Ellie Rubin: ”Ambition is one of those topics that haunts us, tantalizes us, frightens us and motivates us. And that is why it is such a fascinating topic to work with. Over the last few years, as I conducted research and interviews for my latest book, I kept a log of all the questions that people asked me – both about ambition itself and about this new book. Here is a select number of questions that you might find interesting. And it just may convince you why you need to become an "ambitionis".”
 Why did you write this book?
 Over the last few years, whenever I did a keynote presentation, there was always at least one person who would approach me after my speech and pose a question that revealed a dilemma in and around their desire to succeed. Regardless of how they posed the question (“what do you think about people who decide to go out on their own after many years of corporate ladder climbing?”) or a casual comment (“yeah, well, when you have the kind of responsibilities that I have, ambition takes on a different look and feel”) – I was always left with a feeling that people were plagued by their own definition of success. When I started to receive emails in response to my column, Ambition, it was hard for me to ignore the fact that there was a real need for people to try to manage their own ambition rather than have it manage them. It was only a matter of time (and ambition) before I agreed to write a book on the very topic.
How did you come up with the 7 Rules for Ambition?
When I first contemplated writing a book on ambition, I thought I would focus on the big picture – “What is ambition made of? Does it have limits or boundaries? Does ambition evolve over time?” But as I conducted research in the field with clients, audiences and the individuals I interviewed for the book, it became evident that the meaning of ambition that people were looking for did not reside in finding answers to the “big” questions. Instead, if I could organize these ideas into a set of attainable rules, I could provide a way of clarifying the meaning, relevance, and value of an individual’s ambitious journey. And that was the starting point for the 7 rules.
What are the 7 Rules of Ambition?
The 7 rules of ambition are: discovery, focus, belonging, momentum, balance, maturity, and belief. What is most important about these 7 rules is that anyone can apply these rules (or guidelines) to their work at any stage of their career – whether a seasoned professional looking for a change or a college student entering the workforce. Because these 7 rules are cyclical – you simply find the rule that is most relevant to you depending on where you are at in your career and then cycle through. Once you reach rule #7, you simply return to rule #1 and start again.
What is an “ambitionist”?
As a marketer, I have always felt that branding – of products, services and ideas is essential to get people to belong to what you are selling. In my first book, I coined the phrase “I entrepreneur” as a means of helping people to recognize that entrepreneuring is a state of mind, an attitude and an approach to work, rather than a category that you fall in or out of depending on whether you own a company or not. In this new book, Ambition – 7 Rules for Getting There, I coined the term, "ambitionist” as someone who ‘manages’ their ambition or ‘designs’ their ambition as a means of creating unprecedented success. Everyone will define ambition differently. What is important is that as an "ambitionist" you are in charge of your ambition and proactively work to leverage your sense of success as you move through your career and your life.
Can anyone be an "ambitionist"?
Absolutely. Just as anyone can “entrepreneur” as a verb, anyone can learn how to manage their ambition. In doing so, ambition becomes your ally, a stepping-stone to defining success in a meaningful way. Rather than shying away from ambition because of an old-world negative image, ambitionists celebrate the possibilities because of what their ‘managed’ ambition allows them to do.
How did you choose the people you were going to interview?
Finding the right mix of people was a long and exciting process. To bring these seven rules to life, and to illustrate their importance and relevance, I extended my research to include a worldwide range of high profile success stories that were diverse and unique. From the worlds of theatre, environmental policy, medical science, clairvoyance, extreme sports and culinary arts, I was able to build on my research in and about ambition. When I approached each of the interviewees about this book, I was delighted to find that they were all open and interested to talk about their ambitious journey to date. Each and every interview was fascinating and insightful from Anthony Zuiker, creator of #1 television series, CSI, to Tricia Guild, founder of Designers Guild in London, my interview with Po Bronson, best selling author of What Should I Do With My Life? and my chat with Andy Spade of Kate Spade. If you want to see a complete list of who I interviewed click here.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
Being pregnant with baby #2 at the same time!
What was the most surprising thing you learned in writing this book?
How much people want to talk about their conflicting issues in and around ambition.
What will I get by reading your book?
Well, I can never tell anyone what they will come away with when they read one of my books. But from my experience in writing this book, just asking questions about ambition forces you to re-examine what you value, who you value and what success and freedom mean to you. It is hard not to be self-reflective and come out the other end with insight and perspective…you may even begin to formulate a plan for the future!
Is this a business book or a lifestyle book?
I believe it is a mistake to separate business goals from lifestyle or personal goals. I purposely wrote this as a crossover book – a hybrid of vocational and personal guidelines to contemplate as a whole. "Ambitionists" recognize this need to define ambition across the board and that is what provides them with the ability to succeed in a more meaningful way.
Who is your target audience for this book?
Ambition is one of those topics that is all-inclusive. Even if you are decidedly not ambitious, you need to examine your ambition to come to that conclusion. I would say the only qualifier for readership is the desire to know more and an intention to improve – however you define ambition.
Can I take a test to see how ambitious I really am?
Actually, I originally had intended to include “The Ambitious Questionnaire” in my book. However, in interviewing the 30 + ambitionists, I came up with so many more categories for the questionnaire that I decided to hold off and post it on my web site at a later date.
Click here to see where you sit on the ambitious scale .
What will your next book be about?
As an "ambitionist", I never pre-empt my next move. You will just have to wait and see what my next ambitious endeavour will be. Whatever it is, it is sure to incorporate the learning I myself have had in writing a book about ambition.
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