69: Pursuit Of Excellence Series - Setting the ambition
Mar 18, 2021
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Explore how setting ambitious goals can drive individuals and organizations to unprecedented success. Learn about different types of ambition and the importance of pursuing excellence. Get inspired by Kennedy's moon landing ambition and discover how to define excellence and set ambitious goals.
Different types of ambition drive excellence: being the first, being the best, and setting quantifiable goals.
Ambitious goals like landing a man on the moon by J.F. Kennedy drive innovation and public support.
Deep dives
Types of Ambitions: First, Best, and Quantifiable
There are three types of ambitions that drive the pursuit of excellence. The first type involves being the first to achieve something groundbreaking and innovative, like Bill Gates' ambitious project to revolutionize sanitation systems. The second type focuses on being the best, where continuous improvement and recognition by others are key indicators of excellence. The third type includes ambitions with quantifiable goals, such as zero fatalities or doubling product accessibility, setting clear targets for excellence.
Kennedy's Ambition and the Three Types of Ambition
J.F. Kennedy's ambition to land a man on the moon encompassed all three types of ambitions: being the first (as it had never been done before), being the best (by pushing the boundaries of space technology), and having a quantifiable goal (landing before the decade ended). This well-crafted ambition not only motivated innovation and creativity but also garnered public support and funding for NASA, highlighting the power of setting ambitious goals to drive towards excellence.
Turning your pursuit into action is given more urgency with an ambition. In this episode, Carolyn describes different types of ambition and shows how to design one best suited to what excellence means for you.