Ambition

[Chronic]

A lot of people seem to equate ambition with wanting a career up to the point where they'll say you lack ambition period if you don't feel the particular need to get a career. People that don't want or can't get a career get looked down upon. I never understood this. In my opinion a job is a necessary means to survive, not a necessary gateway to respect.

What's everyone's opinion? Are these people just sheep regurgitating spoon-fed opinions or is a career actually that important?

 

[Sebastian]

A lot of people seem to equate ambition with wanting a career up to the point where they'll say you lack ambition period if you don't feel the particular need to get a career. People that don't want or can't get a career get looked down upon. I never understood this. In my opinion a job is a necessary means to survive, not a necessary gateway to respect.

What's everyone's opinion? Are these people just sheep regurgitating spoon-fed opinions or is a career actually that important?

It may not be a necessary gateway to respect, but it can be. For example: I dont have respect for big manager who manage "global players" because there is no way that they get to this point without corruption, ass-kissing, lying and so on. On the other hand you could give them respect because of their persistence, stamina and stuff. But the first point outweights the last.

What do you strive for? How do you interpret ambition?

 

[Chronic]

I definitely respect people accomplishing something they want to accomplish but my point was that some people think everyone should get the best career possible and if you don't they'll think less of you. For example they'll respect a business man, even if he exploits people, but automatically look down on a janitor. I've noticed this particularly in women. If someone doesn't have a "good" job or career plan they won't even give them the time of day. It's not something I've had to deal with but it I can't get my mind around this mentality.

I interpret ambition in the literal sense, the desire to accomplish something. Personally I've never had a lot of ambition. I don't have anything to prove to myself and even less to other people. The only things I strive for are happiness, being a good person and eventually spending my time helping animals and possibly people (I say possibly because people piss me off ). And maybe grow a couple of weed plantations.

 

[Sebastian]

I definitely respect people accomplishing something they want to accomplish but my point was that some people think everyone should get the best career possible and if you don't they'll think less of you. For example they'll respect a business man, even if he exploits people, but automatically look down on a janitor. I've noticed this particularly in women. If someone doesn't have a "good" job or career plan they won't even give them the time of day. It's not something I've had to deal with but it I can't get my mind around this mentality.

I interpret ambition in the literal sense, the desire to accomplish something. Personally I've never had a lot of ambition. I don't have anything to prove to myself and even less to other people. The only things I strive for are happiness, being a good person and eventually spending my time helping animals and possibly people (I say possibly because people piss me off ). And maybe grow a couple of weed plantations.

I dont get that part. I mean, if you have this mentality "(most) people piss me off" then your ambition should be to prove to yourself, that you are a good person. That should automatically be your main goal.

(I know you kinda said it in the last part of your post)

 

[Farzin]

It's the capitalism mentality. Competition is everything. Its a basic human instinct.

It would seem unnatural to not want to move up in the ranks. To not want more out of life. its basic human psychology. Everyone is striving for more. If you don't, then you are an outcast. And you know what happens to outcasts in society, they are looked down upon.

As for women they don't care about the career per say, they just look at the salary. But a better job such as a business man comes with a better salary than a janitor of course. That has something to do with how women have been raised from an early day on. "Get a decent man with a decent Job who can take care of you", is what they have heard all their lives. They subconsciously apply that when it comes to choosing a man later in life.

 

[ill-matic]

You know what i attribute it to? It's the work level that people associate with a particular job. With the businessman example you mentioned - people interpret that as somebody who studied hard during university, or the fact that they have amassed millions (or whatever) implies a degree of hard work. Hence the whole respectability notion. A janitor, for example, doesn't really reflect a hard working attitude, and so people dont really have a high opinion of somebody in that field.

Now im not trying to denounce or to belittle occupations such as janitor, but this is how society functions. People don't really respect that occupation because it appears as if there is nothing very much exclusive about it, in the sense that there are no real definitive skills which distinguish them from other people. Does that make sense?

 

[ill-matic]

It's the capitalism mentality. Competition is everything. Its a basic human instinct.

It would seem unnatural to not want to move up in the ranks. To not want more out of life. its basic human psychology. Everyone is striving for more. If you don't, then you are an outcast. And you know what happens to outcasts in society, they are looked down upon.

As for women they don't care about the career per say, they just look at the salary. But a better job such as a business man comes with a better salary than a janitor of course. That has something to do with how women have been raised from an early day on. "Get a decent man with a decent Job who can take care of you", is what they have heard all their lives. They subconsciously apply that when it comes to choosing a man later in life.

I disagree with your second paragraph. It's not SOLELY to do with salary, but more to do with the sort of skills/education/hard work required fior that particular occupation. People who work in some sort of charity such as "Medicens Sans Frontier" (where doctors operate in regions with rampant civil and international war) don't really earn much in terms of salary, but yet it is highly respected.

 

[Jokerman]

Most people buy into the American Dream, even if they're not American. They believe that happiness is external and they want materialistic success. So you must have ambition career-wise if you are to be happy or to make someone happy. Whole relationships can be centered around the attainment of tangible things, such as cars, houses, more money. Many couples make these things the focus of their being together; they believe they are being responsible and showing loyalty by giving things to their partner. One wonders what would happen to the relationship without the things? Would the people involved no longer have a basis for being together?

Do something you really like and you won't need respect or recognition from it. That should be your ambition: to do what you like doing. If you're living a life in which you're paying attention to what honors your inner needs, then you don't really require respect or recognition. The public is of no consequence, because the doing itself is the recognition. You feel good about every moment so you don't have to say, can I have some respect now? Did I do what i was supposed to do?

 

[S O F I]

^Exactly. But, it's one of the hardest things to do in life, I'd say. That is, to really let go of the pressure created by the society, by your family, and by your peers and just do something you like, and not something that brings you wealth. I'm hoping that I'll be able to attain a good career where I'm doing what I like.

 

[Bhuddahhoodlum]

career is just a means to make more money. ambition would be the desire to do that........ i guess.

i wouldn't knock a person with no ambition. some folks are satisfied with what they have in life. the things others consider invaluable might mean nothing to the next man. why want more when you already got everything you need or wanted? that's when ambition turns into greed probably.

and then some folks have big plans. big dreams. big goals they want to accomplish. in which case ambition is needed in order to see those big dreams come true. and the respect part come into factor right here. as dreams are the hardest test of mankinds will when being pursued. i'd respect the person for going through the struggle of pursuing his dream. a person with the ambition to accomplish this should definitely get props.

i think some folks equate not having ambition as that guy that sleeps around the house all day and eats up all the food. you know, the slacker. the sloth son'bitch.

but i've met plenty of people wise beyond their years with gifts to inspire entire communties. they could easily make thousands off of what they do. but instead they just use it sparingly. they have no reason to be driven by ambition and are just satisfied with the world they exist in. these folks don't have ambition, but they have the sense to support themselves. are just as worthy of respect as any one. i mean c'mon now, we can't all save the world.

 

[Synful*Luv]

A lot of people seem to equate ambition with wanting a career up to the point where they'll say you lack ambition period if you don't feel the particular need to get a career. People that don't want or can't get a career get looked down upon. I never understood this. In my opinion a job is a necessary means to survive, not a necessary gateway to respect.

What's everyone's opinion? Are these people just sheep regurgitating spoon-fed opinions or is a career actually that important?

Due to society and its standards.... everyone has to be "White collar" in order to gain any respect unless they do something that's big enough to draw national attention. The people who volunteer everyday at a shelter are ambitious. The people who put together rallies are marches are more than ambitious... that work takes a lot of time and effort with very few results but most people will say that they are "dreamers" or wasting their time. Humanitarians do not get much recognition unless they are already famous or rich. Which may be why a lot of people want to be successful at a large company first because then they can piggyback that success for other ventures that they care more about. However, some people just want a lot of money, big house, fancy car, etc and they do whats expected of them...HS, college, internship, a White collar job, wife, kids, dog, house, etc.

Most people aren't free thinkers and aren't brave enough to go against what society expects from them.

 

[Bender]

'Ambition is the last refuge of a failure.' - Oscar Wilde

 

[Chronic]

Agreed with everyone. I was kind of hoping someone with an opposing view would answer

I dont get that part. I mean, if you have this mentality "(most) people piss me off" then your ambition should be to prove to yourself, that you are a good person. That should automatically be your main goal.

Well I try to be a good person because I think that's the right thing to do not because I want to prove to myself or others that I can be. Or did I misunderstand thy question, sire?

 

[Duke]

True ambition is doing what you want to do.

"Normal" ambition is the need to attain a certain position so other people don't look down on you. There is a large degree of uncertainty, of wanting respect to feel better about yourself, instead of garnering respect as a side-effect of what you like to do.

[/Freud]

 

[CoolWaterz]

i only hate people whose main ambition is to come off as ambitious. I want to round them up and break their noses.

 

[S O F I]

^That's very ambitious of you.

 

[Rahim]

Education is important in life, but I look at getting a career as a way to get money and having a better chance to be wealthy. Of course I like the respect that comes with it, but I think people will look at me badly either way, weather I have a career or not.

My initial plan is to get a career tho. My plan is to take a telecommunications diploma course in august, and if that turns out alright I will hopefully go for the degree.

Plus this all comes down with having a good life and getting married too...women want a man who has things going for them..sure a girlfriend might be what's right for the moment...but if you both want to have a good life then getting a career is the answer...and that's through education..going to school.....and yeah it wont be easy...but nothing is.....but if i just finish my diploma..that will be good enough for me...