Trials in harmony: redefining ambition

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A person viewing a beautiful sunrise on a mountain trail, in a pixel art style. Image created in Midjourney.

On any journey down these paths, you will face trials. Things you must overcome or come to terms with. It can be daunting, but these trials shouldn’t be avoided. They are crucial to your growth.

After sharing What’s After This, I had an overwhelming response from colleagues, friends and strangers. What really struck me was how many of you are going down the path of harmony after years or decades of climbing.

But don’t let the name fool you – even on the path of harmony, challenges will still arise, and the toughest you'll face is redefining ambition.

Ambition is a desire to achieve something. Today, though, ambition's meaning has narrowed to encompass only professional accomplishments: advancing in rank, expanding responsibilities, or joining prestigious companies. Our stereotype of ambitious people envisions a person shouldering heavy workloads, burning the midnight oil, and relentlessly pushing through the ranks. I even had trepidations writing that I was on the path of harmony. I thought by admitting it in writing, others might assume I’m uninterested in pursuing higher positions or greater responsibilities.

This is the trap, an illusion. Like Dorothy pulling back the curtain on the Wizard, you too must see the illusion surrounding ambition.

Redefining ambition

Let’s look at the definition again. Ambition is a desire to achieve something. Something. Not a work-something, not a corporate-something. Just something.

The path of harmony is about elevating other aspects of your life. That, in and of itself, is ambitious. Depending on where you are from, your career can shape your entire identity and influence how others perceive and address you. How bold, how daring to rebel against this notion. To say, actually, these aspects of life matter more to me. That’s why older generations are clutching their pearls.

Your life, in all its aspects, demands as much dedication and effort as you would give to your career. Experimenting with routines, finding new hobbies, prioritising time with loved ones—these all require hard work. But the work has it’s rewards: an enriched life, a balance that makes you effective and resilient in any scenario, true contentment.

But contentment does not mean complacency–the hardest part of the illusion to shake. You can still grow and achieve in your professional life without constantly climbing the ladder. The world is filled with opportunities and ambition can take many shapes: mastering a new skill, mentoring others, or confronting something that has always intimidated you.

🧙🏻 Navigating this trial

Redefining ambition is a personal endeavour, but it’s not just about changing what you believe inside. We live in a social world with norms, expectations and beliefs. Once you've redefined your ambitions within yourself, the true test lies in maintaining your resolve in the outside world.

It is not an easy trial, but here is how I overcame it (now I actually am your wizard, dear hero reader):

  • Examining the original ambition. Where did it actually come from? Do you truly want to advance to the next level, or is it more of an unspoken societal expectation? Examine what attracted it to you in the first place. Was it the prospect of taking on new responsibilities, broadening your horizons, or realistically increasing your income?

  • Understanding how society works. I’m a sucker for sociology books and publications. They give you a big-picture view of society, helping you understand the roots of our motivations. Understanding how we define a good worker versus a bad one, or how our society measures success, shapes our own sense of ambition.

  • Being around people with different ambitions. It can be tough to redefine things when you're in an echo chamber. Do the people around you all think alike, or do you have a mix of folks with diverse motivations? If you're missing that, consider reaching out to old friends or acquaintances, or attending events where you can meet new people.

Since this journey is personal, what worked for me might not necessarily work for you. I share this with the hope that it will help you navigate your own trial ahead. If you've faced this challenge before, feel free to share what helped you through it.

A week of joy

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I almost didn’t write this roundup. Not because I was avoiding writing or procrastinating; I've actually been busy with both work and social activities. Nearly every day this week has been packed with something.

Over the past couple of months, I've been pondering how I see myself and my life. A recent conversation with Genie made me realise something new in my life: contentment. Sure, I've experienced happiness, sadness, and anger like everyone else. But I never truly savored my life. I always felt like I needed more in every aspect, never feeling satisfied or feeling like I could accomplish more.

During a coffee chat with my friend Tina, she asked me "How do you manage to do it all?" I was taken aback.

While I take pride in myself and my accomplishments, I rarely feel like they're impressive enough. There's always something more to strive for, and there's no time to rest when my days are ticking away on this earth. COVID was a turning point for many people, taking stock of what’s important in this life and choosing a path other than climbing. It wasn’t the same for me–COVID turned out to be the busiest and most hectic time in my career and my life.

It wasn't until last year that I was able to pause and reflect on my life, viewing it from an outside perspective. I realized everything I've achieved and where I truly stand in my life. It's a beautiful realisation. And like anything beautiful, it deserves to be savored, contemplated, and enjoyed.

Reading

My ventures into White Christian nationalists has been a little heavy. Honestly, I never learn my lesson; I dive headfirst into heavy topics, then wondering why I have no desire to read my books.

Instead I’ve been enjoying lighthearted stories in webcomics from South Korea.

Watching

I am actually bored of TV. Nothing is appealing to me at the moment.

Listening

Living in Sydney and learning its history, I realized I'm witnessing the real-time effects of the lockout laws. Newtown was once known for its alternative and punk venues, where any day you could catch a live show featuring a local band. Now, shows are relegated to venues with a casino corner to bypass the laws and stay open late. On Saturday, I went out to support a colleague’s show. When I mentioned the venue, The Townie, to people, I kept hearing the same response: "It's so grimy and grungy." I was excited, expecting a proper dive with the potential for a mosh pit (though I wouldn't participate, too whimpy). Instead, it was just another cookie-cutter pub with the same casino carpet, overly clean, and identical layout meant to entice people to gamble. Very unpunk.

However, the music was great. I was thrilled for show, reminiscent of The Misfits and Black Flag. I banged by head and my ears were ringing by the end. Check out ZEROZEROZERO if you’re keen.

Eating

My basil, rosemary, and thyme plants are thriving, but I haven't had the chance to use them to their fullest. The current humidity in Sydney rules out drying them. This coming week, I'll attempt a simple pesto to use up some of my abundant basil. It's become a haven for insects: praying mantises and slugs, which attract miner birds that pluck at the leaves as they attempt to get their next meal. Some sections are riddled with holes, while the rest looks picturesque. The same happened with my bird’s eye chili plants, but I couldn't figure out the cause for months. I searched the internet for plant issues and diseases, only to spot a young bird pecking away outside one day. Magpies get the bad rap here, swooping in spring, but the real troublemakers are the miner birds.

What's after this?

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A person staring down an empty road, the city skyline illuminated by the sunset, in a pixel art style. Image created in Midjourney.

A person staring down an empty road, the city skyline illuminated by the sunset, in a pixel art style. Image created in Midjourney.

As you progress in your career–be it as a creative, designer, researcher, or content designer–you may find yourself at a confusing crossroad. You are passionate, but you feel disillusioned. You want to reignite the excitement you felt as a junior, but you are jaded from your years of experience. You want to think about your next step, but the daily grind of work pulls you in. You are tired, yet you aspire for more.

Deciding what to do next, choosing the next path in your metaphorical journey, requires inner focus, a bit of introspection. There are so many paths we can take, so many possibilities that it sometimes turns too daunting, scary. There are also tons of resources and writing about this; I’m not the metaphorical wizard with all the answers. But if you find yourself avoiding this process or unsure of where to begin, here are four to get you thinking:

  • The path of climbing

  • The path of entrepreneurship

  • The path of renewal

  • The path of harmony

Like a hero setting out into the unknown, all four require a change, in yourself, in your mindset, in your perception; all are worthy and worth it. As you read, pay attention to your reactions—what resonates with you, what sparks a thought, and what feels utterly unappealing. Choose your own adventure and see where you go.

The path of climbing

In a practical sense, climbing means advancing your title or role within companies in your industries. You could grow within one or move between multiple companies. You could focus on being a leader in your craft, manage a group of people or a combination of both.

There are many variations to climbing, but the change required is the same: going beyond yourself, beyond your personal contributions, in many senses. You will need to guide or mentor people, you will need to influence in many directions, and you will need to systemically understand your company inside and out.

So far, you've likely gauged success on your individual achievements. If you choose on this path, but solely prioritise your own interests, you might face failure. In the hero’s journey, you turn into the villain—someone others avoid working with, despite any material success you bring to the company.

Part of the change is shift your mindset. How can you empower others or use your influence to bring positive changes. Consider how the people around you can excel and grow within this corporate system. Where can you create changes across the organisation that uplift everyone?

The path of entrepreneurship

Listen, we are in a different era. In the past, being in a corporate setting guaranteed much to your life–advancements, stability, a ladder to success. That is not necessarily the case anymore. There is so much opportunity that can be made for yourself.

Freelance, fractional and part-time work gives you the choice of what you want to work; the choice to walk away from a project, the choice of when you work, the choice of where you spend your time. The path of entrepreneurship is not easy, but it is exciting. You will grow at a rate you’ve never seen in yourself, you will see how much more you are capable of.

The change you need to make is keeping the excitement. You will need to find a consistent source of energy; you will need to know how to refill it. Venturing on your own is tough. You will be alone, though the internet has helped build communities to combat this.

The path of renewal

Discovering that design, or related fields, might not be your calling is perfectly fine. It's a blessing to gain this insight early on. Now, you have the chance to explore what truly brings you joy. Maybe you've picked up on some hints along the way—a passion that lights you up.

Choosing this path doesn’t mean you throw away everything you know; the skills you have will be valuable no matter what you choose. There may be smaller leaps, like designer to product manager or researcher to designer. There may be huge leaps, like designer to lawyer.

The key change you'll need to embrace is flexibility. Your skills can span across various fields, allowing you to apply them in diverse ways. Flexibility means recognising that you can transfer skills over and learn new ones. However, you can't shift directly from being an expert designer to say…an expert beekeeper. You'll need to relearn and become a novice again. Flexibility means acknowledging what can and cannot be transferred and being open to starting anew.

The path of harmony

When you look at your life, does it all fit together smoothly? Are you exactly where you want to be in every aspect? Maybe there are areas that feel lacking, but you haven't had the chance to address them, to achieve balance. There might be numerous goals beyond your career that demand equal, if not more, time and attention: expanding your social circle, deepening connections, or spending more time with loved ones.

Choosing this path requires dealing with baggage, often difficult to voice. We've been conditioned to believe that prioritising anything outside of our careers means sacrificing success. But in reality, finding fulfilment beyond work is what truly leads to success. It means more energy, better decision making and general happiness about your day-to-day.

The change you need to make is prioritising harmony. Perhaps work has always taken precedence, but now it's time to elevate other aspects of your life to the same level of importance. How will you navigate that? It’s not just setting strict work hours–it’s about letting go and giving more space to the other aspects of your life.

Further writing

I've explored various paths in my career, but I've mainly followed the path of climbing. I once believed it was the sole route to take, but now I'm exploring the path of harmony. Surprisingly, my productivity hasn't waned; in fact, I feel like I’m flourishing. I find it easier to make decisions and tackle challenges with renewed energy. Which path caught your attention?

A week of nostalgia

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I've been working on a piece about advancing in your career, one that I have been stuck rewriting endlessly. I started writing to combat my perfectionism, a habit that seemed to help me excel, but now hinders me. The fear of imperfection often holds me back from sharing my thoughts fully or taking certain actions. Ironically, I don’t expect perfection from anyone, I know it’s not possible. And yet, I expect it of myself.

Whenever I get in this mode, I get into a reflective mode. Nostalgia isn't always the best approach, but it does help me. When I was first navigating the web, I went through the realms of Geocities, Blogger and LiveJournal. I learned from strangers sharing their lives and interests. I loved having a personal space online to share freely, going through the dramas of school and figuring out my aspirations.

I want to recreate that here. A weekly look at what is going on in my life and in my brain.

Reading

Finishing Preparing for War sent me down another hyper-fixation hole. The book's portrayal of Christian nationalists reminded me of the satanic panic from my middle school days. I was navigating adolescence and wanted to hide. My wardrobe became baggy, unrevealing, clothes traditionally worn by boys. This caused quite a stir, resulting in my parents getting called into the principal's office because of the “distraction” I was causing. The distraction being visibly different, potentially a lesbian–cue the shock and horror. It didn’t matter if I had good grades or kept to myself. Being visibly outside of the norm was enough to trigger arbitrary rules–no stationary with the Care Bears (seen as the “devil”) and no stacked bracelets (a bizarre adult scare story circulated on the evening new). It's not about concern or care, nor is it about upholding Christian values; it's solely about exerting control.

Watching

I have been craving a 90s-00s romantic comedy. Something light, with a good mix of romantic moments and comedic misunderstandings. Modern romantic comedies seem more interested in capturing the essence of our current era rather than the timeless charm of romance itself. You’ve Got Mail but none of the fantastical charm. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share. I've chosen to remain within the confines of a nostalgic era instead.

I watched Only You, which had electrifying chemistry between Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. Two delusional people coming together in a fanfiction-like plot, simply delicious. Greedy for more, I watched Miami Rhapsody solely based its poster. A witty (?) examination of the charm (??) of infidelity in marriage; it’s only redeeming quality was Sarah Jessica Parker’s wardrobe.

Listening

Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. I bought this vinyl in Canberra, but never got a chance to try it out until the blistering weather kept me indoors this weekend. I love a concept album. Give me a narrative, some dramatic strings and I’m set.

Eating

I’m venturing into salt-preserving. Honestly, I ran out of vinegar and needed a plan for a large batch of nectarines. This summer's crop has been unbelievably sweet, tempting me to grab three or four more every time I pass the store. But like any fixation, I quickly grew bored of them and left with a fridge full of fruit. Salting brings out the sweetness of the fruit apparently, creating a striking contrast between sugar and saline. But the process requires patience from me; almost a week of fermentation, then further curing in the fridge.

Personal interfaces

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This piece was sparked by a chat with my friend, Genie. Through voice notes and calls, we some times get into existential discussions, like “But really, what actually is money?” This concept of Personal Interfaces emerged from venting about a terrible app experience, but in truth, it is nothing new. In research, experimentation and even fiction, we've been grappling with building technology that conforms to the uniqueness of individuals, instead of individuals adapting to a predefined system.

Personal Interfaces

Imagine a future where technology is truly personalised. Our personal devices can take any shape and size. The interface on that device is tailored to our preferences. We may access the same internet, but no one would experience it the same way. Individuals wield maximum control over the technology they interact and use every day.

Here is an example in this future:

Created with Midjourney using Niji version 5

Lin’s personal device is a compact that she can easily fit into her pocket. Most of her interactions are done through chatting with her avatar, like booking a car or ordering a new book. However, she’s customised chats with her friends to look like stars shooting across the sky. She prefers to continuous scroll through information she’s reading. Aside from scrolling for reading, all her interactions are done through voice.

In this future, everyone has the potential to design their software and services. Defaults could be pre-loaded and services could be hired–nothing new from today. But what sets this future apart is the absence of set patterns, of the status quo. Instead, everything is individually tuned to each person. We are not bound by how a company designs or builds its services. There are no negative patterns to navigate or annoying ads to disrupt the flow. The emphasis is on empowering users to shape their digital experiences precisely as they desire. Is this a fantastical future? Yes. Can it be done? Absolutely.

Despite our advances in generative AI, our technology is rather boring. We interact with rectangles on the screens of our rectangular devices. We go through the same digital experiences so many times, we can’t tell them apart. How sad is it that the top 960,000 web pages are not accessible in 2023.

But 2024 is where we start, where we push ourselves in how we think and build technology into this bright future. The foundation is already being laid from SUPPLE automatically generating interfaces based on a person’s ability to the Large Action Model in rabbit OS.

You may be reading this and wondering how the hell do we get there. You are thinking of your roadmap and what must be done. Perhaps you know too much, you know how shaky your code base is. Hell, your design system is barely up to date with your Figma systems.We can’t solve the bureaucracy of now. To shift something with years, decades even, of baggage is almost insurmountable.

This is a call for the next idea, the next passion, the spark. As you think of building the next generation, challenge yourself beyond the status quo. How would you design a system that's entirely customisable? How can you empower users not just to tolerate a service but genuinely enjoy using it?