Conscious Ambition Tips: A Summer Ambition Check-In
Conscious Ambition Tips To help become more consciously ambitious and thrive in life and work.
Below are Conscious Ambition Tips for the summer season.
Right Ambition:
My book made its way into the world a little over 2 weeks ago now.
I'm often asked how it feels to reach this milestone. Honestly? It's a mix of everything—anticipation, excitement, relief, and maybe a little disbelief that this thing I've been working on for so long is actually real and out there.
But mostly, I'm excited to step into this new stage of the journey. I'm unattached to what may come and ready to explore what's next. There's something freeing about reaching a major milestone and then allowing yourself the space to discover what's possible beyond it.
☀️ What might you want to discover in this space of summer?
Right Time:
A few weeks ago, the day before my book launch, I was lucky to hear Jacinda Ardern in San Francisco on her book tour. I was eager to hear her speak, because I feature her story in my book around the pillar of “Right Time” as an example of making choices for what we pursue at different stages of our life and work.
Toward the end of the talk, she spoke about her decision to step down from being Prime Minister of New Zealand and how it was a lonely decision. She felt the pull of responsibility to stay, and others were encouraging her to do so. Yet she also didn’t believe she had the energy and resilience to give her best for another full term. It was time to let someone else lead.
It reminded me of another story in my book generously shared by Dr. Sahar Yousef, in which she describes using her future self to help her make “Right Time” decisions both early in her career and in her day-to-day life: “What will my future self thank me for? It’s a question I like to ask myself daily, monthly, annually…. what I will regret not doing.”
Both leaders trusted their internal compass over external expectations—exactly what getting it “right” is all about.
I can relate. I’ve made Right Time decisions early in my adult life like choosing to live in NYC, more recently in finding it the right time to write my book, and now with summer on the horizon knowing it’s the right time to make space for more exploration and experimentation in both my work and personal life.
☀️ As we step into summer, it’s a great time to ask—What is urgent and for what do I have energy for right now? What matters the most to me in this moment? What will I regret not doing?
This summer, what is it time for?
Right Effort:
Did you know that the #1 reason people don't take their paid vacation is that they feel they don't need it (2023 Pew Research)?
But here's the thing: research also shows we often don't take breaks when we need them MOST.
☀️ So, I’d like to challenge you to make a summer pledge: “I will take a break over these summer months. I will allow myself to slow down. I will prioritize my well-being.”
Even small breaks can boost performance and productivity. A few weeks ago, during my full book launch period, I stole 45 minutes at San Francisco's deYoung museum for the Bouquet to Art exhibit. In less than an hour before closing, I experienced something transformative. What I got: A mindset shift, inspiration, and renewed energy.
Sometimes the best thing we can do for our work is to step away from it.
✨ What’s one small or big break you could take this summer?
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Sustainable Ambition offers a strategic approach for pursuing our professional and personal goals in a way that is motivating, meaningful, and manageable from stage to stage, rather than be all consuming in a way that compromises other important aspects of our lives or sacrifices our well-being.