The moment that changed how Holly Wainwright sees ambition episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 22, 2025 · 27 MIN

The moment that changed how Holly Wainwright sees ambition

from How I Work · host Amantha Imber

We love to pretend we’re above jealousy – that successful, self-aware people don’t feel it. But that’s a lie.  When bestselling author and Mamamia Out Loud co-host Holly Wainwright found herself wide awake one night, jealous of a close friend’s success, she realised jealousy wasn’t something to outgrow. It was something to pay attention to.  Because jealousy doesn’t just make you small. It points to what you secretly want – the thing you’re scared to say out loud.  In this episode, Holly and I talk about the strange power of envy: how it can shake your sense of self, clarify your ambitions, and even become the most honest career compass you’ll ever have.  Holly and I discuss:  The moment Holly recognised jealousy in herself and what it revealed about her buried ambitions.  How jealousy can act as a signpost for what you really want – if you’re brave enough to look at it.  The difference between ambition and competition, and how one can paralyse while the other propels.  Why success metrics constantly shift, and how to define what “doing well” actually means for you.  How to stay grounded and generous when envy or comparison start to creep in.  The link between gratitude, perspective, and creative freedom.    Key Quotes  “You’re only jealous of things you really, really want.”  “If I focus all the time on what other people are doing, that’s what paralyzes me.”  Connect with Holly on Instagram and LinkedIn, listen to Mamamia Out Loud and Mid, and check out her latest book He Would Never here.  Listen to Part 2 of this interview with Holly Wainwright here.    My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple-to-apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at [email protected]  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This episode was published on October 22, 2025.

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We love to pretend we’re above jealousy – that successful, self-aware people don’t feel it. But that’s a lie.  When bestselling author and Mamamia Out Loud co-host Holly Wainwright found herself wide awake one night, jealous of a close friend’s...

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