Ambition or Not?
Recently, I was visiting with a friend. We were talking and she asked me how my consulting business was doing. I started telling her about my plans to start a podcast and about the barter agreement with a marketing firm. I also told her about how I’ve put myself in a position to do a workshop at the DFW AFP conference in June even though public speaking makes me extremely nervous.
She smiled and I asked her why. She said, “you’re so ambitious!” That really surprised me.
Yes, I am ambitious but to a point. I know lots of people who are way more ambitious than I am. This made me think, just because I see others as more ambitious, does that make me less so? Why am I uncomfortable claiming my own ambition?
I started my consulting business when many of my peers are moving toward retirement. I’m not sure why that’s important to me, but it’s a comparison I often make. I want to do more. Grow my business, practice my art, learn new things. I think it’s important to challenge myself, to do things that make me uncomfortable, like public speaking. Does this add up to ambition?
To accomplish the things I enjoy and also the things that challenge me, I need to be healthy. My health was something I took for granted for decades. I was hardly ever sick. I didn’t suffer from allergies or asthma like my sisters. I was invincible, until I wasn’t.
I’m still pretty healthy, but to keep myself standing tall and strong, I work out every Sunday morning with a trainer. Even though I’ve been doing this for more than a year, I still can’t believe I get up early every Sunday morning to go to a gym and work with a trainer who is also a physical therapist.
To me, all of this does not add up to “ambition” it adds up to me. Who I am.
Thursday, May 11, was our last live “About Fundraising.” I appreciate everyone who has attended to learn more about fundraising. All of our “About Fundraising” webinars are on YouTube. Stay tuned for the launch of my podcast.
DMGroupConsulting, is your frontline fundraising consultant. Contact us at https://dmgroupconsulting.com/contact/.