Lucy Kellaway, a former journalist turned teacher, and Stefan Stern, an author exploring ambition's complexities, dive into the contradictions of professional desire. They question if relentless ambition truly leads to happiness and highlight the importance of balancing career aspirations with personal well-being. Kellaway shares insights on the benefits of tempering ambition to enhance life satisfaction, while Stern reflects on how societal pressures shape our understanding of success. Together, they argue that ambition can sometimes be more harmful than helpful.
Ambition, while essential for career growth, can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction if not aligned with realistic goals.
A broader perspective on ambition that includes uplifting others fosters collaboration and shared success instead of individual competition.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Ambition
Ambition is often viewed as a vital component of career success, yet its complexities can lead to negative outcomes. Many individuals struggle with aligning their talents and abilities with lofty goals, leading to feelings of frustration or even misery. The conversation highlights the idea that ambition should not just be self-serving; it can be oriented towards uplifting others, including family and colleagues. This broader perspective encourages a more collaborative approach, where success is shared rather than solely focused on individual achievement.
Ambition as a Double-Edged Sword
Ambition can serve as both a driving force and a source of personal conflict. While it motivates individuals to strive for their goals, it can also lead to dissatisfaction when those goals are not met or are unattainable. This duality is encapsulated in the notion that unchecked ambition may become corrosive, leading to mental strain and damage to personal relationships. Understanding the balance between ambition and realism is crucial to managing its effects on one's career and mental health.
The Evolution of Ambition Over Time
As individuals age and their circumstances change, their relationship with ambition often shifts. Personal experiences, such as transitioning to a new career, can reshape one’s ambitions and what success looks like for them. The discussion emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations and being adaptable in one's ambitions throughout different life stages. Accepting that personal definitions of achievement may evolve can foster a healthier relationship with ambition, reducing self-inflicted pressure and allowing for a more content life.
In most workplaces, expressing ambition is non-negotiable. We’re all meant to strive, to want more, and to summit ever more impressive professional peaks; but only a handful ever reach the top. Besides, does ambition really make us happy? In this episode, Isabel Berwick speaks to Stefan Stern, author of ‘Fair or Foul: The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition.’. They discuss why even the highest achievers can never accomplish enough.’ Later, Isabel speaks to teacher and former FT journalist Lucy Kellaway, who explains why tempering your ambition can be the difference between satisfaction and sadness.
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Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.