TED Talks Daily Book Club: Intentional Ambition | Rha Goddess | TED

Overview

This episode features Rha Goddess, an entrepreneurial soul coach and author of Intentional Ambition: Redefining Your Work for Greater Joy, Freedom, and Fulfillment. The conversation explores the evolving relationship with work in a post-pandemic world, the importance of joy and well-being, and the process of redefining success. Rha shares her personal journey of transformation and offers practical frameworks for renegotiating work and life to align with one’s true ambitions. She also answers questions from the TED community, providing actionable advice for navigating career challenges and embracing intentional ambition.

Notable Quotes

- Part of caring for the world is caring for myself too. – Rha Goddess, on the importance of self-care in achieving sustainable success.

- Joy is now more of a priority than it’s ever been. – Rha Goddess, on the shift in work culture post-pandemic.

- I lead from inspiration and am fully supported by those around me. – Rha Goddess, offering a mantra for leaders seeking to balance ambition with collaboration.

🌍 The Changing Landscape of Work

- Rha describes the current state of work as being in massive flux, shaped by global events like the pandemic, technological advancements, and organizational restructuring.

- Many people are reevaluating their relationship with work, seeking new ways to align their careers with personal values and priorities.

- Rha’s book, Intentional Ambition, is aimed at those who recognize they can’t return to the old ways of working and are searching for a path forward.

😊 Prioritizing Joy and Well-Being

- Joy, health, and well-being have become central to how people evaluate their work and lives.

- Rha emphasizes that money is no longer the sole driver of work decisions; mental health, happiness, and purpose are now equally important.

- She highlights the importance of small, daily practices—like taking a real lunch break or spending time with loved ones—to nurture joy and create space for reflection.

🧠 Redefining Success and Overcoming Internal Barriers

- Rha shares her personal journey of redefining success, moving away from external validation and achievement to focus on alignment with her values and well-being.

- She discusses the importance of recognizing and challenging internalized narratives about success, such as the need to overachieve or prove one’s worth.

- Exhaustion, disconnection, and a lack of joy are key indicators that one might be pursuing someone else’s version of success.

🔄 The Three Stages of Renegotiation

- Negotiation (Navigation): Adapting to external standards and figuring out how to succeed within them.

- Resignation: Either accepting the status quo or deciding to leave it behind.

- Renegotiation: Reclaiming personal values, realigning with authenticity, and reimagining a new way of working and living.

- Rha emphasizes the importance of courage, patience, permission, and daily practice in navigating these stages.

🌟 Intentional vs. Wounded Ambition

- Wounded ambition stems from adopting external standards that don’t align with personal values, often leading to burnout and dissatisfaction.

- Intentional ambition involves reclaiming agency, aligning with one’s true self, and contributing meaningfully to the world.

- Rha encourages listeners to challenge the scarcity mindset and embrace collaboration, abundance, and shared success.