Ambition - Why some people are most likely to succeed.
Just came across this article from the TIME. Here’s an excerpt - “If humans are an ambitious species, it’s clear we’re not the only one. Many animals are known to signal their ambitious tendencies almost from birth. Even before wolf pups are weaned, they begin sorting themselves out into alphas and all the others. The alphas are quicker, more curious, greedier for space, milk, Mom–and they stay that way for life. Alpha wolves wander widely, breed annually and may live to a geriatric 10 or 11 years old. Lower-ranking wolves enjoy none of these benefits–staying close to home, breeding rarely and usually dying before they’re 4.”
hmm. well there’s soemthing about that article that rubs me the wrong way - altho i haven’t quite put my finger on what that might be.
in any case -as far as ambition goes, i think part of it has to do with personality - but part of it has to do with fulfillment of needs too.
I think you’d really be hard-pressed to find a human being that won’t let a fire be lit under their ass, if there’s a pressing need to get something done.
I guess it was the whole story about the twins being ambitious and why it took them so long and blah blah that irritated me at first - it seems fairly obvious to me - they had no need to get up and go do something, because daddy had the company, they were going to school and whatnot etc, etc. When they were faced with not having their future laid out for them, they were able to use all the tools of their upbringing to become entrepreneurs themselves.
I think humans are an ambitious species, but again which aren’t. Eat, Sleep, Procreate is the most instinctive drive there is, we all have it. I think what differentiates us is the capacity for Selfishness, which ambition to the conscious level. Interestingly, many feel Selfishness is a negative trait. Others on the otherhand feel Selfishness is a virtue and that Selflessness is the most unnatural thing force onto a human being. I will say that I agree with the latter. Just a coment!