For as long as I could remember, I had big dreams for my future self. From a young age, I wanted to be a lawyer. I would daydream about being in court, eyes on me, arguing my point and winning my case. The art of persuasion mixed with science and strategy. I had it all planned out. Even then I was ambitious. I was too young, too naive, too focused to see how my ambition was perceived from the outside world. In my 20’s it was admirable. I had chutzpah. In my 30’s it was questioning. Don’t you want kids? Aren’t you going to stop traveling so you can be with your husband? Is work the only thing you care about? My ambition was turned against me, making me question my decisions, my desires, my striving self. In my 40’s I own my ambition, unapologetically. I want to move mountains. I want to empower an entire generation. In my 40’s I understood what ambition is and what ambition isn’t. Ambition IS wanting more. Ambition IS NOT choosing work over family. Ambition IS achieving the goals I set out for myself. Ambition IS NOT achieving the goals for myself with disregard for others. Ambition IS climbing the ladder Ambition IS NOT stepping on heads on the way up the ladder What is your relationship with ambition? Can you proudly own it or does it make you cringe?