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Original poster

Is it ok NOT to be ambitious?

35 replies

Helmlover1 · 03/03/2019 23:10

I mean, career-wise. I have found that people generally expect you to ‘climb the ranks’ over time and move on to more senior positions and higher salaries.

Personally, I have come to terms with the fact that I’m just not a very ambitious person. I have a job which is quite low paid and monotonous which I have been doing for years but I’ve got no desire to get promoted and take on more responsibility, which other people find strange. I feel like I’ve got this attitude to other areas of my life as well.

I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with wanting to reach your full potential and constantly strive for more money, promotions etc but do you think it’s ok to be the opposite? I’m kind of happy with my lot but sometimes feel like I should be wanting more out of life.

OP posts:

Hazlenutpie · 03/03/2019 23:13

Of course it is.

Horsemad · 03/03/2019 23:14

Absolutely it is.

DramaAlpaca · 03/03/2019 23:14

Of course.

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Drogosnextwife · 03/03/2019 23:16

I'm the same OP, I'm in a job with no progression. I would like to move on and do something else I just don't know if I have it in me and I'm scared of failing. I wish I had a bit more drive.

Pinkginxx · 03/03/2019 23:17

Yes. I’ve been having this conversation with myself a lot lately. I’m at the ‘top’ of my job role, progression now would mean management/a lot of technical responsibility. I feel like I should be applying for other jobs because it’s the next step. But I’m happy, stress free, and can live comfortably on my current salary. So here I’m staying..

Drogosnextwife · 03/03/2019 23:17

I am quite happy with what I do though but I do agree I feel as though I am expected to go on and do more with my life.

siestakey · 03/03/2019 23:27

As long as you're happy and can live how you want then 100% it's fine!

RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 03/03/2019 23:33

Of course it's fine. But it does mean you're likely to end up earning less than people who do care.

Is that a problem for you?

You'll probably be less stressed and enjoy your work/life balance more.

violeticecream · 03/03/2019 23:41

I am exactly the same. Been doing same job for years. It's routine accounts work that's the same all the time. I have come to accept that it suits me and the thought of having anything more challenging would make me worried. Funnily enough I am outgoing and intelligent but happy to stay in a low paid mundane job. High flying career isn't for everyone

CakeNinja · 03/03/2019 23:44

I have no ambition! Well not career wise anyway.
At a work thing recently, we had to share our childhood ambitions - I said that from a young age, all I wanted was a stable home life with children. Nothing career related.
I work in a job which I absolutely love and which challenges me but is low paid.
I’m not interested in training further and moving higher up the ladder. It would take time away from me, my family, my hobbies, my general life and in turn would add a lot of stress and pressure. I would have to if things changed drastically financially at home but i have absolutely no desire to do it to progress my career.

Dreamzcancometrue · 03/03/2019 23:47

Its totally fine. Im kinda like that atm. But I dont want to rely on benefits forever so have to find some 'ambition' from somewhere... If I ever want to get out of this rut.

SmallFastPenguin · 03/03/2019 23:55

It's fine as long as you are happy to live within your means as a lower paid worker.

Topseyt · 04/03/2019 01:24

It is totally fine. I am not ambitious either. I enjoy my job, but I am absolutely happy as I am.

I don't want the stress or responsibility of management or promotion. Stuff that.

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 04/03/2019 01:56

Ofc it's ok OP. I know on MN everyone has a high flying career earning £££££ as well as being married to someone with "very well paid, high pressure job that they can't specify as it may be outing" but in real life most people are getting by just like you.

DelurkingAJ · 04/03/2019 07:49

It’s absolutely fine so long as you’re earning ‘enough’ (whatever that means to you!). I would have struggled to understand why you’d feel like that pre-DC, I confess...but I imagine my approach would have been as alien to you. Different strokes for different folks.

Huntawaymama · 04/03/2019 08:43

Totally fine! I've no career ambition. I'm about to start looking for work to bring in some extra money (I've been working on our farm since having dd1) and all I want is a basic part time job, I can go, work and come home to my kids. Don't get me wrong I'm a hard worker and will work hard when there but I really couldn't care less about promotions etc

gonegnome · 04/03/2019 08:48

YES. In my work you're supposed to be passionate about the job and trying to go up one pay grade every 4 years or something daft. They spout all this crap about work life balance then if you are going to get promoted you need to do a ton of unpaid extra work. What's wrong with doing the job you're paid for well and going home on time instead of constantly trying to get one over on your colleagues and making yourself miserable with stress. I completely agree OP.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 04/03/2019 08:56

Absolutely fine. My dad exemplified this: he was very good at his profession, and arranged matters so his time as an administrator lasted for less than 2 years of his military service. Also, his next promotion would have meant spending money on a new hat. He died never having managed more than 4 people at once. He wasn't lazy, he just didn't like paperwork.

SomeDayPerhaps · 04/03/2019 19:43

I also think ambition on its own isn't enough. You need self belief and also to actually know what field you love. I have neither. Literally if I was 18 again and you gave me a list of every university course available I still wouldn't have a major interest in any of them.

I don't care about letters after my name or being a senior manager or an "expert in my field" in a highly stressful job as so many --perfect people on here are.

I just want to be comfortable and happy x

Brightpinktulip · 04/03/2019 20:20

I'm the same, and yes it is fine!!

It's something my husband and I argue about, he is constantly going on about career progression and opportunities. He struggles to understand that I'm happy in my part time job, I enjoy it and am good at it, but don't feel the need to strive to get further.

We are like this in every aspect of life. He is wanting a bigger house, fancier car! I'm just happy and feel lucky we each have a car and our own (mortgaged) house!

BitchQueen90 · 04/03/2019 20:31

I'm the same. Luckily I live in a cheap area so I have an OK quality of life, I can pay my bills and have enough for days out and a couple of holidays every year.

To me, living life as stress free as possible is really important and most higher paid jobs come with more responsibility and stress. I'm not interested in having a large house and assets and all that other stuff. I'm an administrator for a small business and it's a lovely work/life balance. I can forget about work the minute I leave the office and be completely present at home.

AragonsGirl · 04/03/2019 21:23

Definitely. I’m a teacher, and have no desire to take on a management roll. I love being in the class, doing the teaching and that’s where I want to stay. Headteacher etc is a very different job

SweetheartNeckline · 04/03/2019 21:33

Yes, of course it's ok to be unambitious in the work sphere. That said, most people I know are passionate and actively engaged in improving themselves or their lives in some way, be that through paid work or having ambitions to climb Ben Nevis, a devotion to a deeply held religion, a passion that they volunteer in or a beautiful garden that they strive in.

I am not ambitious career-wise and nor is DH, however we are financially fairly comfortable without either of us "getting ahead" at work (combination of an inheritance, stable public sector jobs and low cost of loving). I believe it is possible to appear ambitious at work when really your goal may be simply "any role that pays more money for a better lifestyle" rather than a need for recognition or accomplishment as such.

Banana770 · 04/03/2019 21:34

Totally fine! I used to be more ambitious but I think having children gave me a different perspective. I appreciate a work life balance now and have turned down promotions I’ve been approached to maintain it. We have enough money, I work part time and I’m happy.

StillMedusa · 04/03/2019 22:14

I don't have an ambitious bone in my body. Have a good degree but had children soon after and after that all I wanted was a job where I would be available to them, and be able to fit in with my dh (who was in the RAF for 22 years). So I became a TA..and am still there now.
I like contributing to the family finances, but working school hours has allowed me to be there for the kids as they grew, and to have a hobby, and now they are young adults...they seem to need me more than ever!

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