Ambition – Not An Ugly Word
To large percentages of people, the word ambition is right up there with being rich; it is a word that has many negative connotations, none of which are deserved and few of which make much sense.
What Is Ambition?
What is ambition? By definition ambition is
1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment: Too much ambition caused him to be disliked by his colleagues.
2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after: The crown was his ambition.
3. desire for work or activity; energy: I awoke feeling tired and utterly lacking in ambition.
–verb (used with object)
4. to seek after earnestly; aspire to.
By these definitions ambition is a desire to achieve something, such as wealth. But why is that something that is negative? Why should it be viewed as negative for you to want to achieve something better for yourself and for those who depend upon you? When did ambition become something that is disdained rather than treasured? Probably about the time people started thinking that money is “evil”.
I find it amusing that even the example that is provided in the definition shows how prevalent the negative attitudes towards being ambitious are. A man strives for better things in his life and his career and his colleagues dislike him? Sounds like the next definition should be a link for jealousy 
.
Negativity Prevails
Once again what we have is an example whereby the word and its meaning are not negative, but the attitude that has grown up surrounding it over time has almost made it so, however illogical that is. Ambition is not at all bad; it’s the process of exercising it that has the potential to be. But then, that is your choice, and there are likely as many unscrupulous poor men and women as there are wealthy and ambitious ones!
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
Aussie Internet Marketer © 2004 – 2009
Tags: achievement, ambition, attidue, being rich, Mindset, Money, negativity, Wealth, wealthy and ambitious
August 8th, 2009 at 5:13 am
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