The Right Way And The Dangerous Way To Think About Ambition

Inside Strategic Coach: Connecting Entrepreneurs With What Really Matters

Entrepreneurs need to be ambitious. But what happens when you achieve your ambition? In this episode, Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller explain the drawbacks of having ambition as a destination and describe the incredible benefits you can expect when you see ambition as a capability.

Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why Dan sees ambition as an internal capability.
• Measurements you should be making every day.
• What’s made Dan’s life simpler over time.
• How Dan gifts Strategic Coach^® members extra years to their entrepreneurial lives.
• What you need to avoid to be continually ambitious, and why.

Show Notes:

• Ambition is a capability, not a destination.
• Simply by continually improving your ambition each day, you’ll experience exponential growth over time.
• Dan Sullivan feels more ambitious at 80 than he did at 50.
• To strengthen your ambition, it’s important to measure your daily accomplishments and strive for continal growth.
• You can measure your progress not just in achievements, but in the ability to accomplish more in less time with greater impact.
• Ambition itself should be measured in terms of increased capability and confidence.
• Simplifying life by eliminating distractions (like television) can reclaim valuable time for personal development and ambitious pursuits.
• Surrounding yourself with growth-oriented individuals, often younger, can inspire and fuel your ambition.
• To be continually ambitious, there are three things you should avoid: celebrity, retirement, and legacy.
• It’s important to focus on being useful and impactful in the present rather than worrying about future legacy.
• Viewing ambition as a capability can also help you feel more fulfilled personally—and have a greater impact on your community.
• Every day, ask yourself what you can do so that you’re more ambitious tomorrow.
• Being around people who aren’t invested in growth is an obstacle to your ambition.

Resources:

CliftonStrengths^®

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy