Getting an “A” in Significance (Part One): Ambition
Ambition — The Spark That Demands More
Most people confuse ambition with arrogance. They hear the word and picture someone clawing their way up, chasing titles, chasing applause, chasing something that makes the outside world clap. But true ambition isn’t about proving others wrong. It’s about proving yourself right.
Ambition is the quiet fire that whispers, “I was made for more than this.”
I remember sitting in a moment of transition, staring at what looked like the end of the road. The truth was, I had already traveled far by most standards. But something inside me refused to settle. That inner nudge—the one that wouldn’t let me rest on yesterday’s achievements—was ambition doing its job.
Here’s what I’ve learned: ambition isn’t loud, but it is relentless. It pushes you to keep showing up, even when no one’s watching. It nudges you toward risk, toward growth, toward uncomfortable places where the magic of transformation actually happens.
The problem is, too many people treat ambition like a dream. They hold it like a wish in their pocket instead of fuel in their tank. They talk about what they want to do instead of taking the first step to actually do it.
Ambition without direction is just a fantasy.
So how do we harness ambition in a way that builds a life instead of burns one down?
Name your why. Ambition needs a mission. Without it, you’ll chase everything and catch nothing.
Count the cost. True ambition always comes with sacrifice. If you’re not willing to pay for it, you’re not ready to pursue it.
Start small, aim big. Don’t despise the small beginnings. Every “overnight success” is built on years of unseen ambition at work.
Take the foot and a half step. Ordinary people stop at ordinary effort. Ambition invites you to go past convenience, past comfort, past the “good enough” stage—and take one more step forward. That’s where momentum begins.
Ambition doesn’t guarantee you’ll arrive overnight. But it does guarantee you won’t stay stuck where you are.
The question is not, “Do you have ambition?” You do. Everyone does. The real question is: “What direction is your ambition taking you?”
Because ambition is like fire—it can either warm your home or burn it down. The choice is yours.
So today, feed the right fire. Take the extra step. Refuse to settle. Let ambition pull you forward into the life you were created to live.
That’s the Foot and a Half difference.
-Dr. Rich
