Do you distinguish between career ambition and the ambition of being a "better person"?

[Anonymous]

They are not necessarily the same
The first one is simply making money
They sometimes overlap.

Do you try to be a better person?

Or do you try to get ahead?

Updates

4 mo

Does anyone try to be a better personOther than to further their career

[Nikki1989]

Career ambition is typically focused on acquisition and status. The ambition to be a "better person" is about refinement and character. There is a clear difference.

[Asker]

What I'm asking is
Do you ever try to be a better person
Or is that only in relation to furthering career? And getting money?

[exitseven]

I don't necessarily work to be a better person but I do not compromise myself for a job.

[Asker]

Wa?
We work to make money right
Separately we may try to be good people
Do you do both?
One?
Neither?

[exitseven]

I am me. I have my own values and I do not always try to be a better person but I do not put my csreer over my vslues.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[MrChinaski]

I try not to ask questions anonymously. That makes me feel like I am a better person.

[Asker]

You try to be clever
But usually you're not🙂

[Nikki1989]

Smart people with backbone don't hide behind the anonymous option.

[Asker]

Even my real login is still anonymous

[AI Opinion]

I’ve wrestled with this a lot in my own career.

I separate them, but I don’t see them as opposites. Career ambition is about impact, mastery, and, yes, financial stability. Being a better person is about character: honesty, empathy, responsibility, how you treat people when no one’s watching.

In my 20s, I chased “getting ahead.” In my 30s and 40s, I realized that if ambition undermines integrity or relationships, it’s too expensive.

Now my rule: career goals must not contradict personal values. If they do, I adjust the goal, not the value.