Fervent Pursuit of Accomplishment
In his 1910 book "Be Good to Yourself", Orison Swett Marden posits that ambition, the passion for conquest, power, and achievement, is a dominant characteristic of human nature. Marden argues that this drive is not just a personal gratification or a materialistic pursuit, but a divine impulse and a sense of duty to humanity.
According to Marden, every normal man is driven by an inherent passion for self-expression, which fuels their ambition to achieve. This drive is what keeps men going, always struggling to achieve more and push the boundaries of what is possible. The love of forging ahead and pushing out into new fields is what keeps the majority of men in harness.
The ambition for greater achievements is strengthened by each fresh triumph. Many rich men find their reward in the exercise of their powers, not in amassing money. The struggle for supremacy has been the developer of man and the builder of progress. The passion for conquest becomes strong and powerful with legitimate exercise and encouragement.
Marden suggests that the unborn creatures of the imagination of the artist, the author, the actor, the singer, struggling for expression, haunt them until they are made real. Every business or professional conquest or financial victory makes the achiever stronger and larger. The author argues that the motives for a creative career include the desire for self-expression, expansion, growth, and the objectification of life-visions.
The higher type of man plays the game for the love of achievement, for self-expression, and for the training it gives. The divine discontent which all aspiring souls feel is a longing for growth and realization of possibilities. The author claims that those who wonder why men who already have a competence continue to struggle, to play the game with as much zeal and ardor as ever, when they might retire from the field, little realize the tremendous fascination of the great life-game, especially for those who have artistic talent and those who have the ability to do things.
Marden asserts that every man expresses himself according to his talent, through various modes of human expression such as art, science, oratory, business, or writing. The struggle for supremacy has been the developer of man and the builder of progress. The ambitions and ideals of the business man, the professional man, clamor for expression so long as he is able to continue in the game.
Men who have grown accustomed to wielding enormous power often find it abnormal to lay down the scepter. The author asserts that the motives for a creative career include the desire for self-expression, expansion, growth, and the objectification of life-visions. The great artist does not paint simply for a living, but because of an unconquerable desire to express a divine thing struggling for expression.
In essence, Marden's perspective on ambition frames it as a fundamental and noble aspect of human nature rather than a selfish or purely materialistic drive. He sees ambition as a positive, almost sacred force aligned with human purpose and progress, grounded in a divine impulse to realize one's highest ideals and contribute to human progress. This view contrasts with more modern or cynical perspectives that reduce ambition to neurochemical impulses or ethically questionable thirsts for money and power. Instead, Marden offers a view of ambition as a positive, almost sacred force aligned with human purpose and progress.
Leadership, driven by ambition and the desire for self-expression, requires constant stride towards achievement and personal growth. A leader's style should center around health and well-being, nurturing the skills necessary for progress.
A successful leader's character is marked by personal discipline, fueled by the impulse to make a lasting impact in their career and lifestyle, aligning with Marden's vision of ambition as a divine, purposeful force.
In addition to professional growth, pursuing education and self-development is essential in honing one's abilities, fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
The summons of ambition extends to all aspects of life, as the pursuit of personal growth and continuous learning becomes an integral part of a leader's lifestyle. The ambitious leader strives not just for material gains, but for fulfillment in all facets of life, upholding the notion of ambition as a positive force for human progress.
