How does your ambition make a generous connection?

Who benefits from the fulfillment of your ambition?

Your generosity and willingness to make a connection vice a mere transaction will pay huge dividends, eventually. This mindset forces a change in primary metrics. Gone is the need to check for likes every 30 minutes.

I struggle with this shift. I am a product of now and addicted to the quick dopamine fix delivered by the positive affirmation.

Now the discussion turns to questioning how did my ambition help others. The focus is looking outward. What is the surprise and delight factor vice total dollars spent? How can we serve the need today and build trust for tomorrow?

Bridge cables work in unison and through multiple connection points to create a useful imposing structure that adds value. Multiple strands combine to make one cable and one connection. Each customer or fan interaction strengthens or weakens this connection by another strand.

The bridge requires every connection to keep your travel safe. You and I have a choice to pursue this same consistency or not.

How does the investment of your time on this project ensure connections are established? 

What strengths are you using to achieve your ambition?

No matter how sexy you look in a cape and tights, you're not perfect in every way. Every superhero has weaknesses, but her strengths are majestic and the reason the bad guys tremble.

In his upcoming book, Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss (@timferriss) delivers a parallel truth. "You don't succeed because you have no weaknesses; you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them."

Abraham Lincoln didn't enter politics with wealthy and influential supporters lining up to back his candidacy. The strengths he employed to engage the local Illinois voters were common sense, self-deprecating humor, storytelling, and a sharp wit.

In 1832, a 23-year-old Lincoln closed his first political announcement, announcing his candidacy, with a clear description of his ambition. "Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition... I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem." While a broad ambition; history would judge Lincoln a success.

It is only fair that since a comic book hero and a real-life hero relied upon their strengths to accomplish their goals, we should follow their lead.

We must apply our strengths to our indwelling ambitions and take action. Strictly pursuing our list of weaknesses will confine us to a mental culdesac strengths languishing, and our best work carried to the grave.

Every individual brings a new combination of background and vision to each endeavor. If you want to be a musician, identify what differentiates you from the others. Your skill, personal style, stage presence, and genre you seek to master, culminate in a unique blend.

No one else brings the same tools and applies them in the same way. Identify and capitalize on this difference; the ambition is waiting.

Going Further: What strengths are you using in the pursuit of your ambition? How are you strategic about this process? How will you leverage your strengths to attain your goal? Are there elements of your strengths that need to beef up to get you across the finish line? What question was missed?

When have you seen ambition go awry?

History is full of the ambitious. The conquers, politicians, inventors, and military leaders filled our primary school history books. Bookshelves are full of the business titans explaining how you can follow in their footsteps to change the world. 

After being the second to arrive at Antarctica's South Pole, Captain Robert Scott failed to return his men home safely. Alexander the Great identified as the son of Zeus-Ammon. Hitler started a World War. Enron leadership lied to increase profits. Athletes intentionally take performance enhancing drugs to win a race.

Shortly after Steve Jobs death, biographies began to appear highlighting the ambition of this modern icon. All agree his work has had a significant impact on the world; the debate will rage about his display of zeal.

Seeing the fatal flaw in another is easy. Looking in the mirror, we justify why we should bend the rules to achieve the goal, and it sounds righteous.

If history is any indication of the future, we are here for a flash in time, and there is more to come after we are gone than came before. There will be hundreds, thousands, or millions of years after we are dust to evaluate our contribution. (Authors note: that last sentence caused me to stop, think, and shudder about what matters.)

In his book, Good to Great, author Jim Collins, documents his surprise at how the data characterized the leader's ambition in high performing companies. The data revealed, "ambition is first and foremost for the institution, not themselves." Mr. Collins goes on to describe ambitious leaders as "a study in duality: modest and willful, humble and fearless." Internet memes don't quote this line, it's not all that sexy, even though it is true.

Comfortable in my glass house; I have had my share of ambitions gone awry. The only difference is that I haven't had the wealth, power, or fame, to land me in the morning paper.

I embrace the duality of my drive to make a difference and the need for humility. I know my heart and have seen enough bad seeds of ambition to say with, martyr John Bradford, "there, but for the grace of God, go I."

Let's be ambitious!

Going Further: What are your calibration tools to ensure your ambition mirrors Jim Collins data?

What is your ambition?

What is your 30-second ambition elevator pitch? What is it distilled to 20 words or less?

We are all in pursuit of something; starting a company, battling climate change, raising creative kids, recording the next viral video, or pushing off adulthood as long as possible. Our ambition is defined by how we invest our resources. A quick audit of your money, time, energy, and influence reveals what is important to you.

Concentrated water cuts steel and diffused water gently waters the grass. The pursuit of a dozen various flashy ventures spreads your precious life reducing efficacy. Clarity of purpose is critical and answering the following questions will help.

Who are you serving?

What acute problem you are solving?

How do you maintain laser focus and minimize distraction?

What shortcuts are you tempted to take and what are the implications?

How do you define achievement?

What help will you seek in pursuit of this aspiration?

What internal and external obstacles do you see in your future?

How do you intend to backfill your weaknesses?

What are the costs and benefits to your family?

Words whisper and actions scream.

SCREAM!!

What image does the word "ambition" conjure?

We are all ambitious; the discriminator is the guardrails.

The 1987 movie, Wall Street, introduced the world to Gordon Gekko who defined the face of ambition for a generation. During a stockholder meeting, Gekko stated; "the point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit."

It is time to reclaim ambition and put it in proper context. 

Merriam-Webster defines ambition as "an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power" and a "desire to achieve a particular end." Countries need leaders; films need actors, and militaries need Generals. We need those that are willing and qualified to take on these various roles. The difference is the guardrails.

While we may default to defining the ambitious as someone that will backstab or step on others to attain their goal, the definition expands to include those pursuing any particular goal.

It is unfair to paint the second-grade teacher who is ambitious to get extra school supplies for his students, with the same broad brush as Gordon Gekko; although both want to drive change.

The desire to want more and honestly pursue the objective is noble and good. To eliminate humanities ambition, would bring civilization to its knees. Good-bye, electricity, transportation, latte's, and reality TV. Oh, wait, maybe we can dial back a little bit of ambition on that last one.

History is full of humans ambition gone wrong. Moreover, many flawed people focused their ambition for good works, and the world is better, as a result. Controlling significant ambition is a harrowing journey. Much like driving a Ferrari up a slick mountain pass. Managing the power and speed while respecting the guardrails is critical to prevent careening off the cliff.

William Wilberforce fought to end England's slave trade, U.S. Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman was a brilliant military strategist, and Nelson Mandela was the President of South Africa during the end of apartheid. These imperfect historical heroes battled their ego, changed the world, and stayed within the guardrails. Your turn, the world is waiting.

Going Further: What is your ambition? What are your guardrails to keep you from slipping off the road?

How have you shared the benefits of meditation?

Keeping all the goodness to ourselves is selfish. Speaking with our voice and our actions are a conduit to share what we have learned.

I participated in a charity fun run today and received a tour of the facility after the race. Monica, the Director of Family Services, walked us around the existing facility, explaining their process for serving the poor and homeless clients that cross their threshold.

After seeing their long-time space, we walked through the new upstairs expansion. The waiting room is spacious, bright, and will provide a much better experience for the customers that come each week looking for basic necessities. The expansion includes areas for education, dressing for success, a computer lab, and counseling.

Monica's eyes were often welling with tears as she explained the remarkably different experience families will now have due to this change. Shame looms heavily for those living on poverty's razor's edge. Visiting this new space, being treated with respect, and getting help will be a blessing for each family.

Ignacio, a new friend I met during the race, works to influence governments to grant land to indigenous peoples throughout the world. He has experienced successes but sees how powerless these people groups are against their governments without influence from the outside world. Ignacio brings the knowledge and expertise of each government's policies to bring about change.

Today's experiences prompted me to think about how you and I reach out to help those that are hurting and share what we have learned.

Meditation is a gift that can restore a proper balance and perspective to the chaos of our daily challenges. My memories of living close to the razor's edge are near. Left unchecked; current trials and memories build and fight or flight kicks into high gear. The dam that restrains cortisol breaks and anxiety floods my body.

If you knew of a homeless shelter, you would tell the refugee. If you knew political policy could help a people group save land for their tribe, you would show them.

You have discovered benefits of your particular meditation practice, and it can help those around you. Now is the time to be the lighthouse to those in need.

Going Further: How do you share your meditation story? How do you build community with the like-minded? How often do you share the effect your meditation? Why have you resisted to talk about your meditation practice? 

Who taught you how to meditate?

The self-made man is a myth. No one stands alone; we all stand on the shoulders of our predecessors.

Those who are honest will gladly admit this truth. Additionally, they will be quick to point out the kindness of a mentor who used their influence to open a door, or a trainer pushing another rep out of our spent muscles. Those who have tread the path and achieved a level of success can peer into our lives and steer us clear of the dangerous chasms ahead.

During primary school, classrooms were assigned and with a bit of luck, you didn't draw the mean-old-hag that would smack your knuckles with a ruler. Evading the monotone and stubborn college professors, was the best you could request.  Upon completion of school, geography no longer constrains our options of teachers, and the Internet makes the connection that much easier.

Meditation is an intimate activity and to invite someone near to shape how to conduct the practice is an extension of a gift of trust. These teachers are distinctive and must be carefully selected. The age-old adage, "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear," has proven true.

By providence, I met Pat and extended this gift of trust to learn about the Scriptures and prayer. His humble study and reflection of the Scriptures laid a foundation for me to approach my personal study. He patiently taught me how to approach a genuine prayer life informed by faith.

I met Tara Brach (@tarabrach), through the Tim Ferriss (@timferriss) podcast, and came to enjoy her online mindfulness meditation archive. I attended one of her weekly classes outside of DC and was not disappointed in the session. Tara introduced a new language to add to my vocabulary and a new way to approach the meditation practice.

Whose shoulders do you stand upon?

Charlie "Tremendous" Jones said, "You are the same today you’ll be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read." How can you trace the influence of your meditation teachers from five years ago to whom you are today? Following this heritage confirms you were right to trust these teachers, and they were worthy of your gift.

Well done, now is a good time to express your gratitude.

What interior conversations were prompted by meditation?

It's OK to talk to yourself, and it is even ok to answer yourself, but when you start saying "huh," you may have taken it too far.

In his book, What To Remember When Waking, Irish poet, David Whyte (@whytedw), discusses the concept of engaging in a conversation with oneself. Meditation is the perfect mechanism to prompt the discussion.

Just as with a conversation with a long-time friend, there is not an immediate need to arrive at a full answer. This unhurried conversation allows time to breathe. Time to understand what season you are in, and what is in the realm of possibility. Dwelling with the unanswered question and sitting with the silence is part of the process. Multiple seasons may pass before the revelation is before you.

Humans alone, hold the ability to envision an alternate future. The distance between where you find yourself and where you had planned may be vast. This courageous talk is a voluntary, gracious and generous exchange. Closing the gap, reconciling the past and turning to a blank page to begin anew.

This inquiry addresses the practice of meditation and continuing the conversation; not the completion of meditation or halting the conversation. Completeness is not the goal; progression is the goal.

The odds are good that there will be another day to put miles on the running shoes, roll out the yoga mat, kneel in prayer, or open the Scriptures. For the brave, the dialogue continues until the final exhale.

What conversations have occurred, what is ongoing, and what remains? What questions have you shunned?  What discussions brought radical change?

What meditation results surprised you?

What the Hell? Pavel Tsatsouline (@strongfirst), the kettlebell guru, introduced me to this concept in the physical arena. Pavel describes this effect as the result of doing an exercise to build strength in one discipline and experiencing unexpected benefits during other unrelated tasks. This new found ability is punctuated by exclaiming "What the Hell" (WTH).

I have experienced this phenomenon while practicing self-control. Saying "no" to the bagels and donuts in the office kitchenette gives strength to say "no" to buying yet another tool during the evening trip to The Home Depot. Doing the morning workout increases the chance I will get to bed on time, instead of scrolling through two hours of cat videos.

Last week, I waited for a co-worker outside of his cubicle farm before a meeting. I stood still for about 90 seconds, and a manager approached from behind asking if I was alright. I assured her that I was perfectly fine and I was just waiting for my co-worker. This expression of patience was a WTH moment that caught both of us off guard. The office staff doesn't stand still, and this was just one more example of me being a bit strange.

I learned this expression of patience during my mindfulness practice. If the current gig doesn't work out, maybe I can be a statue in the park. I am confident the spooked manager would give me a couple of bucks for my performance.

The Harvard Business Review published the following list of benefits of meditation for CEOs:
Builds resilience
Boosts emotional intelligence
Enhances creativity
Improves relationships
Helps focus

What are your WTH moments you attribute to your meditation practice?

Share in the comments and tag a friend who shared the moment!

Going Further: How long did it take before you experienced any benefit from a meditation practice? Have you encountered any unexplained benefits? Has your disposition changed since you started? Are there any benefits you have yet to realize? What about your practice are you most encouraged?

What meditation tactics do you use?

My greatest meditation aid is an alarm clock. Given a choice, I will choose sleep over most activities.

Getting out of bed on time is my primary way to make space for this quiet time. If it doesn't happen first thing, then it becomes another item on the to-do list and must wrestle for priority with everything else. Additionally, the morning hours are a sweet period of new beginnings to put away the previous day in anticipation of this day.

What is your preferred time for contemplation? What is your favorite daily location and what is your all-time favorite spot? What natural positions do you find yourself most comfortable and alert?

My spiritual meditation includes both Scripture reading and prayer, and guided mindfulness meditations are from either an app (Calm (@calm) or Headspace (@headspace)) or Tara Brach's (@tarabrach) archive. I am consistent for periods of time then drop off, only to jump back in after noticing the impact of not keeping up the practice.

What tools do you depend upon to help you conduct your practice? Have you altered these tools since you began? Why did you choose your current tools? Do you want anything more out of them?

For those that use physical activity as meditation, how do you incorporate this practice into your routine? How are focus, inspiration, and a sense of connectedness achieved during the exercise?

I would love to say that I nail the practice every day and the experience is out of this world, but sadly that is not the case. Getting too comfortable and falling asleep is my most common issue. When focused on prayers or meditation while in the parking garage before work, kind strangers have knocked on my car window to ensure I am ok. As a reward for their kindness, we both get a bit startled.

A dear friend strained her neck due to bowing her head in prayer over several extended prayer meetings. Thankfully, her neck mobility returned after working the muscles and a posture change.

What stories do you have from your practice?

Our methods are as diverse as we are. Variations exist even within close groups. Talking about our practices, experiences, and learning help us all to grow. Listening to someone with radically different beliefs provides a new language to bring back and enhance your practice. Your neighbor is waiting to chat.

What benefits have you realized from meditation?

I move quickly and try to make the most of every moment, but for the first time, I stopped, and it was bizarre.

I handed my boss the memo routing package and expected to come back in a few minutes to answer questions, but he asked me to wait. So I sat and waited, and waited some more. The package took him 15 minutes to read before he had his first question.

I didn't read the pictures on the wall, the papers on his desk, think of my incomplete to-do list, or get impatient. I realized waiting was the most important thing for me to do and would serve him best.

I had recently begun mindfulness meditation, and this was the first real-world application I found myself doing without deliberate effort. Historically, I would resemble a caged animal trying to escape. I was shocked at my patient response during my walk to my desk to incorporate comments into the letter package.

What are your results?

Meditating in prayer and reading the holy scriptures have provided peace, encouragement, resolve, and a stronger faith. I have periodically turned this time into a legalistic religious practice over the years, and the results were stale. Approaching my time with a heart of gratitude and openness results in a radically better perspective.

Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, neuroscientist, Dr. Sara Lazar has done multiple studies analyzing the effects of meditation on the brain. Studies revealed increased gray matter in four areas and reduction of the "fight or flight" amygdala. I figure any help I can get to enhance gray matter performance ain't much of an option; it's critical!

Going Further: What are your stories of change and success as you have pursued meditation of various types?

What is your meditative practice?

If a friend jumped off a bridge would you do it? Maybe, if it was tall and I had a bungee cord tied to my legs, or if it was very short, over deep water and on a hot day. I am glad my parents never asked that question; it might not have ended so well.

The desire to tap into the unseen is universal.

Humanity has sought a higher power and a belief in something greater than itself for millennia. The ancient practice of meditation is a primary means to achieve this connection.

Meditation may include silence, song, movement, prayer, reading, drawing, or even running. Today's world is too connected to everything else and requires a deliberate action to still the internal voice and listen.

The practice of mindfulness has caught on as a major trend. Expanding beyond the hippie communes, into urban centers, out to the suburbs, and apps on the smartphone.

I jumped off the proverbial bridge with friends and tried several different meditative practices over the years, and have by no means exhausted the list. 

This experimentation has opened my eyes to the beauty of expression and language I had previously resisted. I believed there was only one way to meditate. I had a handy set of metrics I would use to chart my progress, and didn't need anything else. Thankfully I have grown. Sometimes it requires a crazy friend and a bridge to learn something new.

The variations are endless, but the commonality is a deliberate, regular, repeatable, contemplative, practice. There are plenty of ways to identify what group we belong, but let's start with humanity.

Going Further: How did you arrive at your current practice? How long have you been using this same practice?

What historical figure exemplifies courage for you?

Each of us can look to the past and identify a pantheon of courageous individuals, but who are those you relate to or most resonate with your story?

I have read much about Abraham Lincoln and have a stack of books awaiting their turn. Lincoln's humility and care for the common man deeply resonate with me. His courage to resist the groundswell of Northern venom against the South and not further humiliate and punish, but push for reconciliation is inspiring.

My Uncle Bruce fought at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. This battle was fought in November and December in 1951, during the areas worst winter in recorded history. Ice, snow and temperatures as low as 60 degrees (F) below zero made for a brutal U.S. Marine Corps battle.

Bruce returned to the States, built a successful insurance business, was a loving husband, and laid a solid foundation for his two sons to achieve great success. He was proud to be a member of the self-proclaimed remnant of the "Chosin Few," and used the battle earned courage to endure many follow-on challenges with a gracious heart for people.

The Apostle Paul displayed great courage as he took the Gospel to the Gentile world. He challenged the religious and political elites while graciously meeting individuals where they were at, regardless of their background.

These are three of my historical heroes that have displayed great courage. Who are three of yours and why?

Going Further: How did you first learn about your big three? What other elements of their character do you appreciate? What were some of their flaws? How does their example encourage you to be courageous?

How do you define courage?

"Standing up for what you believe, regardless of the consequences," is how the fellow baseball fan described courage.

During a lull in the game, and I asked a guy a couple of seats down the row, how he would define courage. It took a few minutes to get warmed up and he delivered the home run definition.

His description hit close to home for two reasons; 1) this explanation captured a common version of what tests our courage in our hyper-sensitive world, and 2) I am more aware of my failings to make a stand than my successes.

The cost of violating the ambiguous line of political correctness is high. The risk is an extreme backlash against saying anything that carries a hint of offensiveness to anyone within earshot. The Internet and social media have redefined the range of earshot from a few feet, to worldwide.

A benefit of our brave new world includes holding the extremist accountable, but the cost is measured in the untold number of silenced voices that may otherwise speak. A healthy society requires standing for our beliefs, regardless of the cultural popularity.

Demonstrated courage is through stepping forward and adding our voice to the discussion.

Sadly, I have chosen silence more often than courage. There are friends, co-workers, and causes that have suffered because I resisted the call of courage and gave in to the perceived risks. I am aware of this temptation and expending effort to develop the muscle of courage.

What does it look like for you? When have you stepped up and weathered the storms that come with being courageous?

What aspects of courage most resonate with you? How does this aspect influence society? When did you demonstrate courage in this area and when did you stumble, why?

How do you develop courage?

Courage is a skill. Courage is built. Courage takes practice.

You watch what you eat To build a healthy body. You hit the gym To build muscle and run To develop your cardio capacity. You answer the crossword puzzles To keep your mind sharp. You meditate To develop inner peace.

What comes before the "To" as you develop courage?

Strewn across social media are quotes about facing your fears, but are you methodical and track this development like any other growth area? Do you intentionally step a bit closer to the edge of the cliff with the intention of weakening the fear and developing courage? 

Former Arena football player and entrepreneur, Lewis Howes (@lewishowes), often recounts his fear of girls in school. He committed to talking to a girl every day and try to get her phone number. Regardless if he gained the contact information, he won. Courage was under construction and strengthened daily.

Situations arise that require spontaneous courage; stopping a burglary, averting a nuclear attack, or the need to fend off a Martian invasion. Statistically, these events are rare. Those that dedicate their lives every day to our safety and security submit themselves to rigorous training to prepare for such circumstances. Building courage is through one real encounter or simulation at a time.

You will face one of your fears in the next month; fear of heights, public speaking, asking for a raise, catch a spider, fire an employee, hold your ground in a conflict, or a host of other day-to-day concerns. Better to reinforce your courage in one of these areas in preparation for the future. Sure as the sun will rise and gravity will keep your feet on the floor, courage will be in demand.

What is a particular courage building task you can add to your weekly plan? Join the community and get committed; add your task to the comments.

Going Further: What area of your life do you want greater courage? How has this fear impacted your life? How can you intentionally work to strengthen this area? Do you have confidence that submitting yourself to micro doses, will increase your courage? What would it look like to have healthy courage in this area? What question was missed?