Ambition Is A Good Thing
Ambitious women have long been misunderstood and misrepresented with ambition portrayed as only a means to gain status. Yet, if we look at how vital ambition is to each of us, we can retell its story.
Creative Director Fabien Baron
Photographer: Craig McDean
Model: Cara Taylor
Ambition is defined as ‘desire and determination to achieve success’, but for some this has been tarnished to become a selfish pursuit of money, power, or both. For women in particular, a focused goal to use their passion to change and influence the world is often skewed into a negative, unattractive ambition.
Why has ambition been demonised? Those who believe ambition is unhealthy have likely locked onto a less than savoury motivation to progress, and painted others whose motives are pure with the same brush.
Many who have been described as being ‘too driven’ or ‘too competitive’ hold an honest vision to give their best in their sphere, and have been misunderstood as self-absorbed. The broken narrative has been used not only as a covert act of inequality, but by other women who are intimidated by their achieving peers. So, how can we reshape ambition as a good thing?
‘When we walk forwards with broad horizons, we pave the way for others to follow.’
Ambition empowers the next generation
One reason that ambition is not only good, but necessary, is to support the next generation. Not all younger women have had a parent, sister, or friend who would champion and model their hopes and aspirations. Some women have not had the honour of someone further ahead in age or experience who can highlight their strengths and guide their decisions. Perhaps we haven’t and have therefore struggled to navigate uncharted waters and hard lessons.
When we walk forwards with broad horizons, we pave the way for others to follow. We don’t have to write a playbook, but we can author a new narrative which inspires others. It can be challenging for those younger than us to see possibilities without examples of bold people who have gone before them with an ambitious spirit.
Without strong women consistently pursuing new territory in different sectors of life, an entire generation of younger girls may be left with an incomplete picture of what they can achieve as they mature.
‘Bettering society and culture can happen in any sector of work.’
Ambition can better society
Ambition to grow and contribute our significant gifts and skills will enrich our society. There is a danger that roles which are not perceived to be ‘helping’ people cannot contribute to our community in the same way. Accepting any guilt about being ambitious in different fields, makes for a limited and even damaging view. Helping others takes many forms, and it is myopic to suggest that only careers that are overtly medical, educational or religious do this.
Bettering society and culture must happen in every sector of work; it is the people involved, rather than a job title, who have the power to use their ambition for good. When we only celebrate certain types of development, we lack in appreciating the importance of individuality to shape a brighter world.
Ambition keeps us dreaming
We all have stretches of time where we are in the grind of daily life, and the actualisation of our dreams feels far away. When we experience apathy and drought in our creativity, or weariness from showing up day after day, ambition can be the fuel that keeps us moving forward. Ambition is an essential component of fulfilling our vision and can spur us to believe in more when our circumstances are bleaker than we hope.
In reframing how we understand ambition, we can see the beauty which is borne when we feel empowered and we are free to be ambitious without fear of being misunderstood or judged.
WORDS BY
Rachel Calland
