Career ladder: The new study found that
ambitious people earned more money and had prestigious jobs - but died
younger, and were not a great deal happier
They are also not much happier than less ambitious people.
A new study tracked 717 high achievers who attended universities such as Oxford, Harvard and Yale, as well as high ability individuals who didn't attend universities.
The researchers speculate that highly ambitious people may devote so much time to their jobs that they neglect areas of life proven to help people live long, happy lives, such as having strong networks of friends and stable relationships.
The study focused on people born in the first half of the 20th Century, and tracked them to the end of their lives.
‘Ambitious kids had higher educational attainment, attended highly esteemed universities, worked in more prestigious occupations, and earned more,’ says Timothy Judge, professor of management at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.
‘So, it would seem that they are poised to 'have it all.' However, we determined that ambition has a much weaker effect on life satisfaction and actually a slightly negative impact on longevity (how long people lived)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2110891/Get-rich-AND-die-trying-Ambitious-people-earn-money--poorer-health-die-younger-says-study.html#ixzz1oMuegqXt
'So, yes, ambitious people do achieve more successful careers, but that doesn't seem to translate into leading happier or healthier lives.’
Judge used a complex formula to judge ambition at every stage of life - and to divide high-ability individuals into 'ambitious' and 'less ambitious' groups.
Those who went to university at institutions
such as Cambridge may be more ambitious, but this will not necessarily
make them happier in later life
‘If ambition has its positive effects, and in terms of
career success it certainly seems that it does, our study also suggests that it
carries with it some cost,’ Prof Judge says.
‘Despite their many
accomplishments, ambitious people are only slightly happier than their less-
ambitious counterparts, and they actually live somewhat shorter lives.’
‘Perhaps the investments they make in their careers come at
the expense of the things we know affect longevity: healthy behaviors, stable
relationships and deep social networks.’
‘If your biggest wish for your children is that they lead
happy and healthy lives, you might not want to overemphasize professional
success. There are limits to what our ambitions bring us- or our children.’
No comments:
Post a Comment