In our early childhood, we were always asked what we wanted to become when we grew up. We were filled with hopes and dreams that one day we would become that person we envisioned ourselves to be — rich and successful. Unfortunately, not all people realize their life goals–not because of external factors, but because they limit themselves.
Based on my experience, I’ve grown to understand that while ambitions are instrumental to a person’s growth, change will not happen without a corresponding action or game plan.
“If you have an idea, act on it. A dream is just a dream.” — Terry Leahy, Former CEO of Tesco
Is being an ambitious person a negative thing?
Ambition is not a negative trait. It is, in fact, a good start if you are aiming to improve the quality of your life. But it is wrong on so many levels if you are ambitious but also indecisive, half-hearted, and passive, using your weaknesses as an excuse for not doing what is required of you to become successful. For instance, a newbie entrepreneur with bold ambitions lets his inner self get in the way by being hesitant to learn new skills that are essential to success because he thinks that his day-to-day tasks are already too much to handle.
That’s a red flag.
Do not sabotage your way to success by making up excuses not to go above and beyond what is expected. Having this kind of mindset–unwilling to grow by learning and sacrifice–is counterproductive to all other efforts you are putting into making your ambitions a reality.
Ask yourself, what will you ever achieve if you are always afraid to cross the borders of your comfort zone?
“In business, what’s dangerous is not to evolve.” — Jess Bezos, CEO of Amazon
One more thing that makes being ambitious negative is simply having a negative mind. I always emphasize that success starts in your mind. You already have that big ambition; if you believe in it, then you have to believe in yourself. If you let fear and negativity consume you, you also let opportunities walk out your door.
Stay positive amidst struggles and adversities by having confidence in your strengths. Use these strengths to your advantage and do not let emotions interfere in your critical decision-making.
Worried about failure? We are all terrified of making mistakes. We don’t want setbacks. We want to be perfect–but we are not, hence we are bound to fail in life at one point. Failures are inevitable, but they teach us a thing or two about what we need to work on when we bounce back. The key is to keep bouncing back.
“Do not worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” — Drew Houston, Co-Founder and CEO of Dropbox
Then, what does it really take for me to become successful?
First, don’t give up on that ambition. Take it with you. Store up ample courage to move forward because you can’t stay in the same place forever.
If you feel like there is always something amiss about what you are doing, these two important qualities might help you conquer your inner battles:
- Be Fully Committed to Long-Term Goals
As the saying goes, “Go big or go home.”
If you cannot put 100% commitment into your long-term goals, then it’s safe to say that you will never achieve them. Once your plans are set, you have to be flexible–but always go back to why you are doing this and for what reward. You will encounter temptations to change your mind or back out halfway through, but if you are sure of where you are headed, then your commitment to your goals will not falter.
“Everyone starts strong. Success comes to those with unwavering commitment to be at the end.” — Howard Shultz, CEO of Starbucks
2. Be Receptive of Change
Being open to change is a remarkable quality that will boost your morale and lead you to greater heights. The only constant in this world is change. So you have to understand that you cannot control everything. Don’t even try to change the circumstances because you will only disappoint yourself. Instead, rise above unexpected turns of events. Adjust your attitude towards it, try to be more positive, and shift your perspective to things that you can address rather than dwelling on what you cannot fix.
“If you change the way you see the world, you change the world that sees you.” — Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
The Bottom Line
My point here is simple: ambitions are like binoculars; they enable you to see what you want to become and where you want to go. You can imagine it clearly, but you need something to take you there. That’s where persistence, hard work, and sacrifice enter the picture. You don’t just achieve success in this world. You have to work for it, regardless of what it takes. And don’t give up!
“If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.” — Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of SpaceX
