The foundation and most important aspect of ambition

       The sociocultural perspective explains the foundation and most important aspect of ambition. The Sociocultural theory grew from the work of seminal psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who believed that parents, caregivers, peers, and the culture at large were responsible for the development of higher order functions.  According to Vygotsky, "Every function in the child's cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals."

       According to Jeffrey Kluger in "AMBITION Why Some People Are Most Likely To Succeed,” two influences on people’s level of ambition are the family that produces them and the culture that produced their family. Most sociologists agree that parents who set tough but realistic challenges, applaud successes, and go easy on failures produce kids with great self-confidence.
The culture that produced the family is a huge factor in women’s ambitions. In America we have changed our standards for women's culture dramatically over the years. In my grandmother's time women were expected to marry a man, keep their mouth shut, cook, clean, and go to church every Sunday. That is no longer the case. Today women are taught and expected to seek help outside the home when there is a problem. Today society even expects women to leave their husbands when they no longer feel “love”. As for women's work culture it is said that our society metaphorically contains a glass ceiling. The glass ceiling is basically a place where even women with ambition can only be successful to a certain point. This idea wouldn't directly affect ambitious women who are content with where they are in the workplace and are more focused on excelling as a mom. Throughout the ages women couldn't successfully reach their ambitions without wealth, power, and fame. Today ambition does not discriminate. 

       Education and peers are also a huge part of the culture that influences women’s ambitions. According Sue C. Whisler and Susan J. Eklund, authors of "Women's Ambitions: A Three-Generational Study." published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, she found, women were mostly influenced by siblings, teachers, peers, or coaches. 

Leaders

       People who are in leadership roles must understand the responsibility that they hold in their hands. They need to realize that one remark can either scar an on looker for years or give them the healing they need to succeed for a lifetime. The responsibility is a huge one but if you are handed that challenge it is something required of you.

Parents

As parents it's important to do your research. Don't just rely on old material on parenting. Some old practices may still work but we are part of an evolving world. Our brains don't work the same as our grandparents. We have knowledge at the grasp of our finger tips. There is now no excuse for not knowing because the interweb is available to us 24/7. It is your job, no, it is your responsibility to be sure your guiding your child in a way so that they will live up to their full potential. You are not raising a child to simply survive, monkey's can do that, your providing tools for your child to live up to their full potential.

Peers

       As women it is important for us to lift one another up. Strangers, colleagues, siblings, and peers from all different walks, it is important to take the time to really listen and show concern for other women. Find someone you trust and create a safe place for one another to chat about anything and everything. Which means these conversations shouldn't be used for gossip or against each other out of anger in future circumstances. (cough cough womeennn you know what I'm talking about.) If you feel you can't trust someone with something or you have seen a women do something like that to someone else, don't tell them your personal business. Personal business includes your thoughts, actions, experiences, etc. I find it best to stay away from women who are willing to throw away their trust card over a dispute that could be forgiven. Personally, I feel if it's not your significant other that threw away their trust card, then it's not really worth letting that friend back into your life. If it's a significant other you can go to counseling and really focus on the trust problem. Most friends don't take their friends to counseling when they are no longer on speaking terms. It's just not worth it once it gets to that point. So what I am saying is be the change you want to see. Women, I challenge you to grab a friend, some Cups-O-Joe, and just listen to everything your friends have to say. Ask questions, learn who they really are and who they want to be and support them how ever you can.

       In closing, realize that you have such a huge affect on every woman in your life. Those who lead you, those who follow, those who speak to you for a brief moment, and silent onlookers. Make every one of these encounters meaningful and uplifting. I would love to hear different ways you gals uplift each other up. I would love to hear challenges you face as leaders and peers, and I would love to hear about your stories of conversations over Joe (or tea).