Ben Horowitz argument in his book “The Right Thing About Hard Things” the following:
“The right kind of ambition is ambition for the company’s success with the executives’s own success only coming as a by-product of the company’s victory.
The wrong kind of ambition is ambition for the executive’s personal success regardless of the company’s outcome.”
This is powerful stuff, “Leadership” on my opinion, is a privilege that have been and will be always earn because the group (be it Family, Work Team, Organization, Society, Community) decide, consciuosly or unconsciously, to follow and support the vision and execution guidelines the Leader promote.
This cannot be taken from granted, for the simple truth that in a blink of an eye Leadership badge can be remove.
Therefore, I would like to share a personal posture on “Ambition” as a foundational element of drive to excellence and for a life well lived:
Position yourself to success is a non-negotiable. However, it cannot be at all cost because if you get it burning bridges along the way, once you’re done. How will you enjoy the rewards if nothing left behind? 🧐
We get into the real challenges when balancing the sweetspot between perfoming and goals accomplishments.
Getting confuse about your personal contribution as part of whole or your contribution as the definite element of success. Is the main factor that disrupt the natural flow of things.
The call to action here is that “ambition” must be contrasted with the wellbeing of the “greater Good”. If taken out of the sight, the bucket of the wrong kind of ambition will keep receiving adherents. And it is not what we are striving for.
Will you make your call and reflect about the right kind of ambition and its impact for the greater good?