When I was younger, I let ambition drive my work. I was fully committed to achieving my goals as quickly as possible. As the years went by, I realized this wasn’t effective. Ambition caused me to chase prestige, look for shortcuts, and spread myself too thin. I needed to be the driver, channeling ambition when I needed it, but not being driven by it. 

A couple of years ago, I focused on developing restraint, which amongst other benefits helped me become healthier, more frugal, and reign in perfectionism. Knowing when to pull back also helped me learn to make slight adjustments instead of overcorrecting.

The purpose of restraint was to create a sense of balance. That’s my focus for the year, and possibly next. Balance helps me create a life. It also helps me focus and be patient, creating larger opportunities that can only happen over a longer time horizon.