Sustainable Ambition Forum - 10.08.24
I have a new ambition brewing.
Reflecting on my feelings from the summer, I realized I’m longing for something new, as I shared in my September solo podcast episode. And as I wrote in a prior newsletter, I’ve come to believe that this longing isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can coexist with contentment, simply signaling that I’m ready to step onto a new growth curve.
At such inflection points, I’ve found that new ambitions can manifest in different ways:
Clear and Intuitive: Sometimes, what I want to pursue is crystal clear. It's an instinctive pull, like my desire to write a book. I think, “I just want to write a book.” These intuitive ambitions feel deeply rooted, as if they’ve seeped into my bones.
Opaque and Elusive: Other times, like now, my next step isn’t immediately apparent. The path forward seems shrouded in fog.
When the vision is unclear, I’m reminded of one of my favorite books on life quests by Po Bronson and aptly named What Should I Do with My Life? He interviewed people about their journeys to find meaningful work and his primary conclusion was: we often only get a subtle glimpse.
When I’ve paused to reflect on past experiences when my path forward was murky, what I’ve realized is that there were breadcrumbs showing me the path. In hindsight, I can see the threads that pointed the way forward. The challenge lies in recognizing these subtle signs in the moment.
Which approach is better when seeking our next ambition? Should we rely on instinct and intuition or carefully analyze the patterns in our lives?
The truth is, both approaches are worthy:
Intuition can provide a strong, instinctive pull towards a goal.
Pattern recognition can reveal a path that isn’t immediately obvious.
These methods aren’t mutually exclusive, nor do we always have a choice in following one approach vs. the other. The situation dictates which will guide us best.
Regardless of whether our next step is clear or clouded, moving forward often requires a leap of faith. We can’t always see how our journeys will unfold, but that uncertainty is part of the adventure.
As we navigate these transitions, it’s important to remember that both clear intuitions and subtle clues are valid guides. The key is to remain open to new possibilities and be willing to take that first step, even when the final destination isn’t known.
In the end, our journey of life and work ambitions is just that—a journey. It’s not about having all the answers upfront, but about being willing to explore, learn, and evolve along the way.
How about for you? This fall, do you have a new ambition brewing, too? What might be your next move? Is it clear and intuitive or opaque and illusive? Are you listening to your gut, or deciphering the patterns?
Cheers!
Kathy
Founder of Sustainable Ambition
✅ Reminder: Quarter Check-In
I'd love to have you join me this Thursday for a free Sustainability Quarter Check-In. The date and time: Thursday, October 10 from 12-1 pm PT / 3-4 pm ET.
📆 Learn more and get it on the calendar here.
I hope to see you soon!
Conscious Ambition Tips
To help become more consciously ambitious and thrive in life and work.
Achieve success by satisfying yourself. Francis Ford Coppola’s new film Megalopolis is getting a lot of negative press. One could say it’s an utter failure. And yet, I’ve appreciated a few articles from people offering a different, more sustainable lens to how we view success. Has Coppola bombed? Or, has he succeeded because he made his art his way, as Kat Rosenfield argues in this article: “We should applaud, not condemn, his ambition. Unruly though Megalopolis may be, it’s the movie Coppola wanted to make.” Or as my friend, Jenny Blake, in this post (even while giving an honest, harsh review) pulls out from the movie's script: “When we leap into the unknown, we prove that we are free.” And she concludes: “It was in the leap that he was free.”
This is where my book ends: Are we willing and able to step into what we want for ourselves to gain some freedom around our ambitions? Can we find peace and contentment in first satisfying ourselves?
Pay attention to the clues. About a month ago, I got a nail in my tire while driving myself to the airport for a flight. I didn’t have time to deal with it that morning and took the risk of parking as normal and hoping for the best.
When I came home the next day and walked through the parking garage wondering what I’d find, this is the sign I noticed:
“May we assist?”
I’ve walked through this parking garage many, many times, and I’ve never seen this sign. But this day, it was like a beacon. I saw what I needed to see at that moment. “May we assist?” Yes. Yes, you can.
And sure enough, the parking attendant came and met me, filled up my half flat tire, and got me on my way to safely drive home until I could take the car in to get the tire fixed.
Signs show up when we need them. The question is: are we paying attention? Remember: we often only get a subtle glimpse.
Navigating uncertainty. More and more, I’ve come to learn that in the pursuit of our goals we dance between clarity and uncertainty. And even when we embark on a goal that was rooted in our intuition, we don’t always know how it will shape up. We can get to a certain point in our journey and realize, “Oh, this isn’t what I expected,” or “This isn't what I want after all.” We often judge ourselves in such circumstances, but I think that’s being too hard on ourselves. It doesn’t necessarily mean we weren’t on the right track. We can’t forecast everything, and we learn about ourselves and what we want by doing.
Yet, there are tools that can help us minimize such surprises and navigate with more confidence and certainty. While this article is oriented toward business, it offers good tools for us to consider when navigating uncertainty like scenario planning, thinking about worst-case scenarios, and conducting risk assessments. With more awareness, we can move through uncertainty with more peace and less angst.
For a New Beginning
by John O’Donohue
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.