Gears For Careers

Start your ambition mission

Many people are uncomfortable with saying they are ambitious because, ambition is sometimes associated withbackstabbing or greed. But ambi­tion gives you the drive to make your goals happen. If you’re willing to bring out your sense of ambition, here are some suggestions on how to proceed.

Know what ambition is: Being ambitious is not about being power hungry or wanting to achieve something by hook or crook. It is a healthy desire and willingness to rise to a higher level. You can be ambitious without compromising your integrity or being unethical.

Embrace your ambition: Not everyone is ambitious or needs to be. How can you tell if you are ambitious? When you are you are never satisfied with: “I am just in for the salary”, or “I just want to do my job’’ mindset. You don’t believe you have already achieved the best you can. You are keen to showcase your strengths, grab opportunities or create chances to con­tribute to broader goals. You do what it takes to be in the run and shine.

Don’t be ambivalent: Ambition works well when you give it some di­rection, specific goals, structure and process to help you focus. Therefore, you should be in no doubt about what it is you want to do for personal and professional fulfillment; the big differ­ence you want to make over a given period; the thing you desperately want to do, be or achieve. You cannot just hope that someday, what you want will land in your lap. Work for what you want by DOING the right things, not hoping, not assuming and certain­ly not wishing.

Start an ambition journal: Keep an ambition journal to capture all the career information you are pick­ing along the way; compile notes of what you are learning, articles to read over and over, advice you are getting, resources and the journey of your growth. Document winning projects or assignments you have led, regular self evaluations, suc­cesses and how you achieved them; challenges you’ve overcome, key de­cisions made, critical professional relationships and alliances you’ve developed or need to cultivate.

Be an active learning sponge: Learn from others’ success. List people you admire and study diligently what makes them successful. Ask them questions when you have the opportunity.

Now take action: Get an ambition journal. Write down this week your 2014 career goals.

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