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| Are you actively chasing your dreams? You should be. |
It's easy to say we value ambition. Who doesn't want to accomplish something notable? What's important is actually doing something about this desire. Ambition without action is just talk. Being ambitious is about walking the walk by actively pursuing a worthwhile goal.
Most people agree ambition is important but will pass right on by without ever being “ambitious”. Why? Because most people don’t contemplate what’s so great about being ambitious. This is a mistake. A big one.
Most people agree ambition is important but will pass right on by without ever being “ambitious”. Why? Because most people don’t contemplate what’s so great about being ambitious. This is a mistake. A big one.
HERE ARE 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF BEING AMBITIOUS.
1. MUCH OF LIFE IS THERE FOR THE TAKING, BUT YOU HAVE TO REACH FOR IT.
Life’s treasures are not typically handed to us, but they don’t all require unbelievable amounts of work either. Some things just require a little pursuit. It may be cliche but much of life is given to the doers, not the wait ‘n seers. This isn’t always obvious until we put forth some effort.
What are the chances we will get what we want if we don’t go after what we want? If we expect to influence the quality of our lives we must play an active role.
Sometimes we don’t even know that we’re good at something until we try. We may even discover unexpected passions by trying new things. It’s all there for us. We just need to be willing to get out there and chase after our aspirations.
2. AMBITION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TALENT
We don’t control what physical characteristics we’re born with, but we can choose how enthusiastic we’re willing to be. Ambition alone doesn’t guarantee success, but even great talent without ambition is nothing.
Ambition is to life as the engine is to the car. No matter how aerodynamic, powerful, or sleek the car, without the engine it’s just a giant lump that’s not going anywhere.
Deliberate action leads to skill. We can never know what great talents we might uncover until we courageously leave our comfort zone.
3. AMBITION NATURALLY LEADS TO THOSE ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.
When we’re ambitious we’re on a quest to achieve an objective. As long as we picked a goal that interests us, the positive side effects of this journey are plentiful. We develop a number of important characteristics.
- Persistence: When we’re excited about an idea, we’re less likely to let roadblocks and failures hold us back.
- Experience: We learn to make good choices in the big matters by first making plenty of mistakes in small matters
- Discipline: When we’re focused on an objective, we care more about a vision than what other people think, thus we develop a natural immunity from critics
- Determination: When we become too busy making something of ourselves, we don’t have time to think up excuses.
- Creativity: Ambition produces enthusiasm, which leads to creativity as our imagination is fueled by our excitement.
Not every effort will produce results, but the more ambitious we are the greater tendency we have to develop these amazing attributes.
4 – WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE AMBITIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING WE WANT.
Are you passionate about some skill? Why not get better at it? Have a favorite cause? Go nuts. Are your kids the center of your universe? Become the best parent.
What we choose to chase after is entirely personal. We can tell a lot about what people value by how committed they are to reaching at least some level of achievement. Think about that. Everyone is excited about some idea, so chasing that idea can be nothing but pure enjoyment even if we fail. That’s the beauty of choosing our own goals.
Many lives are spent merely following in the footsteps of others or chasing someone else’s dream for no other reason than a lack of imagination. Once we acknowledge this fact we begin to appreciate how enjoyable life is merely by chasing what we love.
5 – EVERY GREAT SUCCESS STORY HAS AMBITION AS A COMMON DENOMINATOR.
Strong desire matched with intention is leading people to great heights all around us all the time. We should be asking ourselves, “Why not us?” Are we in this game called life or merely a spectator watching others have all the fun. We get to choose. But we must be careful. If we choose to do nothing that’s exactly what we’ll get.
6 – AMBITION PROVIDES CLARITY.
Does this choice move me closer to my goal? If not, why am I doing it? If our actions are not inspired by some purpose than the choices we make can get muddled in a hurry. Yet when we define a goal, desire to achieve it, and act upon those desires, these choices are easy.
What is desirable yet unreachable to the unmotivated is merely a destination to the ambitious. With real ambition our biggest goals become targets instead of mere hopes and dreams which is a far more enjoyable way to traverse through life.
7 – LIFE IS MORE EXCITING WITH AMBITION.
We should always be striving for something. Once we stop , our lives lack meaning. A life not chasing a dream is like a bucket of fireworks never set off. All the potential, excitement, fun; all of it wasted.
Imagine placing a tiny bet on a horse with the chance to win big. Even if we lose its still far more exciting to be at the race with something at stake, especially when we share that enthusiasm with others. If we don’t put something down we’re simply watching everyone else’s excitement. What kind of life is that?
"A young man without ambition is an old man waiting to be." ~ Steven Brust
Imagine placing a tiny bet on a horse with the chance to win big. Even if we lose its still far more exciting to be at the race with something at stake, especially when we share that enthusiasm with others. If we don’t put something down we’re simply watching everyone else’s excitement. What kind of life is that?
At worst we have a fun story about failing and we are never left wondering what might have been. Few people reach the end of their life regretting the things they tried. Being ambitious is almost entirely all upside.
8 – SATISFACTION.
"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when has has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.”
9 – TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH A WORTHWHILE OBJECTIVE IS CHARACTER BUILDING.
Strength comes from facing difficulties and successfully enduring. This is how we build muscles, how we develop courage, and how life itself evolves. These traits are not available to those who stay idle.
We must accept that we need to be weak before we become strong. It is part of the process. Every great feat began with meager steps often clouded with hardship. Growth comes from refusing to let adversity control our destiny, and there is no better way of realizing this than by striving to accomplish a worthwhile objective.
10 – CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE.
Consider the words that define someone who lacks ambition: dull, lazy, conformist, dependent, boring, lethargic. None of these should sound remotely appealing. They should make us uneasy.
Genuine happiness is not going to be found by being dormant.
