In today’s culture, ambition is often worn like a badge of honor. We’re told to hustle harder, climb faster, and never stop grinding. But what happens when that same ambition starts to pull us away from who we truly are?

In this episode of Quest for Success, Dr. Jerry Cunningham explores the delicate balance between chasing success and staying grounded in your values. It’s a real talk about what happens when ambition becomes your identity and how to recognize the signs before it costs you more than it's worth.

This isn’t about giving up on goals. It’s about making sure the pursuit of success doesn’t sabotage your integrity, relationships, or peace of mind. You’ll walk away with clarity, encouragement, and practical ways to keep your drive aligned with your deeper purpose.

Follow now and share this with someone who’s chasing big dreams but needs a reminder to stay rooted. For more, visit www.Quest-Success.com.

📚Additional Sources to Enrich the Episode:

Books:

• Give and Take by Adam Grant — explores how givers, takers, and matchers succeed differently in business and life.
• The Road to Character by David Brooks — great insight into how we can build moral depth alongside achievement.
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink — foundational research on internal vs. external motivation.

Academic Research:

• Judge, T. A., & Kammeyer-Mueller, J. D. (2007). “Personality and career success: A review and research agenda.” Journal of Management.
• Baumeister, R. F., et al. (1998). "Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource?" Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Articles & Websites:

• Harvard Business Review: “The Problem with Being Too Driven”
• Greater Good Science Center: www.greatergood.berkeley.edu (search “ambition and morality”)