The Ambitious Ambition: Part One

By Rafael Solece

I remember reading an article some time that highlighted some very extreme consequence's of blind ambition. I can not exactly remember what magazine I read this in, but I believe it was News Week, don't quote me on that though. The article in question was entitled "Ambitious to Fault the American obsession with success at any cost."

Intriguing…yes?

The article itself goes on to talk about what drives people's ambitions in a negative sort of connotation. Though I can't say that I disagree with the examples the article gave, I can say it was a reach, but the author got his point across. Here are just a few of the examples that he used as things that drive peoples need for success; "the need to be a star, a tycoon, an authority, a power, a celebrity or leader. The need to be admired, feared, obeyed more than your peers." My personal opinion of this article was that I thought that it sounded a little morbid. It makes the successful sound as if they are power hungry, spotlight hoarding, (there is no better word) BITCHES…

I cannot totally disagree with his point of view. A lot of people chase after success for all sort s of negative reasons, and their blinded view of what they want can sometimes blind their ambition and it comes off negatively. But you can't say that all Ambitious people are like this, nor are their ambitions driven by a need to be better than anyone else or to hoard power. Some people just have a bigger idea of who they are and what they can achieve, and that isn't a bad thing. In my opinion that is so very close to what god designed us all for; Greater things.

Ain't it is funny though, how aspiration can come off as being too ambitious?

Honestly, what is Ambition? Except a dream, that inspires a want that turns into a need, which becomes an urgent desire, fuel by drive, and conquest. It is my complete understanding that everyone has the power to achieve great things. And Ambition is what separates wants, needs, and achievements. Lots of people aspire to do great things, but who has the ability to put aspirations into motion?

To some aspiring to greatness is that single promotion that makes them the manager of a restaurant. To other's greatness in CEO of a Porn Production company and building that company to a fortune 500 status. To some greatness is marketing one's self as one of the best entertainment journalist of the today, or building a career as a super model, as premiere stylist to the stars, as a creator and producer of a entertainment empire, or becoming a world renounded Broadway producer. The dream does not matter, but the force behind it is the key. That is what separates Ambitious people from dreamers.

Dreamers dream but they never do anything to conquer their dreams. They wish, and hope for something or someone to come along and hand them things they haven't earned. Ambitious people are the ones who stop living in the cycle of life, the chase, fight, claw their way to their dreams, and though they face impossible odds some of them, they never give up. They never give up! It doesn't matter what the consequence of their actions, the ambitious forge on.

As I read that article I began to think about the celebrities that I knew of who were successful; and the acquaintances that I knew who were fighting for their dreams at this very moment in time. I pondered over their lives and the courses that they may have taken to get to where they are. I thought about the dedication that if must have taken; the sacrifice's that I am sure they all had to make. I know it wasn't easy, I do not imagine that it could have been. Trust me I know, because it has not been an easy road for me. But the parallel is that as hard as it is or has been for them, they are still fighting for their success story, while some haven't even begun. It saddens me a little to think about it in those term because all it really took for those ambitious people to become success stories was making a singular decision. Deciding simply to change their mind.

And so it forced me to look at my life and what I wanted from it. Who I ultimately wanted to be and so did that article. What was I really vying for in my quest for success? Power, control, authority, not necessarily over someone else but over my life. I personally think that really is all anyone really wants; authority over their life. It is that specific point that drives a lot of successful people in their quest for the top. To be something/someone other than mediocre. We all have dreams and aspirations, no matter how small they may be. The real question is what will you do to see those dreams come into fruition? There are those of us who sit on a dream. WE fantasize about it, hoping on it, wishing on stars. Then there are those of us who command the attention of the stars, make them dance for us, and the earth bends at our feet. That is the type of person that I want to be.

The strongest statement that I have ever heard was from XemVanAdams. It summed up this entire blog better than anything I have written thus far, He said: #IveGotNothing to Lose. U Can Accomplish ANYTHING If Ur Willing To Sacrifice EVERYTHING.

These words to me are so profound because they are so true. Nothing, and I do mean NONTHING comes easily, but especially the things that you want with all your heart. You have to fight for it, a dream, a love, a career, with your life. That is only way you will rise above the people who are just dreaming. That is what real ambition is, someone who was willing to sacrifice everything they had for they want most of all. It's not just about fame, or fortune. Some people want to sing they never become famous. They're only known by a small set of people, fans that follow them, they gave up everything for the joy of singing, their happy.

I want to be happy and so as I continue on my quest to fulfill my ambition to be a writer, I will continue to sacrifice whatever I have to, to see my dream to the end. My question to you is what will you sacrifice?