Ambition, drive, determination, motivation; these are all positive attributes we hope our kids, loved ones, and employees possess as central parts of their character.

But…

Humility, empathy, principles, honor; these are also positive attributes, but unfortunately are viewed as second tier, less than, and therefore these behaviors are less talked about and emphasized in our culture.  

I’ve attended hundreds of real estate seminars and trainings, where the sole focus was to help agents make more money. To use their drive, determination, and ambition to make dozens of cold calls per day, to go door to door, to practice and use scripts to get more sales.

I’m all for making more money. After all, that’s one an amazing aspect of our country, there is so much opportunity. 

However…

I’m so sick of this “make more money at any cost” mindset. They fuel this mindset with words like drive, determination, and ambition. 

I especially hate when I’m on the phone with another real estate broker, trying to settle a dispute, and the other party knowingly supports unethical tactics so their side wins. They are even smug about it. 

I noticed that the worst offenders are so far off the rails that they naturally assume that everyone is acting the same way (unethically) and become high and mighty about their position while they try to throw you under the bus.

Their ambition has turned to greed. Doing the “right” thing is laughable to them if it means losing or making less money.

I can’t change these people. Hopefully one day soon they will realize how far they have drifted out to sea, and if they don’t change course, they’ll end up lonely and miserable.

Can you tell that I’m venting…?

I want my kids to have a strong work ethic; I’m not sure how to teach that other than by being a role model to them. I want my kids to have drive and ambition to tackle hard things, but without losing site of their principles. Principles that I hope to instill in them before they leave our home. 

Ambition without principles rarely ends well.

Some of my counterparts may call me soft. That I’m not willing to do what it takes to win, to be on top. 

Good grief. That’s how lost they are.

Here’s to never being that lost, and may your moral compass always point north. 

Mike Turner