EP.112: The Dark Side of Ambition | The Ambitious Podcast
Thu Feb 05 2026
What does it really cost to be ambitious? If you've ever felt too big for some rooms but not enough for others, if you hide your success because you're afraid of making people uncomfortable, if you've sacrificed relationships and time and energy in pursuit of something bigger, this episode is for you.
I don't wanna have to be strong right now. I don't wanna have to figure it out. What if I don't wanna be the one who's got the answer? This is the conversation ambitious women need but rarely get to have. Today I'm breaking down the real sacrifices required when you're building something big, the invisible weight you carry that nobody acknowledges, and why you might be choosing sacrifice in the short term instead of settling for regret in the long term. We're covering identity shifts (your identity is shifting so fast you sometimes don't recognize yourself), the emotional weight of being the capable one (always the person who handles it, never the person who gets to fall apart), hiding success because you're afraid of outgrowing your circle, the guilt of wanting more when everyone else seems content, sacrificing joy, hobbies, and spontaneity in the building phase, time that doesn't belong to you (your schedule revolves around launches, clients, deadlines), the mental load of your business always being on your mind, financial pressure especially for breadwinners, and why despite all of it, you wouldn't change a thing.
The only other option is to know what was possible to achieve and never go for it. If you're feeling the weight of ambition right now, this is your validation.
Timestamps:
00:50 Understanding Sacrifice
02:05 Balancing Aspirations and Reality
04:04 The Emotional Weight of Ambition
08:01 Identity and Growth
14:32 The Pressure of Success
34:34 Questioning Desires and Ambitions
34:56 The Guilt of Success and Isolation
38:04 Sacrifices in Pursuit of Goals
40:50 Balancing Business and Personal Life
44:20 The Cost of Flexibility and Independence
54:14 Financial Pressures and Investments
58:37 Reflecting on Sacrifices and Achievements
To join the Ambitious Network for free, click HERE.
To connect with Kate on Instagram, click HERE.
To apply for ITI, click HERE.
To submit a question to be answered on the podcast, click HERE.
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What does it really cost to be ambitious? If you've ever felt too big for some rooms but not enough for others, if you hide your success because you're afraid of making people uncomfortable, if you've sacrificed relationships and time and energy in pursuit of something bigger, this episode is for you. I don't wanna have to be strong right now. I don't wanna have to figure it out. What if I don't wanna be the one who's got the answer? This is the conversation ambitious women need but rarely get to have. Today I'm breaking down the real sacrifices required when you're building something big, the invisible weight you carry that nobody acknowledges, and why you might be choosing sacrifice in the short term instead of settling for regret in the long term. We're covering identity shifts (your identity is shifting so fast you sometimes don't recognize yourself), the emotional weight of being the capable one (always the person who handles it, never the person who gets to fall apart), hiding success because you're afraid of outgrowing your circle, the guilt of wanting more when everyone else seems content, sacrificing joy, hobbies, and spontaneity in the building phase, time that doesn't belong to you (your schedule revolves around launches, clients, deadlines), the mental load of your business always being on your mind, financial pressure especially for breadwinners, and why despite all of it, you wouldn't change a thing. The only other option is to know what was possible to achieve and never go for it. If you're feeling the weight of ambition right now, this is your validation. Timestamps: 00:50 Understanding Sacrifice 02:05 Balancing Aspirations and Reality 04:04 The Emotional Weight of Ambition 08:01 Identity and Growth 14:32 The Pressure of Success 34:34 Questioning Desires and Ambitions 34:56 The Guilt of Success and Isolation 38:04 Sacrifices in Pursuit of Goals 40:50 Balancing Business and Personal Life 44:20 The Cost of Flexibility and Independence 54:14 Financial Pressures and Investments 58:37 Reflecting on Sacrifices and Achievements To join the Ambitious Network for free, click HERE. To connect with Kate on Instagram, click HERE. To apply for ITI, click HERE. To submit a question to be answered on the podcast, click HERE.