I’m an ambitious guy. I have at least 10 different projects going on right now. And to be honest, I’m not even sure how some of them are making money. But I love seeing money come in and I love accomplishing unique things. Success is awesome.
But I always strive for a balance. I don’t want my ambition to become obsession or greed. Here are four warning signs I look for to make sure my ambition doesn’t become unhealthy.
1. You are finding your value in success.
I’m bound to have ups and downs as an entrepreneur. There will be times I feel down, because I’m scared the money won’t come in like I need it to. But if I find my feelings of self-worth shrinking and growing based on how successful I am or am not, that’s a sign my ambition has become unhealthy. That’s when I work to recenter my value in what God says about me through His Word.
2. You are neglecting more important things.
If my excitement over my latest project keeps me from being able to pay attention to my wife, I know it has gotten out of hand. If I’m losing sleep at night or neglecting time with friends, my ambition is unhealthy. It’s important to acknowledge this sort of thing quickly, and then readjust your priorities.
That’s not to say there won’t be times I pull an all-nighter or get a bit engrossed in a project. But if my priorities are out of whack in the long term, I need to make some changes.
3. You have no good goal for the “more” you want.
Making a ton of money is not a bad thing. Having a huge house is fine. But if you’re doing those things just to amass stuff, you’re working from a place of greed. If that’s the case, I’d actually encourage you to start giving more. Increase your tithe – it doesn’t have to be just 10 percent. Or start sponsoring a child through Compassion or World Vision. I’ve seen the value of these things for curbing my greedy impulses. It’s not just about giving to others; it’s also about putting your heart in the right place.
4. You are hurting others to achieve.
If you’re taking advantage of people – even folks who justifiably deserve it – your ambition has become unhealthy. Your success should never come at the expense of relationships or extending justice and mercy to others.
Do you see a few places where you might need to adjust some things? I know I always find ways to tweak my heart and reposition it in a healthy place. What do you need to do to get back on the healthy path to success?
What would you add to this list? Anything you think is a sign your quest for ambition has gotten unhealthy? Leave a comment below.