> The older I get the more I realize ambition and "being ambitious" is a completely misplaced way to orient your life.

The older you get, the closer you get to being a corpse. That's not something to be proud of :)

I don't necessarily disagree with the rest of your comment in spirit, but you are conflating "ambition" with "seeking validation from others". The most passionate and driven people I know are intrinsically motivated and have ideals that go beyond social validation.