Career Coach: Absent Hard Work Ambition Is Just A Word

Ambition is a word that evokes respect and admiration in the folklore of success careers. But it has little meaning on the career path until it is coupled with commitment, willingness to learn and hard work

It may be embraced or ignored; used or abused. It can even become an excuse for a failed career path. It all depends on how it is employed.

Dreaming and talking about what you want to achieve is not true ambition. Knowing your goals, the path to reach them and doing what it takes make the trip. The key is to combine ambition, which means desire, with initiative, which means action.

There are lessons to be learned from the way Harry K. managed his ambitions.

He had been on his job for less than a year, and he was already restless and frustrated by what he considered the lack of progress.

"I am ambitious," he told everyone who would listen to his complaining. "I will be a success, but I'll never make it doing little insignificant things day in and day out. I could do a lot more; they just won't give me a chance."

Harry's constant moaning and groaning was beginning to poison the atmosphere for the entire staff.

Harry Had Potential, But...

At Harry's next performance review, Joe, his boss, complimented him for the work he was doing. Harry quickly brushed aside the positives of the review and began to push his case for a promotion. The meeting became confrontational.

"I am still doing the same old things," Harry declared. "I know I'm paid less than the others in the department. It's just not fair."

"Harry, you have been with us for only eleven months," Joe replied. "You are the newest salesman; everyone else has been here at least three years. They've worked their way up the ladder.

"As I told you, you have made reasonably good progress, but, let's face it, you are still short on experience. Give it a little time."

Joe complimented Harry again and went on to suggest that his work habits needed some improvement.

"Harry, you are late most mornings, and you are out of here right at five o'clock. I think your performance would be improved if you would devote time at night and on weekends to learning more about your job."

"You are not being fair," Harry bristled. "I work the hours you pay me for. Sure, I know you and the others stay late, but I don't have anything to do; and besides, as I've told you, I am not married to this company. You pay me and I will show you what I can do."

Harry went on to spell out his career expectations. "I'm on the fast track. I expect to be a brand manager with in six months. I just can't wait around forever."

Joe saw the discussion was dead-ending, but he still believed Harry had potential. He made what he thought was a fair offer.

"Let's speed up your learning curve. Work with Bill Davis as his assistant. You will gain a lot from his experience. We'll also provide you with some special training. However, I can't give you a raise now, since our budgets are frozen; but if you do as well as I know you can, I promise you'll get an increase in three months."

"That's not fair," Harry charged. "Everyone in the department knows Bill is past his prime. He is worn out. I would be running his errands. I don't think that is much of a promotion, certainly not what I deserve."

Harry never recovered from that discussion in the eyes of his supervisor and the department head. He was fired within a few months.

Unfortunately, Harry failed to learn the real meaning of ambition. He changed jobs frequently. His career floundered. He used his stated ambitions as an excuse for his failures, telling everyone things hadn't worked out with various employers because he was "too ambitious to wait around to be promoted."

Career Tip: The lesson here is simple. Ambition is nothing more than a word on the career path until it is coupled with commitment, willingness to learn and hard work.


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For more advice on how to accelerate your career participate in Ramon Greenwood's widely read Common Sense At Work Blog. He coaches from a successful career as Senior VP at American Express, author of career-related books, successful entrepreneur, and a senior executive/consultant in Fortune 500 companies. For free career coaching visit: http://commonsenseatwork.com/job-advice-principles