AMBITION THOUGHTS Why is ambition seen as a vice? Why not the greatest virtue?
Going around, asking for votes and favors In Roman times, ambition was seen as device because ambition literally meant to go around, asking for votes and favors. ”Ambio” — ambi (around) and eo (go).
The reason why philosophers frowned on the ancient Roman notion of ambition is that it inferred that in order to gain office, you had to go around asking people for favors, or asking people to vote for you. Very much like the modern politician.
How are notions of ambition different today? In America, ambition is actually seen as one of the highest values. To be ambitious to become great is considered an apex value. To desire more, to become more, and to become greater.
Ambitious for what? This is where things get tricky; what do you want to be ambitious for, and towards?
For example, I have a personal motivation and ambition to become stronger, both physiologically, and mentally. My ambition is to keep becoming stronger, and to lift ever greater weights.
This type of ambition is totally harmless, as lifting weights in the gym, and being loud hurts nobody. Yet, maybe the reason why ambition also gets a bad name is that some assume it has a zero sum calculus; that in order for you to gain, it must be at the negative expense of somebody else.
The pie is ever expanding For example, I made waves when I first announced that all my photos would be open source, and that all full resolution versions of my photos could be easily downloadable online. This created quite the ruckus, as other people felt that because I know set a new precedent, other people had to do as I did. And that somehow, I mean making my photos open source, that they themselves will no longer be able to sell their own photos for a profit.
But this is where people are silly; what I do has no effect on you. Similarly speaking, when it comes to economics, it is not zero-sum. Money is an infinite human concept, and it is ever growing. For example, really rich people own more than one thing, and keep buying things. And this is where brands and companies need to realize, just because I buy a pair of Yeezy sneakers doesn’t mean I won’t buy a new pair of Balenciaga sneakers. In fact, I might want both.
Or similarly speaking, instead of purchasing only a Rolls-Royce, or only a Bentley, I might want both. And also a Maybach.
Also, when it comes to photography workshops, it is not zero-sum. Just because somebody attends my workshop, it doesn’t mean that they will not attend your workshop in the future. I like the idea that we can all gain together.
How Google can sell more pixels The interesting thing about being in Asia is that because it is so easy to get a Sim card, and not be held to a stupid monthly phone plan, most people own several phones. At least two phones; an android and an iPhone. Even one of my very successful friends from Vietnam (Chu Viet Ha has about five or six phones.
Therefore, if Google and Samsung want to sell more phones, rather than trying to get people to switch over from an iPhone, they should rather market it and brand it in such a way that you want to get a Google pixel in addition to your iPhone.
For example, the upside of the Google pixel when you get a Google one plan is that you can use a VPN. Therefore, for secure financial transfers, cryptocurrency wallet, and Google authentication, best to own a Google Pixel. However for every day use, best to have an iPhone.
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