learn how to play chess, grow beautiful flowers in your garden, cook a new dish, save money for a dream trip, learn how to swim, maintain a blog, tackle a classic novel that seems a wee bit daunting, learn how to play a musical instrument.................you gotta have ambition. It's what motivates. It's what energizes. It's what brings out the gifts in us. It's the intuitive urge to want to bring out our own gifts, and share them with others.
Yet............. people are fearful of allowing others to blossom? To share their gifts? How downright odd.
We live in various communes with others............in our personal lives and in our work lives. Communes work most effectively when everyone plays a productive role, where everyone has an identity that is accepted and applauded, where individuals are embraced because of their uniqueness and what they can offer to the larger group. We gain strength from healthy functioning "communities." We gain the self-esteem from the support we feel around us to take another step towards new learning, to speak openly about what we want and what we aspire to. When the community you find yourself in doesn't provide that, well then it's time to pack up and move on..................... if only I could find that work community where my aspirations are respectfully nurtured and welcomed.
In the meantime.....................good thing I have many other ambitions that aren't related to my career. Yes, my life is abundantly full of people who will support my crazy ideas and my freakish nature to want to try new things............ family and friends who often will "go for the ride" on one of my crazy ambitious plans......... and who have come to expect that of me! It's one of the roles I play in my family and with my friends. I'll continue to channel the energy in that direction............. while continuing to figure out what comes next for my career.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." Marie Curie
On the other hand, one can still feel the buzz of ambition even when one's aspirations lead a person to plough forward, oblivious of others who may be in the way. This always leads to others feeling threatened, angry or even disenfranchised. The world of work and politics is chock full of examples of individuals who are so hungry for power that they'll do anything to get ahead. Maybe because there are so many examples of this type of ambitious self-absorption that any time a person has a strong desire to aim high, they are now brushed with the same tint.
Most of my career life has been spent working in the public service. It's what I know best, and consequently, it is the lens through which I must observe. Though there have been ongoing rumblings from management types who attempt to fabricate a business-like environment, it always misses the mark by a long shot. Sure, private sector business terminology has infiltrated government civil service, the implementation of the concepts behind the words falls flat..........especially in the social services area. Always trying to turn the "art" of human social services into a "science/math" of the private sector, their ambitions fall flat. Heck, in this province, they can't even get tourism marketing right.........completely missing the mark unlike how it would be handled in the private sector.
Why? There's a fear of ambitious people. They are all smeared with the same brush Even if a person has good intentions, good ideas and a good heart expressed ambition is now considered a scary thing. Even if it is accompanied with integrity, the public sector monster has a tendancy to prefer mediocre.
Just go with the flow, be grateful you have a job, don't rock the boat........................... be satisfied with your station in life.
I find it all very strange, because if aspirations are muted, motivation and self-satisfaction of a job well done is strangled out of the workforce. Ennui sets in. Old ideas and ways of doing something are recycled over and over and over again in order to avoid an enthusiastic fresh perspective. Whatever happened to the lesson we were taught as youngsters that if you work hard and show your best, you will be rewarded?
Yes..........lets all swim in the same direction...........let's all sing like the birdies do......tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet. The tune is familiar. Gee, doesn't familiarity breed contempt?
Ambitious people in the real world..........the private sector, on the other hand are rewarded more readily. New ideas are applauded, taking risks are encouraged. Change leadership is interactively sought out. My feeling is that there isn't the same fear factor in the world of business when working with someone who has aspirations and dreams, especially when it is obviously for the greater
good of the company as well as the individual.We are all ambitious in our own way. It simply manifests itself in different parts of our lives. We may not use the word to describe the personal drive or incentive that we feel when it comes to our personal lives, but it is ambition all the same. Aspirations for our children, goals for our family life, dreams that shape our individual personal aims................one can't even take on a hobby without the little engine of ambition to drive you towards learning how do master it.
You want to learn how to play chess, grow beautiful flowers in your garden, cook a new dish, save money for a dream trip, learn how to swim, maintain a blog, tackle a classic novel that seems a wee bit daunting, learn how to play a musical instrument.................you gotta have ambition. It's what motivates. It's what energizes. It's what brings out the gifts in us. It's the intuitive urge to want to bring out our own gifts, and share them with others.
Yet............. people are fearful of allowing others to blossom? To share their gifts? How downright odd.
We live in various communes with others............in our personal lives and in our work lives. Communes work most effectively when everyone plays a productive role, where everyone has an identity that is accepted and applauded, where individuals are embraced because of their uniqueness and what they can offer to the larger group. We gain strength from healthy functioning "communities." We gain the self-esteem from the support we feel around us to take another step towards new learning, to speak openly about what we want and what we aspire to. When the community you find yourself in doesn't provide that, well then it's time to pack up and move on..................... if only I could find that work community where my aspirations are respectfully nurtured and welcomed.
In the meantime.....................good thing I have many other ambitions that aren't related to my career. Yes, my life is abundantly full of people who will support my crazy ideas and my freakish nature to want to try new things............ family and friends who often will "go for the ride" on one of my crazy ambitious plans......... and who have come to expect that of me! It's one of the roles I play in my family and with my friends. I'll continue to channel the energy in that direction............. while continuing to figure out what comes next for my career.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." Marie Curie
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3 comments:
How true, how important it is to have ambitions beyond work and career, things that make us grow and develop in more than one direction - and friends that will come for the ride too :)
It's also incredible how ambitions evolve and develop - there is always some new challenge to embrace if only we keep our eyes open.
One does need distractions and new adventures in order to keep the ambitious side of their nature fresh. Without those, it is easy to fall into a rut and take life as it comes, without doing more to make it exciting and worth diving into.
All that said, yet I find myself being utterly lazy this month. For some reason, I lack the energy to do more than my regular work. It might be because I have a long weekend coming up soon where I can get away for a few days, or this oppressive heat. Whatever the reason, I seem to have lost the magic it requires to get excited about anything. Perhaps those few days away will renew the spirit, and bring back the mojo I so sorely lack right now.
As always, lovely post. I will need to remember to come back here to read this, as I was a good shot in the arm to ward off the doldrums, and get on with life instead of woeing over it.
~a side note to alter ego~
Great idea to link awareness. She never disappoints in her posts, and has a wonderful way with keeping you captivated.
Hi there! Thank you for the comments
Rainbow dreams.......I like the name of your blog. Friends do make ambitious enterprises a whole lot more fun.
Ego's alter......thank you for the kind words. and thanks for the link.
Ellen.......sorry you're feeling a bit exhausted. It's August, though and sometimes energy dips then. I think what you need is a trip to New England....possibly the beach during the days and the feel of a cool August night breeze around a campfire. OR! A trip in the fall when the leaves are turning. Or! a Flashy pair of red sandals! All are mojo enhancing.
I gotta say that my energy waxes and wanes these days.......and I'm wondering if it tied in with the fullmoon if you know what I mean. :) Take care.
Ellen........send me an email. I have been thinking about a story and I'm wondering if you're interested. It's a bit "ambitious" so it may have to wait until the fall/winter, but I'd like to share my idea with you.
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