Overcoming Lower Expectations: My Journey of Ambition in Adulthood

To improve my life after my parents' divorce, I was all in.

Retirement Reevaluation

As a 68-year-old retired professional engineer, the concept of ambition finally feels like a thing of the past. And thank goodness for that. C’est la vie.

Chasing Ambition

Despite the age and wisdom that come with it, I have had several experiences where my ambition seemed a bit too high. Let me share a few examples.

High School Ambition

In my 9th grade, I aimed to do the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program for my 11th and 12th years of high school. My teacher thought it was not a great idea and wouldn’t recommend me for it. Fast forward a couple of years, and I managed to complete the program with above-average grades.

Misconception and Triumph

During the IB program, I failed my first math test, which unsurprisingly made some of my teachers doubt my academic abilities. But by the end of the school year, I did just fine and received very respectable B's in all of my math assignments.

University Ambition

About a year ago, when applying for my current university course, I knew my grades wouldn't be high enough for direct admission. However, guess what? Not only did I get admitted, but I scored in the 92nd percentile on the admission test.

Exemplary Overachievement

Throughout my life, I've had plenty of such experiences, where I was "overly ambitious" or exceeded the expectations of critics. Was it because I performed much better as an underdog? Maybe. It could also be because expectations have been almost as low as they could be.

Accepting the Path to Satisfaction

At 84, with no desire to be an entrepreneur, go into politics, or even be a small business owner, I have no ambitions of making a fortune. My goal is to make an upper-middle-class living, earning between 180K-250K a year, and marry a great lady one day.

Defining Ambition

Is ambition about striving for the impossible or achieving the plausible?

Commercials and Misunderstandings

Many times, people have asked me if I am ambitious, then proceed to sell something to me. They present a product or service and ask if I am ambitious to sell it. Does it stop there? No, they expect me to sell their products or services. So, no, I am not ambitious to sell anything.

Quality and Integrity

However, I remain curious to know what they are trying to sell. If the product or service is good, does not violate the law, and is competitively priced, it may sell. It’s important to maintain integrity and focus on real value.