Hooker Life Hack: Directed Envy

Ambition is jealousy with a purpose. Ambition is directed envy. The word “ambition” is a positive word.  You see something someone else has that you lack. That something appears beneficial to the person.  You covet what you see and become driven to acquire it for yourself through any socially acceptable means, usually through hard, time consuming work. Ambitious people are admired for their initiative and held out as examples to follow. 

The word “jealous” is a negative word. It implies immobilization with greed.  You covet what you see with a lean and hungry look, but you lack the ability to progress or the willingness to work to obtain the object of your desire for yourself. 

Jealous people often want to see the fortunate meet with some calamity that causes them to loose their advantage. Instead of saying “if you can’t beat them, join them”  the jealous person says “if  I can’t beat you, I want you to join me.”

Jealous people deny their feelings to others and themselves. If others discover the jealousy they will mock the person. Ambitious people let everyone know they will be moving on up. If others discover the ambition they applaud the person. Unless they are secretly jealous.