Ambition and ambitiousness - what is it in simple words

Ambition and ambitiousness - how often do you hear this word? Perhaps there are ambitious individuals in your environment. Or you yourself are one. Either way, you stand out in the crowd. You are probably confident in yourself, you know how to get what you want and achieve your goal. Is it good or bad? How does ambition affect your life and the lives of those around you?

Ambition - what does it mean?

The meaning of the word “ambition” is ambition directed by a person to achieve his goals. This is exactly how this word is defined today.

In the original understanding, during the time of Peter the Great, personal ambition was called a sense of honor or exorbitant ambition. Synonyms for ambition were arrogance, pride, delusions of grandeur and arrogance. In Rus', a person with inflated ambitions was called a tyrant and ridiculed.

In the USSR, ambition was also not at a price. It was not customary to stand out from others. Sameness prevailed in views, opinions, priorities and even appearance.

Only now has ambition become popular. Those with this quality are ready to do anything to achieve what they want. They maximize their abilities and talents on the way to getting what they want. They say about such people that they are ready to “gnaw the earth.” It is worth noting that ambitions can be underestimated, overestimated and healthy.

Ambitious women are future “spinsters”

In fact, the future of the “old maid” can await anyone: both a woman and a man, and you can hardly insure yourself against this by spending all day, instead of working, sorting through candidates on dating sites and going on dates. Yes, ambitious women who are busy with their career growth really have less time to communicate with the opposite sex, but they try not to waste the rare moments that they devote to this and not with just anyone. After all, when time is money, you won’t waste it uselessly.

How are human ambitions realized?

So what is ambition? This is the desire to always be the best in everything, a clear understanding of your path. On the one hand, there is nothing wrong with them. However, the attitude towards ambitious individuals is still ambiguous. This is all due to the fact that many people go over their heads towards their goal, not paying attention to the feelings, dignity, and desires of others. At the same time, deceit, arrogance, and boasting appear. So-so set of qualities, isn't it?

In addition, a person with ambitions often causes discomfort to others with his aspirations. Look at 2 situations:

A man is obsessed with the idea of buying a new car. For this reason, he begins to save on the family budget. Naturally, his loved ones will not like this state of affairs.
The woman set a goal to build a career. She stays late at work, doesn’t care about her spouse and possibly children, and doesn’t think that people at home are waiting for her attention. Of course, household members experience discomfort.

It seems that desires are worthy of praise. The question is how they are implemented.

What is ambitious character?

Today, everyone has a different understanding of what ambition is. Some people have a negative attitude towards ambitious people, considering them arrogant snobs, while others are not ashamed to call themselves an ambitious person and are proud of it. But what is ambition really? Is it a positive or negative quality? Let's try to figure this out.

What is ambition? Interpretation of the term in different cultures

Different dictionaries give different interpretations. For example, Ozhegov’s dictionary gives this word a negative connotation. In Russian culture, modesty has always been valued above all else, so the meaning of the word “ambitiousness” is sharply negative. These include inflated claims and arrogance, as well as arrogance and unhealthy pride. Russian culture did not respect ambitious people and designated them as tyrants who should be ridiculed in every possible way.

Western society has developed a completely different attitude towards the concept of “ambition”. The meaning of this word has a positive connotation. Such people are valued by employers because they always strive for more, set high goals and achieve them.

Today, when Russia has also begun to strive for a capitalist future, attitudes towards ambitious people have begun to change. Timid, insecure individuals are not valued in business. Employers began to be interested in ambitious people who could lead their company to success.

Ambition: Definition

In a general sense, the term can be defined as the desire to achieve success at any cost, to get more than you currently have, to change your life for the better, to set high goals and get what you want. Very often, ambitious people have no idea how they can achieve their goal, but still hope for a positive outcome and strive for the goal, even without any means to achieve it. Most often, ideas come already in the process of moving towards what you want. An ordinary goal differs from an ambitious one in that at first glance it seems unrealistic, it is like a dream looming in the vastly distant future, it seems risky and dangerous, and it is precisely ambition that makes it so. Synonyms for this concept can be given as follows: ambition, pride, pretentiousness, vanity, arrogance, arrogance. An ambitious person can never be satisfied with his current position and will always find something to strive for next. Such people usually become politicians, sports stars, and successful businessmen.

Ambitious character

Let's try to draw an approximate portrait of a person who has the quality we are considering. What is ambitious character? First of all, it is a constant desire for self-development and self-improvement. An ambitious person attends various trainings and seminars, reads professional literature, because he understands that without development there will be no movement towards the goal. He is aware of the need to adapt to a changing environment and at the same time tries not to lose his own individuality. He will always try to learn something new, as new knowledge helps him move forward.

Secondly, an ambitious person will never allow others to treat him badly or disrespectfully. He has a strong sense of self-esteem.

Thirdly, such a person will always rise up the career ladder easier than others. Often, ambitious people achieve more success than people who are more talented but not as vain.

And finally, such a person always tries to set himself up for a positive outcome, even if he has doubts about the reality of achieving what he wants. He likes to set goals a little higher than what he can realistically achieve. And only by achieving heights does he feel true satisfaction.

Now it probably becomes clearer to you what ambition in character is. A person endowed with this quality has a great chance of achieving success in all areas of his life.

How to develop?

Since the quality in question is in fashion today, many are wondering how to develop ambition in themselves. And is this even possible? It must be said right away that you are not born with ambition. This quality is acquired in the process of personality development and is laid down from childhood. His own parents play a big role in shaping a person’s ambitions. If they encourage all the child’s successes, are happy for him and praise him, then such a person grows up more self-confident, and with age he develops ambitions.

But if parents mainly scold the child and do not pay due attention to his achievements, then, most likely, he will grow up lacking ambition, downtrodden and insecure.

Situations are also possible when children, whose parents do not provide them with adequate support, grow up and strive to prove to them, to themselves and at the same time to the whole world that they are also worthy of something. Such people try to challenge society, and their ambitions are often morbid.

Thus, we can say that ambition cannot be developed - this trait is ingrained in a person from childhood.

Unhealthy quality

Now that we have defined what ambition is, let’s try to find out in which cases it can be useful, and in which it can cause significant harm to a person and his environment.

What kind of people can be said to have had their ambitions gone beyond their limits and become unhealthy? First of all, claims must be supported by something. If a person really has some abilities, it is natural that he has certain ambitions. But when they are empty, with a complete lack of abilities in a certain field of activity, it looks funny and stupid.

A person with unhealthy ambition may set impossible goals for himself because he overestimates his capabilities. He cannot even admit to himself that he is not able to cope with any task; he is ready to work on it day and night, just to prove to himself and others that he can achieve this.

In addition, an overly ambitious person is demanding not only of himself, but also of others. He does not respect people with low ambitions and sets difficult tasks for others. He can even act arrogantly, as if he has already achieved a lot. This is what ambition means in an unhealthy and ugly form.

Healthy aspirations

A person who adequately assesses his abilities will never set himself unrealistic goals. He will strive for high but achievable goals. Having reached them, he will continue his movement to new ones. A person with healthy ambitions strives for self-improvement, to ensure that every day is lived better than the previous one.

It is always pleasant and interesting to communicate with such a person. A person will not behave arrogantly; on the contrary, by his example, by his successes, he knows how to inspire other people. In addition, such a person knows how to correlate the complexity of a task with the timing of its completion, and will not set too difficult goals for himself that need to be achieved in a short time.

This is what ambition is in the positive sense of the word.

Good or bad?

Undoubtedly, healthy ambition is a useful character trait. She helps him move forward and improve his life. The main thing is that in his quest for success a person does not go too far and does not become a victim of his own claims.

If people with unhealthy ambitions work in a team, this can lead to conflict situations, which, naturally, will not only worsen relationships, but also affect the quality of work. An overly ambitious person will never turn to another, more competent person for help, because this will deal a blow to his painful pride. Therefore, the work may remain uncompleted or the result may be unsatisfactory.

Thus, ambition is a good quality only if the aspirations are not exaggerated and a person can realistically assess his capabilities.

What professions are suitable for such people?

Individuals with healthy ambitions are suitable for almost any profession, since they can achieve some success everywhere.

They feel best in leadership positions - they can be excellent middle and senior managers. They can also achieve great success in sales, where the final result of the work matters. Ambitious people are suitable for professions in which there is an element of competition - this constantly spurs their interest and makes them strive for more.

Professions for people with low ambitions

If, after reading this article, you consider yourself to be a person with a low level of aspirations, do not be upset. There are also many good professions for such a person. Since he values professional stability above all and does not prioritize career growth, he can try himself as an engineer, clerk, economist or accountant.

In addition, people with low ambitions may work in the administrative field, where there is a high turnover of staff. There is always a shortage in the labor market in the field of administrative personnel, because employees who have ambitions usually do not stay in such positions for long; for them it is just a springboard for further career advancement.

So what is ambition? In a broad sense, it is a person’s desire for success. If he sets high goals for himself and strives to achieve them, if he tries to improve the quality of his life and is engaged in self-improvement and self-development, then he can be called ambitious. This character quality can be either good or bad, depending on whether a person has healthy or inflated ambitions.

We hope that after reading this article you understand what ambition means.

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Portrait of an ambitious person

What is ambition in simple words? Movement towards your goal. A person with healthy ambition reaches his or her full potential. He never stops. Having solved one problem, he moves on. An ambitious person is confident in his abilities and ability to get what he needs. In some cases, he doesn't even know how exactly this will happen. Therefore, he relies on intuition and life experience.

Brief description of an ambitious personality

A person with great ambitions can be recognized by 3 signs:

Always engaged in self-development. Spends a lot of time attending or watching online versions of trainings, seminars, and webinars on personal growth. Realizes that progress does not stand still. And therefore strives to update knowledge in all areas, including household ones.
Has a high sense of self-esteem and adequate self-esteem. An ambitious person exudes self-confidence. It manifests itself in a neat appearance, posture, gait, and precision in actions. Such a person speaks about himself exclusively in a positive way. They calmly reflect any negative attacks in their direction.
Successfully builds a career. We are not talking about talents and abilities here. Often the more talented person does not advance. An ambitious person knows exactly what he wants, is confident in his abilities and in his ultimate success.

Another trait of such individuals is optimism. Even with setbacks and failures, they do not give up on their dreams. Mistakes are experience for them. Therefore, having stumbled, they get up to continue their journey.

Ambitious women are always lonely

This is how ambitious career women are portrayed to us in TV series, films, advertising campaigns and glossy magazines. Every evening the poor things come to their luxurious apartments in Manhattan, open a bottle of expensive wine and sit down to gaze at the lights of New York at night. Such lyrical episodes, of course, take place, and it would be stupid to condemn a person for the fact that sometimes he just wants to be alone with himself and enjoy peace and tranquility (and wine), but even if we call it loneliness, he is fine the definition “quality” or even “hedonic” is appropriate. For example, spending the whole evening in a spa without having to cook dinner for someone...

Is it good to be an ambitious person?

It's difficult to say for sure. What do you mean by ambition in a person? If it is the ability to confidently go towards achieving goals, there is nothing wrong with it. If this is arrogance, pride and arrogance, it’s worth thinking about.

In general, being ambitious is a good thing. After all, a person is constantly developing and moving forward. The problem arises when there is ambition, but the person remains stagnant.

The ideal option is that a person wants and knows how to get what he wants. This is the golden mean. There are also 2 extremes. The first is those who believe that nothing will work out. The second is inflated, naked ambitions. A person sets obviously unattainable goals and, of course, fails.

Ambitious women are cold and unapproachable

They inexorably like to reinforce this, perhaps the most common stereotype about purposeful women, with the appropriate style: allegedly, career women do not get out of men's suits, like Clinton and Merkel, and their opposite - romantic slackers - flutter around the city in flowered dresses and smile at passers-by. Ambitious women are unapproachable exactly to the same extent that any person can be unapproachable because they feel uncomfortable, are not in the mood to relax right now, or are simply dissatisfied with the company.

What are the types of ambitions?

There are 3 types of ambitions:

Overpriced. An individual sets goals for himself, but cannot achieve them. He lacks time, energy, funds, and intellectual abilities. But at the same time he behaves impudently, boastfully, arrogantly. Although in reality he never achieved anything.
Understated. There are goals, but they are too simple and are achieved instantly. A person does not want to move on, to develop. He is satisfied with the way he lives now. This can happen in any area of his life: personal relationships, career, wealth.
Normal, adequate. The name speaks for itself. An ambitious person confidently moves towards his goals without causing discomfort to the people around him. He is smart, intellectually developed, endowed with wisdom.

Ambitions are also divided into types depending on the direction:

Professional. Concerning career advancement. They are mainly owned by owners of companies, enterprises and offices. They strive to build a career, get a highly paid position, and have people under them. And they will get what they want. But they will have to learn to make the right decisions, to follow the right path, and not over their heads. Otherwise, they will not see a good position.
Family. A person of this type is trying to build an ideal family. This wish can be fulfilled. But don't go to extremes. If you constantly force your soul mate to live up to a fictitious ideal, quarrels and misunderstandings will begin. As a result, the family will fall apart. Remember, there are no ideal individuals. You may also not fit someone's idea of an ideal person.
Financial. Everyone wants to improve their financial situation. These are normal desires: to pay off debts, increase the family budget, be able to travel. But there is another side to the coin. Financial ambitions can make a person angry, greedy, even cruel.

There are also political ambitions. They are especially pronounced among politicians. Interestingly, their goal is not only to achieve certain heights in politics. They want to rule the country, gain popularity and become famous among many people. Such qualities are visible from childhood and adolescence. The teenager is interested in shows and television programs on political topics. Actively participates in school self-government organizations and is interested in social issues.

How to develop ambition?

Our ambitions are rarely at an adequate level; usually they are either overestimated or underestimated. Fortunately, the level of ambition can be corrected quite well. At the same time, it is quite easy to lower it, since it usually decreases itself as one gains life experience. But to get a promotion you will have to work hard , so we will look in detail at how to increase your ambition to an adequate level.

To begin with, let’s decide that we need to work individually with each of the factors on which our ambitions depend. These are factors such as:

self-confidence and self-confidence (how to develop confidence);
self-esteem (how to increase self-esteem);
motivation (how to motivate yourself);
goal setting (how to set goals correctly and achieve results);

In addition, it is necessary to develop the following qualities:

the ability to accept other people's opinions and make compromises;
perception of one's capabilities and characteristics.

The adequacy of ambition depends on each of the listed properties. both external and internal factors influence , and we can influence most of them quite purposefully.

In addition, achieving success and receiving praise for it is very important to develop adequate ambitions. The most ambitious and successful people usually grow up in families where parents encourage the child's right to independence and the right to choose , but at the same time push him to real successes and always praise him for them. Adults also need regular success and praise, and any criticism from other people or oneself should always be constructive and moderate.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ambition

Everyone needs ambition in reasonable quantities. After all, it encourages you to move forward.

“A mind without ambition is like a bird without wings.” Salvador Dali.

This is not its only advantage:

desire to become successful;
the need to maintain good physical shape;
self-development;
achieving all set goals;
lack of fear of difficulties;
the right priorities.

Despite so many positive aspects, being ambitious also has its disadvantages. A person may not get what he wants even if he works hard. In such cases, he has a number of unpleasant qualities:

selfishness;
arrogance;
irritability;
ruthlessness;
deceit;
uncompromisingness;
aggressiveness.

Such people strive to manipulate others, are constantly offended, and have difficulty communicating.

What does ambition mean? Do you have this quality?

Zvyonka

Ambitiousness in a person's character is a quality that is most often compared to arrogance or arrogance. The negative assessment of ambition is explained by the fact that modesty in Russia and many other countries was valued much higher than arrogance or pretentiousness, with which ambition is often associated.

However, one can seriously argue with this, because there is another point of view on this quality.

And ambition has two levels: a ) moderate and b ) increased.

Exaggerated pretentiousness is really not something positive. And moderate is compared with perseverance, hard work, careerism in a good sense, and so on. Some high goal that an ambitious person strives for can make him more principled, self-confident, and timid.

If we can talk about “good ambition,” then it won’t hurt. A person is dissatisfied with what cannot be satisfied. But, calmly achieving what he wants, he sets the next goal and so, step by step, begins to move forward, which in itself cannot be negative.

I strive for self-development. This is a sign of a certain ambition. But I hope that the most noticeable traits of my character are defined in other words.

Elena d

I think ambition is constantly raising the bar for oneself (usually in the professional sphere) and the desire to jump over it at all costs. Mainly to prove his superiority over others. Sometimes, just to show off. and, oddly enough, to the detriment of work. A share of ambition should be present, in my opinion, in every person, but in very measured doses. I don’t consider myself an ambitious person, because... I equate this quality with arrogance, and I don’t like it when they build a pyramid out of s—.

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How ambitions are formed and what influences it

Becoming ambitious as an adult is unlikely to happen. This quality is laid down in childhood. Although there are examples of how adults completely changed themselves, developed ambition, achieved goals, and became successful. But these are exceptions to the rule.

“Stay away from those who try to diminish your ambitions. Little people always do this, but the truly great ones make you believe that you too can become great.” Mark Twain.

The development of ambition in a child is influenced by 3 factors:

Personality type. Who is a child by nature: an extrovert or an introvert? The first ones always strive to be visible. They vitally need communication, recognition from others, and new emotions. Such people always have ambitions. This is their character trait. In this regard, it is more difficult for introverts. They will prefer loneliness to a cheerful company. They will spend time reading a book instead of meeting with friends. Because of this, they have practically no ambitions.
Self-esteem. Inflated self-esteem equals inflated ambitions. Such individuals are ready to do anything to get what they want. There is also the opposite situation. A person with low self-esteem has no ambitions at all.
Example of parents. The atmosphere in which a child is raised has a great influence on his future. Let's say parents have achieved significant success in some area. Naturally, they will encourage the child to study well, get an education, and play sports. Parents who are pessimists and losers will raise their child to be the same as themselves.

So, it is almost impossible to form ambitions as an adult. A person is unlikely to be able to change his essence, character traits.

What kind of ambitious girl is this, in your opinion?? ? Do men like these?

Cassiopeia

Previously, the definition of AMBITION had a mostly negative connotation and was associated with negative personality traits: Ambition is pride, conceit and complete concentration on oneself. Ambition is pride, arrogance, lust for power, and a tendency toward arrogance. There have been many changes in the modern world... Now the word ambition has a more positive meaning. Personal ambition or ambitiousness is associated with the desire to achieve certain goals, with perseverance, this means the desire for career growth, prosperity and position in society. To some extent, ambition is akin to MOTIVATION, because it is what motivates a person to move forward and achieve their goals. Firstly, ambitions can be inflated or real: ***Inflated ambitions do not reflect reality; a person with such vanity wants more, but can offer little. For example, a person graduated from a higher educational institution rather averagely, he has no work experience and his knowledge of the profession is not deep enough, but he makes high demands on his future place of work (expects a high salary and a high position). ***Real claims are associated with self-understanding, with a high level of human awareness and understanding of what he can actually achieve. For example, when a person really evaluates his data and understands that in order to achieve what he wants, he needs to go through certain stages, first gain experience, study the environment, and only then climb the career ladder. At the same time, he has an “inner fire” and a desire to develop. Secondly, they can be both big and small: ***Big ambitions are big plans, serious expectations from life. For example, this is the desire to achieve a lot, to become a business owner or director of the company where you work, to implement a new and large-scale project, or to go on a trip around the world. ***A person’s small, modest ambitions are based on low self-esteem, when he deliberately underestimates or does not notice his merits. For example, when a person already understands some issue seriously enough, becomes an expert, and is offered a promotion, but he refuses, believing that he is not worthy. This personal manifestation is also called lack of ambition. https://www.grc-eka.ru/eto/ambicii.html

Realization of ambitions

To realize your ambitions, you need to act. But only when a person has reason to hope for success. These include education, natural abilities, and constant self-development. Otherwise, it is nothing more than a mirage. Why do I need ambition then, you ask? A clear example will help you understand how ambitions are realized. Let's take 2 friends. Let one be called Olga, and the second Tatyana. Girls of the same age. We studied at the same school. The first one was an excellent student. The second one always studied satisfactorily. Olga dreams of entering medical school. Tatyana wants to become a foreign language teacher.

After graduating from school, Olga devotes all her time to preparing for admission. Tatyana also seems to be attending courses. But one arrives, and the second does not. Can you guess who was able to achieve what they wanted? Why did this happen?

A few years later, Olga, as she dreamed, became a doctor. Tatyana put her education on the backburner, got married, gave birth to a child, and got divorced. And only after all these events she decided to try to enter the university again. This time everything worked out. But the girl did not study very well, sometimes paying extra money for tests. She received her education and became a lawyer. What do you think happened next?

And then Tatyana put the diploma in the desk drawer and forgot about it. She did not need the document due to the lack of ambitions, clear desires, and plans for life. Olga had it all. Therefore, she achieved great success.

Summarizing…

Believe in yourself, believe in your strength, be grateful for everything you have and strive for more. Look around you and help other people achieve their goals. Believe me, this will bring much more benefit to both them and you, because the self-perception of a generous and kind successful person is better than that of a lonely and proud successful person. Both there and there you are successful, but what do you have besides success? Loving and devoted friends, proven over the years, reliable partners, or a snake-like ball of ill-wishers, greedily watching your mistakes? It's up to you to decide. Be honest, kind and patient! And you will be rewarded.

Is it possible to fight ambitions?

It is possible and necessary if they create discomfort for others, interfere, or provoke the development of bad qualities. But there is one peculiarity here. The fight will be successful if you realize there is a problem. If there is no such understanding, then all actions will be meaningless.

First you need to identify positive and negative character traits. Write them down on a blank piece of paper. Start the fight against bad qualities. Having dealt with one, proceed to the second.

Don't be discouraged if something doesn't work out for you. Analyze your mistakes and move on.

Healthy criticism from those who appreciate and love you will help in the fight against overambitiousness. Don't think that they want to offend you or prick you. Listen and then draw your own conclusions.

If your ambition is adequate, 100% consistent with your desires, there is an opportunity to realize it, there is no need to fight it.

Ambitious women go into careers due to problems in their personal lives

If this were actually the case, then nine out of ten men should also be diagnosed with problems in their personal lives. Of course, breaking up with a partner can theoretically serve as an impetus for immersion in work (after all, now you simply have more time for yourself than before) for both women and men, but most still rely on a career as a consequence of successful studies and promising work experience in the profession. After all, if everything is going well in this area, then why not continue?

How to spot an ambitious person

Let's look at examples:

An ambitious woman is ideal in everything. She is a diligent housewife who takes care of her husband, children, and home. Her place is clean, breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared. This leaves time for yourself. A woman is engaged in self-development, reads a lot, takes care of her appearance and health.
An ambitious man can also be seen from afar. He is dressed to the nines, plays sports, and leads a healthy lifestyle. Usually such men successfully build a career and achieve a lot in life.

Those who have ambitions do not boast in vain. They work hard to achieve their goals. This does not mean that they neglect the feelings and desires of others. They make every effort to make their dreams come true.

An ambitious person has self-esteem. He will never stoop to humiliating and insulting others.

Suitable professions

The choice of profession largely depends not only on professional skills, but also on human qualities. The following professional fields are suitable for an ambitious person:

Sales is a business that will “ignite”. Every month there will be a desire to close as many transactions as possible. The employee will bring profit to the company in which he works and receive a good percentage from it.
Entrepreneurship is about achieving goals and making unusual decisions. This is an integral part of the life of an ambitious person.
Leadership positions are suitable for demanding people. The activities of any company require routine tasks. The head of the department is able to motivate his employees to perform these tasks and control the process, and if they are not fulfilled, punish them. Ambitiousness and demandingness are very important traits for a boss.
Sport is about constantly achieving goals and self-improvement. Absolutely all athletes had great ambitions in childhood.
Public service. The most striking example is the Armed Forces. It is impossible to grow in this field of activity without ambition. To achieve the next title you need to work hard. This area requires personnel who show great promise.

For people with low ambitions, the following types of work are ideal:

Scientific activity.
Service sector.
Production.

Any job requires ambition. The meaning of the word is the desire for success. Without this desire, no one will have the desire to work. In any case, developing this quality will be useful for everyone; the main thing is to set realistic goals and not lie to yourself.