The double edged sword of ambition

Ambition is one of the most important characteristics in a person who changes the world. Ambition is having the desire for personal achievement. It provides the motivation & determination necessary to help give direction to life.

Ambition allows individuals to strive for more. It has fueled massive breakthroughs in every industry, human rights, and evoking international transformations. Ambition is the catalyst for innovation and change.

Entrepreneurs, the very people who take personal responsibility in trying to change the world, lack no amount of ambition. It’s that burning fire in their bellies. It’s what gets them out of bed early and keeps them up late. It’s what fuels them through the tough times and makes the good times even sweeter. Although is it possible that this constant desire for more is causing entrepreneurs anxiety and negatively effecting their quality of life?

Last night I was sharing a drink with a very close friend who is far from short on ambition. This guy is 24 years old, owns multiple properties, has a good job, involved in different startup projects, and is active in local politics, and he still feels frustrated by his progress and “where he is in his life”.

This made me think. Here is a young guy that is pulsing with ambition. He wants to live a big life and make big changes. But his desire for more is affecting his ability to appreciate how much he has accomplished and its impacting his outlook on life.

As I further reflected on this thought, I realized I experience much of the same anxiety of ambition. I want to be more. I want to live a big life. I can be frustrated about ‘where I am in life’.

This to me is the double edged sword of ambition, and I believe it’s a concept that entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs alike should really reflect on.

Ambition is an extremely powerful characteristic trait, and as I have already mentioned it has the power to change the world. Although I believe that it’s important for individuals to give themselves credit for their accomplishments and not let this ‘ambition anxiety’ negatively affect their ability to enjoy their quality of life. It’s important to harness that burning desire in our bellies while not beating ourselves up and get frustrated with our progress, as it can end up being counter productive and hinder our ability to live the big life we all desire.