Ambitious: I’m not talking about prestige-seeking (awards, accolades) but about wanting to embody one’s values at the highest possible level, whatever that means for the person. Gives a shit. Wants to keep giving a shit, and to and to continually give more of a shit over an extended period of time, perhaps an entire lifetime. There are a couple of ... See more

Be ambitious about the process, not just the outcome. (To use my own hobby as an example, when I bake, I put on some good music, I take my time, I eat too much batter. That way, if the recipe implodes–like when I accidentally mixed up powdered sugar and flour–the whole thing isn’t a wash.)

Let more than one thing hold your ambition, or meaning. (Th... See more

What should you do if you're young and ambitious but don't know what to work on? What you should not do is drift along passively, assuming the problem will solve itself. You need to take action. But there is no systematic procedure you can follow. When you read biographies of people who've done great work, it's remarkable how much luck is involved.... See more