Are ambition and perseverance the same?

When planning goals or thinking about success, we often contemplate ambition, motivation, determination, willpower, persistence, and perseverance. Most of us are aware that each of these plays a part in the bigger picture of success and achievement. Sometimes these words are used interchangeably, which while well intended, can be confusing, as each is different.

Perseverance is persistence, or rather a persistence despite challenges and adversity. Part of reaching a goal is planning on encountering challenges and meeting them head-on. Continuing toward a larger goal in spite of setbacks, delays, and other issues that may arise is persistence. Your ability to roll with the punches is part of what is required to meet a goal because challenges constantly arise. Ambition can be thought of as the initial desire to achieve a goal, and persistence the piece of the success puzzle that keeps you going when you are met with some kind of resistance or difficulty.

Ambition is as important as perseverance when goal planning or working to achieve success. It’s where the desire to even begin working toward something comes from. Without ambition, it isn’t likely that you’ll last long on your path toward your goal. Ambition has gotten a bad reputation as a factor that leads to overworking or interrupts our ability to enjoy what we already have. Just like any emotion or habit, it needs to be in balance for us to realize its benefits. Ambition can serve as a force that pushes you towards unhealthy or unhelpful habits, or it can be balanced and support you on your way to achieving goals that are important to you.

Both of these terms are easily confused for one another, and both are important for success in achievement. If you’re working toward a goal, it’s important to consider why you want to achieve the goal. Your ‘why’ can serve as the foundation for ambition. It’s also helpful to accept and consider the potential challenges you may encounter along the way. Consider how you will persist if challenges arise and if your desire to attain your goal is enough to support you as you encounter adversity along your journey. Identifying your motivators, the ‘why’ under your ambition, and considering your willingness to persevere are valuable parts of goal setting.