This is rightly so since without balance, things can indeed go haywire. It will be however pertinent to figure out first whether there is indeed a divide between ambition in career and life. Career, after all, is part of life and not something separate from life. Also, if one chooses life over career (using author's divide), should we say that the person is AMBITIOUSLY pursuing life than career? Why should ambition be linked only to career and not to life? What is the point of my long argument? My point is that there is no divide between career and life - both are aspects of the same one life. Second, it is useful to know your inclinations fully (art, singing, building factories, etc) and knowing this, we need to pursue this with unadulterated passion.

If Gandhi pursued politics, Steve Jobs is pursuing buiding fancy machines and Tukaram pursuing spirituality, they do not ask or seek balance in pursuit of their areas of interest - if they had done so, we would not have talked about them today. further,a Lata will never get tired of pursuing her vocation viz singing because she loves singing. Similarly, if we love what we do, there is no question of getting tired and wanting rest since one does not get tired when one is pursuing one's interest. However, with most people in the world not spending time in trying to know themselves, we end up pursuing vocations merely for food/ shelter and thereby experience tiredness. A better motto therefore - know yourself and your inclinations and then pursue that path fully.

There is no harm in being ambitious but we eschew from corrupt ambitions!

I feel that ambition and self content are two separate streams.
It depends on how the individual perceives life.

It is social duty of everyone to be ambitious. It may not be feasible to make a long jump. It is each one's duty to enhance skill and better performance consistently. In doing so, one should not overburden oneself and take care of mental and physical fatigue. The aim should be to best utilize the time. One needs some time for rest and recreation. The remaining time is for work which must be utilized to the best for self advancement and also for social good.

Ambition of the right kind generates postive energy which leads to positive contribution both at personal and social levels!

[quote]Ambition of the right kind generates postive energy which leads to positive contribution both at personal and social levels![/quote]

Very true, Chinmoy!! Ambition of the right kind, that is only the pursuit of money leads to severe stress and heart troubles at a very young age! Recently it has led to more and more young people committing suicides too!! Therefore a balance is required in your ambitions and desires too.

Being ambitious to accomplish a set goal or task is more than just setting goals and going through the motions hoping that you will achieve them. To be successful in achieving set goals, you must make a commitment to analyze what are your hindrances and build on what is going right for you.

For some people their lack of ambition is the result of their inability to make sacrifices, being comfortable at where they are, the lack of trust for people or systems and a lack of taking chances.

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
[quote][quote]Ambition of the right kind generates postive energy which leads to positive contribution both at personal and social levels![/quote]

Very true, Chinmoy!! Ambition of the right kind, that is only the pursuit of money leads to severe stress and heart troubles at a very young age! Recently it has led to more and more young people committing suicides too!! Therefore a balance is required in your ambitions and desires too.[/quote]

Being ambitious does not man being a day dreamer. One has to be realistic and to mcorrectly assess his potewntial. One must reasonably asess himself, enhance his talent and woirk hard.

In general humans are ambitious in some or other way..Which is difficult to avoid..

@Gulshan

You are absolutely correct! It is of utmost importance to make a realistic study of one's true potential before one harbors ambition!