Ambition is both a good and bad thing. If you’re seen as lacking ambition that’s a weakness so being ambitious is a good thing but if you’re overambitious that’s a bad thing. Overambitious people are  aggressive, prepared to jettison their values and do almost anything  to succeed. Over-ambitious people are often arrogant believing they are better than others.

Ambition is the desire to make a difference which is usually considered a good motivation. But ambition in the workplace is often about status, power and reward. Is there such a thing as health ambition or is there no real difference between healthy and unhealthy ambition ? Is it just a case of how far you are prepared to go to get what you want?

Is too much ambition harmful? It is often associated with the long hours culture ,   overworking , stress and damaged  health . Why put yourself and family through it as you chase promotions and career advancement?  The application forms, the long list meetings with recruitment consultants, the assessment centres, trial by sherry, panel interviews, chasing top jobs up and down the country.

Moving house , moving schools  Moving away from friends and relatives. Less ambitious after 35 I don’t think so. Waiting for the Friday night phone call that doesn’t come till Monday ruining your weekend only to be told you weren’t successful on this occasion. The truly ambitious never give up, there is always another vacancy somewhere else so what if it is in Wales or that this will be application number 8 or 9 in the last 12 months!

Ambition does not have to be an all consuming monster or an illness, you should be able to have fulfilling work and a fulfilling family life but you need to keep the beast under control.