Saintly CEO: The Correct Pursuit of Ambition
A Reflection on Ambition from the Greek & Roman Heroes
Hey folks. Keeping this ultra short because I just moved to Nashville last weekend and I’ve been a tad occupied getting set up 😅 (hopefully you can forgive me)
Welcome back to Saintly CEO. Every Monday, while you sip your coffee, get some tactical advice to run your business fully in union with your Catholic faith.
Each week you’ll find… (well… not this week XD)
CF News/Updates | Tactical Advice to Run Your Biz Like a Saint | Other Catholic Biz Owners For You to Meet (Heavenly Hustlers) | And Some Misc. Resources
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The Correct Pursuit of Ambition
During my drive to Nashville last weekend, I decided to binge The Cost of Glory podcast (~20 episodes), which explores the lives of Greek and Roman heroes through the lens of Plutarch. Listening to the sagas of men like Gaius Marius, Pyrrhus, and Eumenes, I couldn’t help but notice: these were men of immense talent and “virtue.” But most of them simply didn’t know when enough was enough. They crossed the line one way or the next and it led to their demise. In some cases to the demise of their progeny.
They pursued personal greatness as an end in itself. However, the more power they tasted, the more they hungered for, eventually leading to ruin. They weren’t striving for country or legacy; they were striving for themselves.
Naturally, I began to reflect on my own ambitions. How far can one go without crossing that line? Wouldn’t I be different?
This is the wrong question to start with, though. It’s not about how far you can go; it’s about the intention from the start.
Audacious ambition is only properly ordered when we do it for God with complete and utter resignation to His will.
The Roman heroes failed because their perspective was fundamentally selfish.
Our goal cannot be to build a monument to our own names. It must be to glorify God through using all the skills and gifts that He has given us. Our life, our station in life, our skills, etc. — all of these are from God.
Having ambition in this way is then a fulfillment of the call to be good stewards. We work diligently with all our might, but we accept the outcome.
Certainly, we can strive for a certain vision of where our efforts might lead. This is done best when we aim for a vision that is in line with God’s. But even if we don’t have that discernment, we can pursue this grand ambition with full resignation to God’s will. Because ultimately, we know He will direct the outcome.
Doing this is the path through which we come closer to Him. The same way you develop a bond with someone that you work with for years, you develop an even deeper bond with God through a lifetime of commitment to His will.
The next time you contemplate your goals, ask yourself: “Am I pursuing this for my own glory, or for the glory of God?”
God Bless & Happy Building
~Silas Mähner
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