Читать книгу Real Ambition - Magazine Psychologies - Страница 9

Old-style ambition doesn’t nurture us as individuals, nor does it nurture a healthy work environment, community or the world at large. Real ambition, however, can not only sustain our dreams, it can sustain our wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

Before you wonder whether we’re getting all abstract and New-Agey, bear with us a little. Have you ever done any of the following?

• Made an effort to recycle

• Sponsored someone who was raising money for a cause

• Taken care of a sick relative or friend

• Donated goods to a charity

• Taught somebody something you know

• Made somebody a birthday cake

• Treated a friend to a night out.

What we’re getting at is that it’s likely that you’re already doing something nurturing. You’re already not selfish. As Baker puts it, we’re aware that we’re ‘over-taking from ourselves and the environment’. We know we have to put something back in to ourselves as individuals – and to the planet as a whole.

“ Ambition is having drive and enthusiasm towards a clear goal for a positive purpose. ”

Dannie-Lu Carr, creativity specialist, communications consultant & creative practitioner

We live in very difficult times politically and economically. We watch the news and more often than not it’s gruesome. But we also live in very exciting times of change. Carr points to the new wave of ‘social-preneurs’ like former jewellery business couple John and Cynthia Hardy who set up the eco-friendly and holistic Green School² in Bali, Indonesia: ‘Social preneurs are creating new paradigms for success in business on an individual level and community level, so it’s a win-win for everyone.’

One of the reasons we felt it was the right to time to write about ambition is because of these new paradigms that are emerging. Ambition might not be new, but it’s not static. It’s ever-changing.