The Ambition Trap - by Amina AlTai (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Most of us think ambition means doing everything in our power to get what we want. But this approach costs us our health and wellbeing, and ultimately upholds oppressive systems. In The Ambition Trap, leadership coach Amina AlTai shows you how to break the cycle of overwork once and for all-and finally create the greatest, most joy-filled work of your life. The thing is, what most of us really want isn't money or accolades, but acceptance, security, and belonging. When we use external metrics to fulfill these internal wounds and desires nothing ends up being enough, so we work harder and longer in a never-ending cycle-and therein lies the ambition trap. It turns out, we get to have more of what we want when we anchor our ambition to our purpose and not our pain. Drawing on her work with Fortune 500 leaders, Olympic gold medalists, start-up founders, and former "girlbosses," AlTai guides you through the process of reconciling your ambition, starting with healing the core wounds and insecurities currently driving you. Along the way, she introduces actionable strategies for aligning your work with your deepest "why," leaning into your most natural gifts, nourishing yourself in the long-term pursuit of your goals, setting a sustainable pace, and allowing contentment to guide the way. It turns out, ambition isn't a dirty word but an invitation to design your life with even greater purpose, meaning, and joy"--

Book Synopsis

The anti-hustle guide to getting what you really want

AN OPEN FIELD PUBLICATION FROM MARIA SHRIVER

Most of us think ambition means doing everything in our power to get what we want. But this approach costs us our health and wellbeing, and ultimately upholds oppressive systems. In The Ambition Trap, leadership coach Amina AlTai shows you how to break the cycle of overwork once and for all--and finally create the greatest, most joy-filled work of your life.

The thing is, what most of us really want isn't money or accolades, but acceptance, security, and belonging. When we use external metrics to fulfill these internal wounds and desires nothing ends up being enough, so we work harder and longer in a never-ending cycle--and therein lies the ambition trap. It turns out, we get to have more of what we want when we anchor our ambition to our purpose and not our pain.

Drawing on her work with Fortune 500 leaders, Olympic gold medalists, start-up founders, and former "girlbosses," AlTai guides you through the process of reconciling your ambition, starting with healing the core wounds and insecurities currently driving you. Along the way, she introduces actionable strategies for aligning your work with your deepest "why," leaning into your most natural gifts, nourishing yourself in the long-term pursuit of your goals, setting a sustainable pace, and allowing contentment to guide the way.

It turns out, ambition isn't a dirty word but an invitation to design your life with even greater purpose, meaning, and joy.

Review Quotes

"This is the book I wish I had when I was starting out and even when I was knee-deep thinking success was the be-all and end-all." --Maria Shriver

"The Ambition Trap is a paradigm-shifter for anyone who's ever felt caught between desire and self-doubt. . . It boldly encourages us to embrace our gifts with confidence and unapologetic determination." --Gay Hendricks, author of Five Wishes and The Big Leap

"A glorious book for everyone looking to understand themselves and underlying societal systems that hold perceptions of ambition in place, Amina offers insight and actionable ideas for a new definition of your ambition and yourself." --Stacy London, stylist, designer, midlife advocate, and New York Times bestselling author of The Truth About Style

"Amina's book is a beautiful offering for those looking to explore their fullest potential and to do so with wholeness and integrity. She shows us that these pieces are not mutually exclusive but essential components of how we can thrive." --Matt McGorry, actor, activist, and empowerment coach

"Smart, nuanced, and inclusive, The Ambition Trap encourages us to stop chasing external validation and instead align our ambitions with who we truly are." --Sahaj Kaur Kohli, author of But What Will People Say?

"Challenging the notion that ambition has to mean sacrificing our well-being, this book is for anyone tired of the hustle and ready to create meaningful work and a life they truly love." --Minda Harts, bestselling author of The Memo

"Amina helps us get real with ourselves and do the work needed to rest, set boundaries, and overcome burnout. Her writing is refreshing, and the exercises are practical and insightful. . . I highly recommend this book." --Minaa B., social worker and author of Owning Our Struggles

"The book you didn't know you desperately needed. The Ambition Trap cuts through the noise of 'grind culture' and replaces it with a soulful, practical path to success on your own terms." --Dr. Neeta Bhushan, author of That Sucked. Now What? and host of The Brave Table podcast

"This book is a gift to anyone who's ever felt torn between chasing more and settling for less. My advice to you, dear reader? Dive in, soak up every word, and let this book show you how to be fiercely, joyfully ambitious on your own terms." --from the foreword, Rachel Rodgers, founder of Hello Seven and author of We Should All Be Millionaires

"The Ambition Trap is a transformative guide for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed and seeking a more sustainable and authentic relationship with ambition." --Lauren McGoodwin, founder of Career Contessa and author of Power Moves

"In The Ambition Trap, Amina AlTai redefines what it means to succeed in a world dominated by hustle culture. . . For anyone ready to step off the treadmill and live a life of true achievement and joy, The Ambition Trap is the inspiring roadmap you've been waiting for." --Claire Wasserman, founder and author of Ladies Get Paid

"The Ambition Trap is a refreshing read for anyone who's ever felt stuck between wanting more and doubting themselves. With a warm, down-to-earth approach, this book flips the script on ambition--it's not something to hold back but a right everyone should embrace. . . it dares you to go all-in on your wildest desires." --Jamila Souffrant, author of Your Journey to Financial Freedom and host of Journey to Launch podcast

"The Ambition Trap is a game-changing work that aids readers in rewriting ambition on their own terms. This book is a fresh take on what it means to have enough and how we build careers, lives, and legacies in more connected and fulfilling ways." --Deepa Purushothaman, bestselling author of The First, The Few, The Only.

"If you're looking to unlearn hustle culture values, and gain tools to help you build a healthy relationship to your goals--this is the book for you! AlTai addresses all the elephants in the room when it comes to why we become overworked, overwhelmed, and burnt out. Her words remind us of the beauty we have within and how we can be ambitious and live fully." --Yasmine Cheyenne, author of Wisdom of the Path and The Sugar Jar

"I can't think of a better time for us to examine and redefine ambition as we know it. The Ambition Trap is the book to do it! . . . By centering historically marginalized experiences, this book challenges the narratives that have kept too many of us boxed in, showing how ambition rooted in authenticity can spark transformative cultural shifts. The Ambition Trap doesn't just give us permission to dream big; it dares us to own our goals fully and unapologetically." --Ruchika T. Malhotra, author of Inclusion on Purpose and Uncompete

"The Ambition Trap is a call-to-action for readers to redefine ambition on their own terms, free from the limitations of societal expectation. . . This book challenges the exhausting cycle of chasing 'more' or feeling 'not enough, ' encouraging us to harness ambition as a path to authenticity and purposeful impact." --Israa Nasir, author of Toxic Productivity

"Amina's book lovingly helps you confront your relationship to hustle and survival so that you can emerge with a redefined definition of success, work in alignment with what your true gifts are and create a career path as unique as your background."--Alisa Vitti, creator of the Cycle SyncingⓇ Method, author of WomanCode and In the FLO, founder/CEO of FLO Living

About the Author

Amina AlTai is an executive coach, leadership trainer, and chronic illness advocate. She has partnered with companies such as Google, Snap, Outdoor Voices, Chief, and Roku, and been featured in goop, Forbes, Well+Good, NBC, CBS, The New York Times, and more. She's an Entrepreneur Magazine expert-in-residence, a Forbes contributor, and was named one of Success Magazine's Women of Influence.