Chess Grandmaster Explains the Path from Ambition to Success or Failure
Scottish chess grandmaster Jonathan Rowson provides the perfect explanation of why sometimes ambition leads to success and why other times it leads to failure. I came across Rowson’s explanation as I was reading NY Times Bestselling author Paul Tough’s book “How Children Succeed “.
Tough quotes Rowson as saying the following about ambition:
“When it comes to ambition it is crucial to distinguish between ‘wanting’ and ‘choosing’ it.” Decide that you want to become world champion, Rowson explained, and you will inevitably fail to put in the necessary hard work. You will not only not become world champion but also have the unpleasant experience of falling short of a desired goal, with all the attendant disappointment and regret. If, however, you choose to become world champion (as Kasparov did at a young age), then you will “reveal your choice through your behavior and your determination. Every action says, ‘This is who I am.'”
I believe what Rowson is explaining is the basic philosophy of what separates winners from everyone else. It ultimately comes down to repeating the behaviors that help you win. When you only want something but don’t choose the behaviors that get you what you want, you become a loser.
Furthermore, it’s simply a fact that winners are willing to do things that losers aren’t willing to do. It’s not talent, it’s not luck, and it’s not some complex mindset technique either. All these things can help. However, none of it will matter if you don’t consistently repeat the behaviors that make winners win.