Ambition vs authenticity

An uncontrollable ambition will crush authenticity.

In a world of charlatans, where people worship ambition above all else, authenticity is thrown by the wayside. Ironically, people crave authenticity from others even more, which means authenticity can be a way to support yourself. So sure, in some cases, some people might become successful by being authentic, thus fulfilling both ambition and authenticity.

But you shouldn’t pursue authenticity because it can make you money. Authenticity is the only thing that is worth anything.

Material success is only good insofar as it allows you to pursue things that you authentically want.

But people get caught up in the pursuit of money and power, and others try to emulate the exemplars. The most successful ones are often the ones who’ve traded authenticity for ambition, and are not moral paragons but the opposite — those willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead, are often the ones who get ahead.

The chances that you would be able to unite material success with your authentic desires — or, put another way, to unite your desires for yourself with others desires for you is not likely to be high.