[December 6, 2019] Leaders have ambition. All types of leaders possess this trait; good, bad, or indifferent. I like to think about ambition like gasoline; it acts as an accelerant. Gasoline is used in vehicles to make them go, and we benefit, but gasoline can also cause highly destructive fires. If you are a leader, be prepared to pour yourself a cup of ambition.
I was headed south on the New Jersey Turnpike when the radio station started blaring out Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 song. I remember it well from her movie with the same name; Nine to Five (1980). A small group of Army sergeants and I went to see the movie after a long time on field maneuvers, in a cold, wet, snowy part of Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Somehow we connected with Dolly Parton and her two female friends. We laughed so hard at the slapstick comedy that it hurt. If you’ve not seen it, I highly recommend seeing Dolly Parton’s official video playing her theme song (see on YouTube, 2:33 minutes, link here). At the beginning of the song, Dolly tells the story of tumbling out of bed, going into the kitchen, and pouring herself a cup of ambition. I titled today’s leadership article after her lyrics.
How we view “ambition” has changed over the years, but the core meaning has remained the same. It means an admirable desire for advancement or improvement.1 In its original meaning back in Greek Empire days, however, it meant the desire for honor or power. So there is some argument for ambition having a dark side.
We used to call some of the sergeants “lifers” – those who wanted to stay in the army as a career. Lifer was a derogatory term and somehow meant these folks were not smart enough to make it on the outside. Or, they were too ambitious and used and abused leader traits that did not sit well with the common soldier. I believe most of us have witnessed a boss who was too ambitious and gave us a hard time. I saw it in officers and didn’t like what I saw.
There is nothing wrong with having ambition and also surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to follow your dreams. Encouragement and inspiration is a good thing. But too much of it can be damaging. Losing sight of practicality, indecisiveness, and inability to commit to the long-term are common problems associated with being overly ambitious.
As long as leaders are aware of the downside to ambition and can create a check on that dark behavior, then ambition will work for them. I learned from many great warriors in the army that ambition can be a good thing. If you are grounded emotionally and ethically, anyone with ambition will do well.
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Just the right article to get me motivated for the weekend. Well done and thanks General Satterfield.
The main reason why ambition is important is because most things are not just handed to you in life. You have to really want something and know why you want it. When you really want something out of your life, you will be more willing to work hard to accomplish it. It also helps to have ambition whenever things are not going so great in your life. Having ambition in times like these will lead you to get yourself out of them and find happiness and success. If you have no ambition in your life, you have no drive for anything. Nothing will seem important.
Janna, all thumbs up approval on your comment. I agree completely. You MUST want something so that motivation comes from the inside of you.
When you have ambition in your life, more things will seem possible.
Instead of looking at something you want from a distance, ambition allows you the motivation and strength to make it a reality in your life. This could be ambition to lose weight, ambition to get a better job or even ambition to start your own business. It really can change your life when you have a little ambition.
The most important thing to remember in working towards goals is to stay humble. No one appreciates an arrogant and conceited person, but people do appreciate a humble and dedicated individual.
The importance of ambition is this: you’re guaranteed some sort of success. At the end of the day, that’s all anyone really wants. We all want success and happiness out of life, and being ambitious is the best way to achieve that. So remember, work hard, be kind, and stay humble.
Great comment, Dead Pool Guy (by the way, great name!).
For a new guy here in Gen. Satterfield leadership forum, you seem like a pro.
To accomplish your long term goals you must want to be successful as much as you want to breathe.
Good quote, “Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.” by Niccolo Machiavelli
Another good quote, “Ambition, I have come to believe, is the most primal and sacred fundamental of our being. To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and the reason for our existence.” ~ Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro
You da man, Billy….. quote city!
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Good article, I read recently that may help clarify.
“Why Ambition Is More Important Than Talent” – https://www.elitedaily.com/money/entrepreneurship/ambition-important-success
An ambitious attitude can lead anyone to triumph and satisfaction, regardless of what is put in front of them. To have the will, the dream and the courage to be on top of the world will get you a lot farther in life than any skill you can possibly possess.
Today, there is a movement in the US and most western countries that can be called Political Correctness which translates, roughly, in gaining the moral high ground over the mental knuckle draggers. This is, of course, dangerous. There is little difference in this and Nazi brownshirts; same MO, same ideology (just a different name). This all means that if you don’t have enough ambition to overcome the neo-Marxism of the PC movement, then expect to get run over.
Good to see you back on Gen. Satterfield’s leadership website. Great comment, by the way, and a good reason for you to submit another guest article. I’m one of your many fans here. ?
Yes, another article by you Jelly would be a nice holiday present for us all.
Yeah! A Christmas present.