Are you hoping your boss will keel over so that you can take your rightful place on the throne? If the answer's yes perhaps you're lacking career ambition, unwilling to take risks and just a passive passenger in your career journey. If you feel you're lacking in ambition but want the rewards that go with success or have been criticized for not being ambitious enough then it's time to put your best foot forward and become career ambitious.

How good are you? How good could you be? Are you underselling yourself? Are you comfortable with who you are and do you understand your strengths, skills and motivations? Do you know where to apply your strengths? A good first step is to complete a comprehensive skills audit. This will enable you to understand your marketable strengths and discover any gaps in your armoury.

Get and use a Board of Directors: No it's not suggested you try and get on a couple of boards!! Engage a Board of Directors for Your Career! Get some trusted friends or networks to help advise you on your career, your concerns and opportunities. Consider establishing a networking group on LinkMe to help with your career and/or profession.

Break out of your career comfort zone: Try some activities you haven't done before, but think you'd like to do. Stretch yourself - if you can, take on new projects, volunteer, or ask for a secondment at work. Failing that try a short course that you believe might add value to your career.

Don't know what it takes? Who inspires you, either at work or outside of work? What are the characteristics you admire in this person, what sort of jobs have they held, how did they progress their career? If you can ask them - no doubt they would be more than happy to enlighten you. If this isn't practical, just record your observations.

Uncomfortable marketing yourself? You're modest and not keen to blow your own trumpet - get over it. Being humble is a big career mistake. If you want to be career ambitious you'll have to engage in self-promotion. Build a performance track record at your organisation. Become known as a 'doer' - start things up, innovate, follow through or come in under budget - that'll get you noticed!

Of course it's ok not to be ambitious, perhaps work is just a means to an end for you, in which case that's ok but don't expect promotions or other accolades. Do expect, however regardless of your ambition to maintain your employability by engaging in life long learning and keeping your skills up to date and marketable. That way at least whether you climb to the top of the mountain or not you'll be able to pay the rent/mortgage/bills/have fun!