Ambition and progress

“A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.” – Marcus Aurelius

Catalyzing

Last Sunday, I was chatting with friends about Nicolai Tangen’s statement in the FT that Europe (that is, Europeans) are less ambitious than others. In his words, “Europe is less hard-working, less ambitious, more regulated and more risk-averse than the US”. He also added with a statement on AI: “I’m not saying it’s good but in America you have a lot of AI and no regulation, in Europe you have no AI and a lot of regulation. It’s interesting”. About 2 weeks ago, I was also listening to his interview with Elon Musk. In this interview, Elon shares how hard he works and how deep he went into details, because you can’t do great work without going hardcore and being ambitious.

So what do I define as ambition? In the simplest terms, ambition is the desire to achieve something, often of great importance, often bigger than one’s self. However, it is far more than just a desire - it is a burning fire, a relentless drive that compels us to push beyond limits, to continually and ruthlessly strive for success, and to reach for the stars, and to continually strive for success. We refuse to acknowledge impossibilities and dare to dream bigger, risk more, to go further, to do more, and to become more.

Having lived in the city of Amsterdam for the past 2 years, I can say that I rarely smell ambition in Europe’s air. Little to no ambition equals little to negative progress. Objectively speaking, this has been evident in the national GDP growth in Europe when contrasted with other continents. Sometimes I try to predict what economies would look like in Europe in the coming decades, but I couldn’t bother more at this moment and that is a subject for another day.

Advancing

The landscape of human history is replete with grandeur, filled with stories of extraordinary endeavors, audacious discoveries, and remarkable innovations. A quintessential human trait, ambition has been the driving force behind many of mankind's greatest achievements. It has sparked progress, ignited revolutions, and stitched together the intricate fabric of our societies.

When Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, it was not a mere chance; it was his ambition, his desire to find a cure for bacterial infections that drove his relentless research. When the Wright Brothers took their first flight, it was their ambition to be like birds, their dream to conquer the skies that propelled them forward. When Martin Luther King Jr. fought for civil rights, it was his ambition, his vision for equality that guided his mission. And when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile, it was relentlessness and refusal to accept what people called impossible that made it a reality. Similarly, ambition drove the US to win the space race by landing the first man on the moon.

We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.
- President John F. Kennedy

So when next you are (or feel) discouraged for your spirit of ambition, think about the outcomes that would never be if you were to give up. Every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth and learning, regardless of if it seems like you may not be inching closer to your dreams. The path to success is typically lengthy and laden with difficulties, and you alone have the power to conquer anything and turn your dreams into reality. Advancing in progress also comes with advanced challenges.

Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world usually do.
– Steve Jobs

Redefining

Without doubt, ambition and hunger have been the twin engines of mankind's progress. They have fueled our journey from ignorance to understanding, from isolation to interconnectedness, from mortality to health, and from the caves to the stars. They are the qualities that define us as a species, that set us apart from other creatures.

And before we begin this journey of ambition, we must clearly define what we want to achieve and our reason for why we do it ought to be crystal clear. This clarity shall help us see further as we weather tough times while in pursuit of that we desire.

“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
- Habakkuk 2:2

As we look forward to the future, it is clear that ambition will continue to drive us forward, forging new paths, setting new milestones, and redefining the boundaries of what is possible - not just as individuals, but also collectively as a race.

Man’s reach ends where his will to move on does.
- Luke Ndatigh