The Train Series 9: Ambition

First published on October 13, 2016

One of my coaching clients recently told me that in Spanish, the word ambition has very negative connotations. In some ways I found that a relief. I had wondered if suspicion of ambition was specific to the UK, and in particular to the British middle classes. To see it opened, perhaps, as a more significant part of the human condition made me curious. What is it that makes people - like me, and my client - almost nervous to talk about their ambitions?

First is its association with greed. There is some association that the only people who are ambitious are greedy. For more money, for more fame. Or just for more.

Second, comes the fear of failure. I can't talk about my ambitions, because I've had dreams before and the pain of them failing is too great to let it be public by speaking of my ambition. Or worse still, the pain is too great to even have dreams any more.

And third comes some sense of getting beyond one's station. In some ways this is the most dangerous, because it has the least truth to it. 'That'll never work,' your friend might say. 'Why don't you find something safer to do?' your parent might offer. 'Who am I to do this?' you might ask yourself.

The doubt and the desire for safety - for ourselves and those we love - feel important. They feel like real fear. But in the modern world, they almost always aren't.

So the question becomes, how do I let my ambition out? How do I acknowledge and trust it?

First, speak it. To yourself if you need to, but ideally tell someone. What do you really want?