Ambitious? Ask Yourself This Question.

23/05/23 [5:25am]

Many of us feel stuck on a path.

We glorify the story of the college dropout, or the businessman who ‘risked it all’ for victory and succeeded in glorious fashion. Unfortunately, this all-or-nothing approach to ambition isn’t just unrealistic, it’s actively harming you.

Here’s what I mean:

Many popular stories involve big risks and big rewards.

We like these stories for two reasons:

1. When the stakes are high, the climax of the story becomes more suspenseful and entertaining.

2. By framing these stories in the context of massive risk, we make these stories ‘too unrealistic’ to emulate, enabling us to stay lazy.

This where the problem lies. 

Firstly, you ARE capable of taking large risks if you choose to. More importantly, the path to success doesn’t have to involve incredible risk and impossible luck:

• You don’t have to quit your job to write a book.

• You don’t have to drop out of university to start a company.

• You don’t have to be a stock-market genius to make lots of money.

You could do any (or all) of these things, but there are many other ways to achieve your goals

This entire article is a reminder to myself as well as to you, but I invite you to join me in considering this question:

In what way will you incrementally improve your life today, without taking grandiose risks for the sake of it?

While you’re at it, have some gratitude for the good things in your life. No amount of resources or status will replace them.

See you tomorrow,

- Will