Ambition.  OED states that this is a strong desire and determination to achieve something, a word that first appeared in the 12th century, partly borrowed from French, partly borrowed from Latin.  An interesting word for our times given this century’s focus on power and external validation.

Over the years, mostly during my two decades working in global technology roles, I’ve been called ‘ambitious’ many times – and often not as a compliment.  There always seemed to be a fine line between being assertive and embodying leadership characteristics and the harsher view of ‘an ambitious person’.  Next time you describe someone as ambitious, reflect on whether you see this as a positive trait – or a negative one. 

Maybe the term is simply too narrowly defined to cover the kernel facts that it’s about working on the right things, trusting the fight, moving forward with intent and managing self that all contribute to being an individual who lives and leads with purpose. Is it time to widen the lens of our interpretation of what it means to be ambitious?