Definitions

We take words we think we know for granted. For example, do we really understand what the word "ambition" means? We shouldn't be looking for a dictionary definition, we should be looking for a practical meaning, something that makes sense and is relevant to the way that we lead our lives.

Had a long chat with a friend last night. She's half-way through university and, as is the norm with most people in that situation, she's not sure what to do after she graduates in 18 months time. She needed advice. I told her she needed ambition.

The moment i said it, i realized that i didn't know how to explain what i meant. I didn't really understand what ambition is. But we talked through it together and concluded that ambition is knowing what your next step is and laying the foundation to allow you to take it. So many people do one or the other, but many don't do both, leaving a gap between success and failure.

We discussed her options, we discussed what she needed to do to reach each individual option. In the end, i told her all she need now to do is choose. She's a smart lady - she's choose correctly. She has ambition.