UncleWai
Diamond Member
- Oct 23, 2001
- 5,701
- 68
- 91
I was very ambition and good at succeeding, but like Gibson486, college whooped my ass.
Right now i am just a whiner sitting alone in front of the computer in a cold, raining evening.
Sometimes I wonder if being very ambitious is a good thing or not.
Right now i am just a whiner sitting alone in front of the computer in a cold, raining evening.
Sometimes I wonder if being very ambitious is a good thing or not.
Explain to me why it is sad? People derive entirely different meanings of and purposes for their lives.
I can recall when I was in high school trying to get into a good university, I was fairly ambitious. I wanted to go to a good college and get my BS in computer science and get a decent programming job.
But I did not do as well as I should have in college, and did not make wise choices as I should have.
Since graduating almost two years ago this March, my personal life and career has stagnated. And it's not a position I want to be in, so I have no choice but to make the necessary changes.
But I did not do as well as I should have in college, and did not make wise choices as I should have.
Since graduating almost two years ago this March, my personal life and career has stagnated. And it's not a position I want to be in, so I have no choice but to make the necessary changes.
Mean MrMustard
Diamond Member
- Jan 5, 2001
- 3,144
- 10
- 81
I used to be, then I realized I cannot find happiness in material wealth. I've experienced what it is like to live as a middle class, rich, and poor and honestly there is not much difference. Life is truly what you make it to be.
I think I have the potential to be very successful, but it will never be realized. I have extremely bad habits like procrastination and being lazy.
I think I have the potential to be very successful, but it will never be realized. I have extremely bad habits like procrastination and being lazy.
Ambition != Material Wealth.
Ambition is setting goals and getting the most out of your life, starting new projects, reaching new heights of learning.
The desire or ambition to become more upwardly mobile is present in most of us. We want to make our parents and peers proud.
Sometimes, life presents obstacles and barriers and ambition is just not a driving force. Instead it's more like an effort to break even or stay out of trouble.
It's difficult sometimes... life can wear a person out. Some people are straddled with bad luck and lack of opportunities in their life where others are born with silver spoons and a life of ease.
Sometimes, life presents obstacles and barriers and ambition is just not a driving force. Instead it's more like an effort to break even or stay out of trouble.
It's difficult sometimes... life can wear a person out. Some people are straddled with bad luck and lack of opportunities in their life where others are born with silver spoons and a life of ease.
I realize that but it's very difficult for me because of the way I've been brought up. My parents have always pushed me to be successful in education, they tell me to do well in high school so I can get into a good college, and eventually get a well paying job because money = happiness. Their intentions are good, money is certainly important and they want me to be financially secure, but it certainly doesn't equal happiness. I've always pursued academic excellence because of what my parents have told me, and now that I'm older and realize the truth of it all I have lost the drive.
I certainly have projects and hobbies, but I'm not sure if you would consider them material ambitions. I used to be really into overclocking, but I soon realized it was a waste of money and I could be happier with what I have. The same goes for high end audio where I sunk lots of money into, I woke up one day and thought "Hey this is a huge waste of cash". Sold all of it and found I can live with a lot less. This whole cycle seems to repeat itself, it's very depressing. I have this notion that nothing is worth pursuing. The journey might be fun for a little while, but once you reach the end it is never as great as you believed and it's superfluous.
[self-righteous soapbox]I don't think one has to be broken to stop being ambitious. A lifetime of strong desire means that you are never satisfied with what you have. It's like being on a cruise and constantly focused on the next destination so you don't spend anytime enjoying the port you are at today, which is the whole point of the trip in the first place.
I do think being ambitious when you are younger, makes life when you are older a lot easier. Today I am worth 17 million thanks to being a bit ambitious. It may be shallow, but that money gives me security, it works for me instead of me working for it (rich dad, poor dad -> very good reading about hard work != money btw), and it allows me to be more philosophical about the whole thing
[/self-righteous soapbox]
I do think being ambitious when you are younger, makes life when you are older a lot easier. Today I am worth 17 million thanks to being a bit ambitious. It may be shallow, but that money gives me security, it works for me instead of me working for it (rich dad, poor dad -> very good reading about hard work != money btw), and it allows me to be more philosophical about the whole thing
[/self-righteous soapbox]Am I ambitious? Heck yes. However, in my life I've had to learn some painful lessons. Fortunately, they didn't leave too many scars.
At the age of 40, I have completed 4 years of active military service, 3 years of National Guard service, 17 years of corporate life, a Bachelor's degree - achieved with honors among many other rewards that I've received in my employment history. I now have my own successful company where I can work 7 days a week - if I desire.
For me, there are just not enough hours in the day. I just wish I had about 4 extra hours per day. That would allow me to accomplish a few personal things that have been on my list.
Finally, you're probably wondering why such a person would be posting during the day like this if he were so busy. Well, my car is getting the brake rotors replaced, so while I wait on that repair, I have a little "down time." However, when I get rolling in the next hour or so, I'll work until 8:00 P.M. or so this evening. For many years, I was one who would change my own oil, do my own brake jobs, etc. Now, I no longer do those activities due to a lack of time. Plus, they can tend to take focus off of my current projects, so I leave such jobs for those who do them on a daily basis.
Do I procrastinate? Yes, at times. There are certain hurdles that I need to get over each day. However, once I do, things really roll smooth.
At the age of 40, I have completed 4 years of active military service, 3 years of National Guard service, 17 years of corporate life, a Bachelor's degree - achieved with honors among many other rewards that I've received in my employment history. I now have my own successful company where I can work 7 days a week - if I desire.
For me, there are just not enough hours in the day. I just wish I had about 4 extra hours per day. That would allow me to accomplish a few personal things that have been on my list.
Finally, you're probably wondering why such a person would be posting during the day like this if he were so busy. Well, my car is getting the brake rotors replaced, so while I wait on that repair, I have a little "down time." However, when I get rolling in the next hour or so, I'll work until 8:00 P.M. or so this evening. For many years, I was one who would change my own oil, do my own brake jobs, etc. Now, I no longer do those activities due to a lack of time. Plus, they can tend to take focus off of my current projects, so I leave such jobs for those who do them on a daily basis.
Do I procrastinate? Yes, at times. There are certain hurdles that I need to get over each day. However, once I do, things really roll smooth.
Excellent question.
Ironically, I think that as I've gotten more successful, my ambition has waned. The reason is that, I made the mistake is seeking happiness in financial and career success. I put my all into the last years of college (before that I was a total fvck-up) and law school, and essentially gave my last few years of life to the goal of achieving a six figure salary.
I know have that, and you know what? I'm no happier. Of course, I abstractly knew that "money couldn't buy happiness", but like with most things in my life, I had to learn by experience, thinking somehow that conventional wisdom didn't ever apply to me, or at the least, that whoever said such a phrase was merely spouting "sour grapes". I'll tell you, its incredibly wierd to have a paycheck that I've dreamed of for so long, to be able to buy expensive and fancy things - although this is all relative since fancy and expensive to a regular Joe like me may be normal to some of you silver spooners - and I'm still with the same, somewhat empty feeling, but now with designer clothes, a nice watch, and lots of electronic gadgets to try and distract me from it.
So, the moral of the story is - make sure that you are ambitious for the right reasons, if there is such a thing. Seek to rise up the ladder to better your financial position, and gain financial independence, but KNOW that that is all that will happen. You won't become happier, and although hotter girls now hit on you, its all the more sad to realize that they just see you as a source of income, and are the exact kind of shallow, materialistic, self-torturing whores that remind you empty this whole money thing is.
Ironically, I think that as I've gotten more successful, my ambition has waned. The reason is that, I made the mistake is seeking happiness in financial and career success. I put my all into the last years of college (before that I was a total fvck-up) and law school, and essentially gave my last few years of life to the goal of achieving a six figure salary.
I know have that, and you know what? I'm no happier. Of course, I abstractly knew that "money couldn't buy happiness", but like with most things in my life, I had to learn by experience, thinking somehow that conventional wisdom didn't ever apply to me, or at the least, that whoever said such a phrase was merely spouting "sour grapes". I'll tell you, its incredibly wierd to have a paycheck that I've dreamed of for so long, to be able to buy expensive and fancy things - although this is all relative since fancy and expensive to a regular Joe like me may be normal to some of you silver spooners - and I'm still with the same, somewhat empty feeling, but now with designer clothes, a nice watch, and lots of electronic gadgets to try and distract me from it.
So, the moral of the story is - make sure that you are ambitious for the right reasons, if there is such a thing. Seek to rise up the ladder to better your financial position, and gain financial independence, but KNOW that that is all that will happen. You won't become happier, and although hotter girls now hit on you, its all the more sad to realize that they just see you as a source of income, and are the exact kind of shallow, materialistic, self-torturing whores that remind you empty this whole money thing is.
I guess I find this sad. There are so many great opportunities out there that are often overlooked. But, you have made a good point. Why else would 83% of Americans be looking for a new job otherwise*.
* - according to a recent CNN poll.
But, unless they apply some form of ambition, they will wind up in the same situation all over again. I'm not implying that they take their ambition and start working for themselves. However, the ambition is necessary to do the proper "leg work" on researching information before changing positions.
Depends on what you define as being ambitious and how you gauge success. From my POV, yes, I am ambitious and successful but that's based upon how I define those terms as they relate to my life and what I want out of life.
My ambition is to live the life that I imagine.
Great family, nice house, no monetary worries, enough spare cash to go lapping at roadcourses often, and have enough cash to enter amatuer race series.
That's it really. I'm not saying I wanna be a millionaire, but I want to be comfortable enough to do the above.
Great family, nice house, no monetary worries, enough spare cash to go lapping at roadcourses often, and have enough cash to enter amatuer race series.
That's it really. I'm not saying I wanna be a millionaire, but I want to be comfortable enough to do the above.
SP33Demon
Lifer
- Jun 22, 2001
- 27,928
- 142
- 106
If you define ambitious as benching double your weight and packing on 40 lbs of solid muscle in about 1.5 years, then yes, I am. Or you could call it dedicated, like someone said, everyone is going to have a different definition of whether one feat can be deemed "ambitious" since some place higher values on certain things in life as opposed to others (money vs love vs health vs education). I may think that earning six figures is ambitious, someone who's never been to college might say a Master's or PhD is.
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