It is my conviction that ambition, fueled by compassion, wisdom, and integrity, is a powerful force for good. It will turn the wheels of industry and open the door of opportunity for you and countless thousands of other people.
But fueled by greed and the lust for power, ambition is a destructive force that ultimately does irreparable damage to the individual in its grasp and to the people within its reach.
It is more than just a cliche to say that ambition can either make us or break us. It makes us when we hear the words of Henry Van Dyke, who said, “There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher.” George Matthew Adams observed, “He climbs highest who helps another up.” John Lubbock put it this way: “To do something, however small, to make others happier and better is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being.”
As a youngster in Yazoo City, Mississippi, I frequently heard my mother and the man for whom I worked in the grocery store describe an individual by saying, “He is really a very ambitious young man,” or “She really has a lot of ambition.” The tone of voice indicated that they were very favorably identifying one of the traits of that young person. I understood implicitly that they were talking about ambition fueled by compassion, wisdom, and integrity. On the other hand, I heard them say on numerous occasions, “He is a nice person, but he just doesn’t have any ambition.”
From my perspective, people who have ability–and that includes anyone reading these words–and do not use that ability represent one of the real tragedies of life. The old saying that you either “use it or lose it” is true. In a nutshell, ambition, fueled with compassion and direction, can be a powerful force for good.
. . . Adapted from Zig’s book, SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT, published by Thomas Nelson. Look for the book in your favorite bookstore or purchase a copy at http://www.ZigZiglar.com.
For more on the subject of how to be successful, read Zig’s popular book, “Success for Dummies,” published by IDG Books. It’s at your bookstore, and it’s also available from http://www.zigziglar.com.
