The Truth About Ambition: Why Bigger Is Easier
Readtime: 4 minutes
Most people aim for "normal" success.
A good job, steady promotions, hitting targets that are challenging but not actually too difficult.
It’s a path that feels safe and logical.
But here's the thing: that middle ground is packed with competition.
Everyone is vying for those promotions, chasing the same level of success.
And this is exactly why thinking bigger can be your hidden shortcut.
When you set your sights on a level of success that feels almost absurdly ambitious, you'll often find fewer people on that path.
Most aren’t willing to take those leaps or risk the failure that might come with it.
But that means there’s less competition in the pursuit of hugely outsized success.
Today, I’ll cover why aiming higher might actually be easier and how you can adopt this mindset shift.
Let’s dive in.
The Crowded Middle
Most of us are taught to aim for reasonable, achievable goals.
And there’s nothing wrong with that – ambition is relative, and success comes in many forms.
But if your aim is to land a job at a well-known company, hit a certain salary, or get a promotion, you’re competing with the vast majority of people who are also aiming for these “normal” benchmarks.
The middle is crowded.
That’s why promotions feel hard to get.
That’s why job applications feel like a numbers game.
The space between the starting line and "a good level of success" is packed with lots of people chasing the same prize.
And the odd reality is, that the higher you aim, the fewer people you’re actually competing with.
Most people don't try to build a wildly successful business or reach the C-suite because they assume it's too difficult.
This creates a less crowded space for those of us willing to go big.
The Rarity of Bold Ambition
It takes a particular mindset to shoot for something truly ambitious.
We often limit our own ambitions because of fear – fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of the unknown.
But once you make that shift to think beyond the usual level of success, the field starts to open up.
When you go for something so ambitious that it almost feels absurd, you find fewer people willing to make that journey.
It’s easier to stand out, easier to get noticed, and surprisingly, it can be easier to succeed.
Shifting Your Mindset
So, how do you make that mental shift? Here are a few ways to start thinking bigger:
Reframe Your Fears: Fear of failure often holds us back. Instead, think about the fear of regret. Will you look back in 10 years wishing you had aimed higher?
Raise Your Sights: Don’t just think about the next promotion or job change. What would be the wildest, most ambitious outcome you can imagine?
Act ‘As If’: Start embodying the mindset and behaviours of those who have already achieved outsized success. How do they think? What risks do they take?
Surround Yourself with Big Thinkers: Spend time with people who are aiming high. Their ambition will help normalise yours and push you to think even bigger.
Action Steps for Ambitious Goals
Here’s how you can start to break away from the crowded middle and aim higher:
Identify Opportunities Others Overlook: When everyone is competing for the same opportunity, look for an adjacent path that fewer people are pursuing. Maybe it's something that feels risky but has the potential to generate massive results.
Set Audacious Goals: Choose one goal that feels almost out of reach. Something that, if achieved, would significantly alter your life. Then, break it down into actionable steps.
Keep Your Eye on the Long Game: Huge success often takes time, but by focusing on what seems daunting, you might actually move forward faster than if you were caught up in competing for the same "safe" milestones as everyone else.
That’s it!
On A Personal Note
One of the reasons I left my partner role at KPMG in 2022 was that I realised I was limiting my own potential by aiming for what felt “normal.”
Don’t get me wrong, I deeply appreciate the seniority of that role, and I’m immensely grateful for the experience. I know not everyone gets the chance to do something like that.
But here’s the thing: what was once an extraordinary achievement had become my “normal”.
It’s surprising how quickly we adapt to a certain level of success.
Stepping away to build an executive coaching and professional development business felt both risky and ambitious.
My vision for this business is to create more positive impact for others and more wealth for me than I would have achieved at KPMG. While also giving me full control of my time and the freedom to pursue something I’m truly passionate about.
And I’ve discovered that the space isn’t as crowded as I first thought.
There aren’t many credible people daring to go for outsized impact and rewards.
So, I’m learning firsthand that thinking big can actually make things easier.
“Ninety-nine percent of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre. The level of competition is thus fiercest for ‘realistic’ goals, paradoxically making them the most time- and energy-consuming.”
In Summary
Congratulations! You now know:
Most people aim for "normal" success, creating a crowded middle ground of competition.
Aiming for hugely outsized success can be easier because fewer people dare to take that path.
Reframing your mindset and setting ambitious goals can help you stand out and achieve more than you thought possible.
Identifying overlooked opportunities, setting bold targets, and focusing on the long game is how we outpace the competition.
I run highly effective corporate Masterclasses to help companies such as Bupa, KPMG, and Just Group plc to:
– Sustain high performance without burning out.
– Use Imposter Syndrome as fuel for growth.
– Build a culture of appreciation.
– Ensure wellbeing at work.
– Enable brilliant careers.
Book a 20 minute call here to see if they’re right for your team.