“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose” – Dr Seuss
The opening chapter of Rachel Bridge’s new book, “Ambition – why it’s good to want more and how to get it” kicks off with that wonderful quote and continues upwards until we have no choice but to let our ambition run riot and just do it.
There’s another quote in the introduction pointing out that most of the wealth in the world is not sitting in banks, it’s lying dead in our graveyards from all those who wished for great things but never took the first step to make them happen. Buried ambition. She’s so right.
And have you heard of the Munro’s? Bridge has made this a metaphor for a clear ambition. There are 282 of them and they are only to be found in Scotland. If you ‘bag a Munro’ you’ve made it. Simple as that.
If you didn’t know already, I guess I should mention that a Munro is a mountain in Scotland over 3,000 feet. As Bridge says, when you set your sights on climbing one, you either achieve it or you don’t. Nothing else matters.
When it comes to ambition, I’ve always wondered who will be the first trillionaire. That’s certainly a big ambition. But as Bridge clearly states, setting a huge goal only works if its specific.
She uses case study after case study throughout the book to convince us that what we want is possible if we go at it in a methodological way – and every chapter ends with 3 simple steps you can work through to help achieve your ambition.
Bridge digs into environment too. I know how much our space matters because I use many of her pieces of wisdom myself. Even down to decluttering my wardrobe. As I read more of this book I find myself inspired to declutter further (except the books – they’re staying. Period. Whatever. Shutup about my mess already!).
There is a genius idea on page 39. Rearrange the furniture. I won’t spoil it by revealing what she has to say on the subject, but now I know why my wife does what she does.
The chapters are arranged in an order that takes you on a journey through the most likely stages of achieving your objective. It is packed full of important snippets of the best advice compiled from numerous sources – old and new.
There’s some good advice here that can only come from a working journalist. For example, chasing up contacts. Bridge says “if you don’t receive a reply, simply resend the email a week later as a fresh email and see what happens” – never forward the original email with a snarly “just checking you saw this?”, that’s going to put them right off ever reading your emails again. And that’s just one tiny pearl in a sea of wisdom.
This book is for you if you are thinking of starting your own business, want a lift up the career ladder or have just started out on your own and need ideas, encouragement and real world proof that there’s a way you can achieve your ambition. I love it and recommend it. It’s a great and inspiring guide.
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