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Anti Ambition

Reading this NYT essay about anti-ambition being in the air, makes me think of how folks like me have been early to this trend by decades. It was harder then because the zeitgeist required an absolute devotion to work and trying your best and hardest to get ahead. I recall back in the day, seeing my peers getting promoted left me feeling confused, I was not even in the running and people were crossing finish lines. Was I doing something wrong? In my heart I knew I was not but rationalizing it mentally was a struggle. 

These days watching people get promoted makes me feel a tinge of pity for that person. They already worked 80 hour weeks, exceeded every impossible goal that was set for them in order to even get promoted. Now the goal post will only move further. They will need to need to make hard decisions about running or stopping because stopping may not be an option at that level. I get the feeling there are many others like me who don't want to take that next step, try and remain where they are or find an entirely different place where not being ambitious is normal and acceptable. 

Work is mainly, really, about making money to live. And then trying to make some more. A boring, ancient story. The future of work might be more like its past than anyone admits.

I am a firm adherent of this approach - work about making money to live and then some more for a rainy day, month or year. If I am working for more than that it is a crazy mistake that needs to be corrected. With age, I am more comfortable with my way and it being at odds with what a lot of my peers have striven more and achieved. 

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