I'm really looking forward to reading this book. It loosely sounds like the antidote to Lean In, which personally made me mad. Ha!
I do know it's all very nuanced. Love reading your measured take on ambition. The way it can be necessary, helpful, manipulative (at times). The way you are always able to check in with yourself and pivot/ grow so fast inspires me :)
Oh, there’s a whole chapter on the *Lean In* era! Though I think she writes about it very fairly, and without attacking Sheryl Sandberg for a reflection that was very much indicative of her experience at the time. (Samhita notes that Sheryl has also since acknowledged the privilege and nuance, like you said, inherent in her initial position!) Anyway, I really think you’d find Samhita’s book so interesting! And I believe she has a Substack too?
Hi Jenna—this is such a thought-provoking prompt! As someone who identifies with being a hard-worker, I’ve grappled with feeling more detached from my career as of late. I love this reframing of ambition, where I’m putting it, and how it serves me.
P.S. Found your newsletter via the Morning Person chat; I also attended Leslie’s talk at Powell’s 🙃 Looking forward to following along!
Thank you, Morganne! I feel exactly the same — it's been a tricky exercise unweaving my own (genuine!) love for ambition and hard work from the places I've directed it (mostly my work too!) for most of my life. I don't think I'll ever stop being totally ambitious in my career; just need to consider a redistribution of sorts :) And it's so nice to meet you here! Love knowing another PDX writer and reader 💛
This resonated deeply with me as its something I have been thinking about a lot lately. What if I dont really want to keep getting promoted and rising higher in the ranks? What if i dont want to become a CEO someday? What if I am happy where I am right now? Where does that leave me, and where else should I direct my energy? Is there another path I can take, that does not involve burning all my time and energy at work? What really makes a fulfilled and happy life, if you dont have much career ambitions? I have been trying to find my way through these questions and I am happy to see others thinking on these lines as well.
I'm really looking forward to reading this book. It loosely sounds like the antidote to Lean In, which personally made me mad. Ha!
I do know it's all very nuanced. Love reading your measured take on ambition. The way it can be necessary, helpful, manipulative (at times). The way you are always able to check in with yourself and pivot/ grow so fast inspires me :)
Oh, there’s a whole chapter on the *Lean In* era! Though I think she writes about it very fairly, and without attacking Sheryl Sandberg for a reflection that was very much indicative of her experience at the time. (Samhita notes that Sheryl has also since acknowledged the privilege and nuance, like you said, inherent in her initial position!) Anyway, I really think you’d find Samhita’s book so interesting! And I believe she has a Substack too?
Hi Jenna—this is such a thought-provoking prompt! As someone who identifies with being a hard-worker, I’ve grappled with feeling more detached from my career as of late. I love this reframing of ambition, where I’m putting it, and how it serves me.
P.S. Found your newsletter via the Morning Person chat; I also attended Leslie’s talk at Powell’s 🙃 Looking forward to following along!
Thank you, Morganne! I feel exactly the same — it's been a tricky exercise unweaving my own (genuine!) love for ambition and hard work from the places I've directed it (mostly my work too!) for most of my life. I don't think I'll ever stop being totally ambitious in my career; just need to consider a redistribution of sorts :) And it's so nice to meet you here! Love knowing another PDX writer and reader 💛
This resonated deeply with me as its something I have been thinking about a lot lately. What if I dont really want to keep getting promoted and rising higher in the ranks? What if i dont want to become a CEO someday? What if I am happy where I am right now? Where does that leave me, and where else should I direct my energy? Is there another path I can take, that does not involve burning all my time and energy at work? What really makes a fulfilled and happy life, if you dont have much career ambitions? I have been trying to find my way through these questions and I am happy to see others thinking on these lines as well.