The exhausting puppy of ambition

I looked after my “grand-puppy” again this weekend – she is so gorgeous, has boundless energy and…is utterly exhausting! Because I’m still recovering from my foot op, I had to be careful so enlisted the help of my son’s neighbour to take Alice for a walk. She described her as a coiled spring, and I realised just how accurate this is and how it’s an excellent metaphor for ambition.

That big idea you have, you’ve sold it into the Board, are excited to get it off the ground and to see the results of your labours. Those exhausting labours that have you working from dawn till dusk because you’re still doing the day job but it drives you forward because this is an opportunity to shine and to show what you have and what you’re capable of.

Ambition is the coiled spring – it has us straining at the lead, working harder and longer than we know is good for us; the park (for Alice) or promotion (for you) might be the goal in mind; the plan is to get there as quickly as possible and the intent is, well, intense. We just can’t wait to get going and to deliver that success.

Alice benefits from calm time – sometimes that means putting her in her crate because she doesn’t know what to do with herself and needs quiet imposed – and so do we. Taking a step back from a hectic project and considering our options can prevent us from getting carried away with the goal, removing the blinkers and ensuring we consider the impact of what we’re doing from all angles – on the business, on our colleagues and on ourselves.

Channel that energy, there’s nothing wrong with a coiled spring, in fact, it’s amazing, however, be aware and don’t pull so hard on the lead that you choke the project.

Beautiful and exhausting - a great metaphor for ambition.