Ambition without Structure is Self-Sabotage.

“The hunter who chases two antelopes returns with stories” is an African proverb that speaks to the likelihood of returning empty handed from a hunting trip laced with lack of focus. Similarly, ambition without structure will end in the same fashion.

I ran into an old friend a few days back. Save for growing an additional white hair or two, he hadn’t changed much. He still had zeal for life but lack of focus was His Achilles heel. After exchanging pleasantries, I sought to find out what he was up to. He is the sort of gentleman who barely has the patience to stick to one lane.

“I just sold a car today” was his response to the question asked. It’s anyone’s best guess how he pivoted from running a hardware to selling cars within a short span of time. If ever there is an award for most business ventures, he will beat all opponents’ hands down.

Barely a year earlier, I offered him accommodation and he waxed lyrical about the strategy he had in place to succeed in the clothing business. Not too long thereafter, he mentioned in a phone conversation that his haircut business was threatening to give him a heart attack. Without a shadow of doubt, a jack of all trades he appears to be.

Ambition on its own is unreliable. It sparks a restless spirit and pushes you to want more, try more and chase more. In the absence of a system to contain it, ambition scatters your attention across too many directions. You start ventures that come to an abrupt end when the going gets tough. Chasing the wind becomes a norm and you will not lack tales to tell.

Structure plays a pivotal role in success and works its magic when coupled with ambition. To build structure, three things are required. First, direction since running fast in the wrong direction gets you lost quicker. Second, positioning since nothing beats visibility and being at the right place. Even a lion looks confused in a swimming pool. Third, systems such as a solid routine which makes chaos look unemployed.

“The path walked daily becomes a road” is a proverb that highlights the power of habit and consistency. In the organization of my past affiliation, I got a first-hand experience and can confidently validate the gist of the proverb.

I had always envisioned working at a certain spot. When the idea cropped up in my mind, it seemed far-fetched. The thought of jumping through hoops and not to mention my position in the pecking order at the time made it highly unlikely. Direction was clearly defined and I had an inkling of where I wanted to go.

As fate would have it, a system overhaul worked to my advantage. The old guard had mastered the old system and were thrust into unchartered territory. In the sink or swim scenario, I opted to swim even though I literally do not know how to. Story for another day. I quickly mastered the new system and trained others. The skills I built was aligned with the spot I sought. The icing on the cake is that I was well positioned for what lay ahead.

The consistent training meant I had to walk the path daily. A wise man once said that what you repeat daily matters more than what you intend occasionally. In concurrence with the above statement. As a result, I built a solid routine around it hence cementing structure. Structure is deeply embedded in routine. What you focus on daily, what you give a wide berth and choose to ignore as well as what you sharpen daily marks the hallmark of structure.

Out of the blues, I received a call one day. The lady on the other end of the line introduced herself. She then sought to find out if I was interested in joining her team. The spot I had envisioned was offered on a silver platter. I had neither spoken to her before nor expressed interest. Aside from God, my spouse is the only other person who got wind of my prayer. This goes to show that thoughts indeed become things and where ambition gets engaged to or marries structure, sky is the limit.

“A man who hangs around a beautiful girl without saying a word ends up fetching water at her wedding” is an African proverb of unknown origin that highlights the downside of action without courage. Similarly, Structure without ambition has its drawback as will be illustrated shortly. In the context of dating, one can get by but in other aspects of life, it won’t yield fruit.

While out in a distant land, I once worked with an older gentleman. His age was close to thrice mine at the time. Retirement was still ways down the line. So, either I was too young or he was too old. That notwithstanding, he spewed words of wisdom and I hang on to every word he said. One thing baffled me though is that he lacked ambition and detested the word in every sense. Ambition bore additional responsibility that financial compensation would not counter. I disagreed but pleaded the fifth amendment and exercised my right to remain silent.

In as much as he lacked ambition, he was structured to a fault. He structured his life in minute segments and worked like a robot. In the age of Artificial Intelligence, would have probed if indeed he was human. We once engaged in a chit chat in between attending to customers. When the clock struck 9 pm, he ended the conversation and left in a huff because time was up. An extra minute or two was too precious to be spared in winding up a conversation.

In conclusion, the two gentlemen reflected opposite extremes. One chased everything and caught nothing, the other held everything in place but reached for nothing. Balance is key lest you become a collector of unfinished stories or a well-organized spectator in your own life. The overarching goal is not to choose one over the other, but to build synergy. When it’s all said and done, the hunter who focuses eats while the one who prepares, endures. But the one who does both not only survives the hunt, he owns the forest.