Ambitious

[Echo419]

what does it mean. I mean beyond the literal dictionary definition to say that someone is or that they are. what do you think when someone says, "I am ambitious" or "that person is very ambitious."?

having a debate with someone and I want to source out some more opinions.

[j2k4]

I would say the word should be used to describe someone who has a goal and a plan to get there, Bobby.

The 'how' of things leads to the word being used as a positive or negative/pejorative descriptor.

[95gto]

I personally think it means what the definition says it means, a person with a drive or desire to succeed.

However due to the context of its common usages I can see people assigning some colloquial meanings to the word. Kind of like how people view the word 'consequence' in a negative manner eventhough the definition does not limit the word to negative outcomes. Criticism is another word that also suffers from the same kind of thing.

I experience most people using 'ambition' in reference to someone having a desire or drive to gain power/authority, like climbing a corporate ladder. And the second most common use of the word that I encounter is when someone is describing a person that is trying something very difficult to the point of almost assured failure. Essentially using it as another means of saying someone is biting off more than they can chew.

[Echo419]

what I'm driving at is does it describe someone that wants to make financial gains?

[j2k4]

That would surely be among the word's primary uses, yes.

[Echo419]

That would surely be among the word's primary uses, yes.

that's what I'm saying.

so long story short talking to a couple of girls and they all say they want a man that's "ambitious". I said, "oh so you want a guy that's making some good coin?" and of course they all got offended because I called them out. I told them that I don't understand why they were getting all defensive. it's no different than a guy wanting a girl that's so pretty or has big boobs. only difference is financial success takes years of work while looks are given at birth or cost $5K+/-.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

When I hear that I think people mean a person who always wants more. Some people are happy where they are in life and do the minimum to get by. Others are always reaching for the next level.

[j2k4]

Refer to the tail-end of the Hot/Crazy matrix for it's female equivalent.

They want a guy so ambitious they can abide his less-than-stellar looks.

I used to tell girls I was secretly rich - they'd ask, "why secretly?"

I'd tell them I didn't like to argue about money...OR share it.

[Echo419]

When I hear that I think people mean a person who always wants more. Some people are happy where they are in life and do the minimum to get by. Others are always reaching for the next level.

well there's a a massive gap between doing the minimum and always reaching for more.

Refer to the tail-end of the Hot/Crazy matrix for it's female equivalent.

They want a guy so ambitious they can abide his less-than-stellar looks.

I used to tell girls I was secretly rich - they'd ask, "why secretly?"

I'd tell them I didn't like to argue about money...OR share it.

indeed. maybe that's the male equivlant to a butterface.

[95gto]

that's what I'm saying.

so long story short talking to a couple of girls and they all say they want a man that's "ambitious". I said, "oh so you want a guy that's making some good coin?" and of course they all got offended because I called them out. I told them that I don't understand why they were getting all defensive. it's no different than a guy wanting a girl that's so pretty or has big boobs. only difference is financial success takes years of work while looks are given at birth or cost $5K+/-.

I would agree with Chris's take on the use of the word in this instance. It is a common thing to use the word amibitious in this sense to describe a person that is goal oriented and continually looking to achieve new goals. It doesn't directly suggest financial well being but it does suggest that a person is headed there.