Use Their Ambition Against Them
The most ambitious people are the easiest to predict. Here's how to position yourself in their success.
In 1968, Bobby Fischer was the most ambitious chess player in the world. His goal? To defeat Boris Spassky and become world champion.
But for six years, the Soviet chess machine kept Fischer from even getting close to Spassky. Not through superior skill. Through something far simpler: They used Fischer's ambition against him.
They knew Fischer's psychological patterns. His compulsive need to dominate every game. His inability to accept draws. His drive to prove superiority in every match.
So they positioned their players accordingly. In tournament after tournament, they forced Fischer into positions where his ambition would overcome his judgment. Where his need to win would cloud his strategic thinking.
Fischer's ambition made him predictable. And as we explored in They Can't Stop What They Can't Predict, predictable people are easy to control.
It wasn't until Fischer learned to master his drive, to harness his ambition rather than be controlled by it, that he finally broke through and claimed the world championship in 1972.
The Psychology of Ambition
Ambitious people operate on a simple framework: High visibility + Big impact = Fast advancement
This makes them incredibly predictable. Most ambitious people don't realize how much they broadcast. Every volunteer opportunity, every raised hand, every quick response signals their next move.
They can't help it. Their drive compels them to signal.
Every ambitious person follows the same pattern:
They chase visibility.
They volunteer first.
They speak the loudest.
They move the fastest.
Think about the most aggressively ambitious person you know. Watch their patterns. Like Fischer, they'll sacrifice superior moves for flashy ones. Better positions for visible ones.
This creates opportunities for those who understand the pattern.
Strategic Positioning
The most valuable position isn't in the spotlight. It's in the shadow of someone else's ambition.
Think about the most successful people you know. The real players. They rarely announce their moves. They don't need to. As we discussed in Why Mental Toughness is Making You Weak, true strength isn't about displaying power – it's about quietly accumulating it.
While ambitious people fight for credit, smart players fight for control.
The Leverage Points
Every ambitious person has three predictable weaknesses:
They overvalue visibility When someone needs to be seen, they're easy to direct. Feed their need for attention while you build real influence.
They undervalue preparation Their rush to action creates gaps. Position yourself to fill these gaps before they realize they exist.
They broadcast their moves Their need to signal intentions makes them vulnerable. While they tell everyone what they're going to do, you can quietly position for what they'll need.
The Power Position
Here's how to leverage ambitious people:
Become their backend. While they chase headlines, control infrastructure. While they build presence, build processes. While they collect praise, collect control points.
Let them be the face. The voice. The name everyone knows.
Real power doesn't need credit. It needs control.
The Strategic Play
When you spot highly ambitious people:
Study their patterns What do they volunteer for? Where do they want to be seen? What validation do they chase?
Find their blind spots What details do they miss? What relationships do they ignore? What foundations do they skip?
Position accordingly Build in their weak points. Control their success factors. Own their hidden dependencies.
It's about understanding human nature and positioning yourself strategically.
Ambitious people will always exist. They'll always chase the spotlight. They'll always need support structures.
Be that structure.
Your Move
Look at your organization. Find the most ambitious person in your orbit.
Watch their patterns. Note their blind spots. See their next moves before they make them.
Then position yourself not in their way, but in their slipstream.
Because while they're busy telling everyone how far they'll go, you'll be quietly determining how far they can go.
Remember - the loudest person in the room is the easiest to read.
Time to position.
- Morgan