Ambition vs. Alignment: Why Career Success Alone Might Not Be Enough
When the Climb Doesn’t Feel Like a Win
There comes a moment in many careers—often quietly, often unexpectedly—when we stop and ask ourselves: What am I actually doing with my life? Am I even headed in the right direction?
It’s not that anything is wrong on paper. In fact, quite the opposite. The promotions came. The salary grew. Yet something underneath feels unsettled. Unfulfilled.
As a career and leadership coach who works with mission-driven professionals in their mid-to-senior careers, I’ve seen this internal dissonance up close. I’ve also lived it.
And more often than not, the tension comes down to one critical distinction: ambition vs. alignment.
The Pull of Ambition
Let’s start with ambition—because it’s not the villain of this story.
Ambition is deeply ingrained in many of us from an early age. We learned to aim high, reach further, earn the next gold star. In our careers, ambition often takes the shape of what society deems “success”:
The more prestigious title
The higher salary
The public recognition
In many work cultures, visibility equals value. I remember working in a high-impact organization where the path to advancement was paved with press mentions, published thought pieces, and high-level praise. It wasn’t just about doing good work—it was about being seen doing good work.
Because I focused on ambition, I was good at it. Many of us are. We learn to map our time and energy toward outcomes that are externally validated. It becomes a kind of reflex, a muscle memory of upward mobility.
But here’s the catch: you can follow that path for years—decades even—and still find yourself wondering why you feel so disconnected.
That moment came for me after 25+ years in the workforce. I had checked nearly every ambition box I had once dreamed of. Yet something inside felt incomplete.
The Moment Success Stopped Feeling Satisfying
Every time I achieved something—a new title, a campaign win, an exciting recognition—I felt pride. But only briefly. Almost immediately, I’d find myself scanning the horizon for the next summit.
There was no real sense of arrival, only the compulsion to keep going. Eventually, I had to face a difficult truth:
Despite everything I had accomplished, I didn’t feel whole.
From the outside, my career looked impressive. From the inside, it felt hollow. I told myself I was doing meaningful work—for the environment, for my daughter’s future. And those things were true.
But still, there was a nagging ache. A whisper that something important was missing. Or that I wasn’t on the path that was right for me.
Shifting from Ambition to Alignment
That ache didn’t go away, so I did what many of us resist: I turned inward.
I began what I now call the search for alignment. And while I’m not entirely sold on the word itself, I am deeply committed to what it represents.
Alignment isn’t about abandoning ambition. It’s about redefining it. Redirecting it. Asking not just what you’re chasing—but why.
Alignment means living and working in a way that’s congruent with who you really are—not just what you’re trained or praised to do.
It means:
Knowing your strengths and choosing to use them daily
Letting your values guide your choices, not just your resume
Defining success in a way that feels nourishing, not performative
When I started questioning what truly made me feel alive—not just accomplished—I realized I had drifted far from the version of myself I most wanted to honor. I was tracking a version of success that was external to what I really wanted for my life.
This wasn’t about burning it all down. It was about recalibrating. About pointing my ambition in a direction that fed me, not just my reputation.
What Alignment Actually Feels Like
If ambition is the fuel that propels us, alignment is the compass that ensures we’re heading somewhere that matters.
So, what does alignment feel like?
Clarity – a personal definition of success, not a borrowed one
Energy – the kind that sustains rather than drains
Ease – not because the work is easy, but because you’re no longer swimming upstream
Fulfillment – the deep satisfaction that doesn’t rely on applause
Alignment happens when your external actions match your internal truths. When you stop sacrificing your well-being to prove your worth. When your goals feel like extensions of your self, not your ego.
It’s choosing to grow on your terms, not just according to industry standards or peer comparisons.
It’s Not a Destination—It’s a Practice
Here’s the most important thing I’ve learned through all of this:
Alignment is not a one-time fix.
It’s not a magical "aha" moment after which everything clicks forever. It’s a lifelong practice. A cycle of reflection, recalibration, and courageous action.
Sometimes, you’ll drift off course—and that’s okay. What matters is your willingness to notice and adjust. To check in with yourself honestly. To realign as needed.
And yes, it takes time. It takes vulnerability. It takes resilience. But the reward is a career—and a life—that actually fits you.
So… What’s Next for You?
If you’ve been climbing and still feel like something’s missing, maybe it’s time to pause and ask:
What am I chasing right now?
Does it reflect my values, or just my habits?
Where do I feel most aligned in my work—and where do I feel off?
You don’t need to burn everything down to make a change. Sometimes the most powerful shift is simply one of intention.
And if you’re ready to explore that shift more deeply, I’d love to support you. This work—this reconnection to what truly matters—isn’t just career strategy. It’s soul work.
Let’s make sure your ambition and your alignment are on the same team.