By Arlene Krieger
Ambition is the soul of who you are and who you will become. It is how we honor and respect the fact that we matter and what we offer the world matters. For some it appears innate, for others it is acquired and for many, never achieved. Ambition is tempered by your talents but oftentimes these shortcomings are hurdles you overcome on your way to the top. It can be seen as a balancing act between your raw talent and the full blown demonstration of your potential. Ambition lies within us all; some receive it from the moment we are born through the loving hearts of our parents and family, while others require no stimulus, ambition is innate, and some never act upon their potential. One may ask, “How are some gifted with ambition and others not so?” There is no clear cut response.
In my family I witnessed a drastic difference in the way my two children responded. Without a doubt, our household was over-the-top goal orientated and our children were spared no details in achieving success. Yet my daughter took the low road, thinking success would drop in her lap, while our son, early on, grasped ambition and burst forward leaping, successfully, into the legal profession. It was years later, (ten to be exact), when our daughter climbed aboard the ambition train and today she is steadily chugging her way up the professional mountain. Each of us has a rhythm, a timing of sorts, when goals become forefront and striving for success becomes paramount.
The reality of ambition is that not everyone will use this gift nor attain life goals. Those of us who are blessed with talent, a high functioning brain, and the will to seek out goals, should implement these blessings. This is what makes our society prosper, develop and achieve greatness. One of the best examples of ambition was fervently discussed in the biography, Tony Sacca Las Vegas Ambassador of Entertainment. Tony grew up in a blue collar household where his parents believed in his talent and pushed him to believe in himself. While some might have rebelled, Tony grasped and internalized his parents’ motivations and through decades of hard work, he became a famous singer/performer, hosting several national television shows. His ambition spilled over into numerous facets of his life and into the city of Las Vegas, where he brought his talent, and charity. Recently President Obama awarded Tony with a life time achievement certificate; honoring his talent along with his charity. Purely defined, he is a man of great ambition. Unlike Tony, most of us will seek our goals as employees in business, government or charitable organizations. What speaks of ambition? When you objectively review your resume, can you pluck those items that scream, AMBITIOUS? A college degree, time spent on charitable organizations, an officer in a fraternity or sorority, a summer camp counselor, volunteering for a run, a part-time job working as an auto mechanic; are excellent examples of an ambitious person. Actively involved in a myriad of diverse activities is a telltale indicator you are capable of doing varied tasks and are willing and able to accept whatever your bosses toss your way. Don’t overlook even the most unusual and remote activities as they represent who you are, your potential, and your ambition. When applying for a position in your chosen field, offering up a background replete with varied skills will put you ahead of competitors. A life lived fully, willing to test and try a wide variety of experiences translates into a person who is seeking success. So gather your experiences and add those to your resume; in a short swoop of the keyboard, you have become an interesting and sought after employee.
Once you have arrived at your destination and are gainfully employed, displaying ambition should continue to be your mantra. You have been hired based upon your skills but its ambition that will pave the path to your future. Augmenting your ever-changing resume, commence with additional education classes. Many careers routinely demand educational credits; make sure they are added to your resume. But for many careers formal classes are unnecessary. Seek out education that can help your position. Let your bosses know you have registered for a class; not only will this impress your boss, but the company may offer to pay. After a few months on the job, you will be able to discern holes in your education and filling those gaps will better arm your career. Supplemental education not only boosts personal knowledge but sends a clear message you want to do an outstanding job. If the tables were turned and you were the boss, how would you perceive that request?
Ambition is offering to assist your boss in limitless ways. Stopping short of appearing obsequious, always providing a helping hand exemplifies your personal commitment to your boss and your company. Don’t overlook or belittle simple tasks for these can be the very things that get you noticed. Learning how to operate office equipment, fixing simple problems (paper jams), ordering office supplies, researching new software, volunteering for a charity project, creates an image of an employee who not only can perform their specified job, has the overall success of the company at heart. “If the company does well, then so do I,” paints a portrait of a savvy ambitious employee. Able to see above and beyond your work cubicle, the big picture matters, and you, an integral cog in the machine, matter as well. Any job, regardless of the duties, is worth doing well. We have all heard stories of a mailroom clerk rising to the upper echelon of a company and there was only one way that clerk achieved success: ambition. Consistency is paramount in creating and maintaining the persona of an ambitious professional. One day, you may leave your firm and when that happens you will carry the knowledge gleaned plus the label of an ambitious successful person. At one time or another, we all hate our boss, or the job or the company, but those thoughts must remain undiscussed. Everyone needs a trusted friend, spouse, or family member to unload problems, to complain and rant and rave, but NEVER EVER allow those pronouncements to be uttered in the presence of colleagues or in the workplace. Remember, Little Brother is watching, filming and recording, and words uttered can readily end up on the social internet destroying a career you have spent your life trying to build. Your commitment should always be consistently uttered; your path should never be altered if your dream is to rise to the top. So at that Christmas party, or after hour drinks with co-workers, be mindful that what you say and how you say it can affect you down the long road to your retirement. Sometimes you have to suck it up, take the punches, smile and ask for more if you want to grab the brass ring. Always be cognizant of how you arrived at this point in your career; it took a lot of work, time, effort and money, don’t throw it away on one stupid remark. Find a punching bag,(literally a real punching bag) or better yet, a human you trust your heart and soul to and let loose. Letting your guard down even for a moment (in the context of the workplace), is unwise and foolish.
Ambition is what got you the job, and ambition is what will catapult you to the next level. Respect yourself, always put your best foot forward, and the world will be your oyster.