**Ambition isn’t the enemy—it’s the answer.

Ruslan KD went from refugee to success story. Now the influential YouTuber, artist, and entrepreneur shares his playbook for building a career that leverages your gifts, serves your community, and glorifies God.**

Trying to make our way in a fast-moving world, we can often feel overwhelmed, ill-equipped, and unsure of next steps. And ambition? Many times, it&rsquo;s mistaken for selfishness and gets a bad rap. But what if ambition, rooted in faith, is <exactly< what you need to uncover your purpose, sharpen your skills, and make an impact for God''s kingdom?

In <Godly Ambition<, hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, and popular YouTuber Ruslan KD shares his story&mdash;from growing up as a refugee with a single mom to facing a future headed for trouble. Instead, faith and hard work led him to a life filled with purpose, impact, and peace.

In this book, you''ll learn how to

&bull; understand the difference between selfish and godly ambition
&bull; clarify your identity and purpose in Christ
&bull; make the most of where you are right now while building toward your future
&bull; develop skills that set you apart
&bull; take simple, actionable steps to move forward in your life

No fluff. No hype. Just practical insights to help you chase the right goals and live with deeper purpose. Wherever you are today, <Godly Ambition< will challenge and inspire you to live boldly for God, using your gifts to make a difference.

Autorentext

Ruslan KD, a hip-hop artist, content creator, and entrepreneur of Armenian descent, was a refugee from Azerbaijan when he moved to the United States as a child. He started a YouTube channel around 2015 that has grown into a popular platform for discussions on faith, lifestyle, and music. Known for his insights on Christ-centered living, culture, and personal development, he is also a speaker, author, and advocate for godly ambition.

Klappentext

**Ambition isn’t the enemy—it’s the answer.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Ruslan KD went from refugee to success story. Now the influential YouTuber, artist, and entrepreneur shares his playbook for building a career that leverages your gifts, serves your community, and glorifies God.**

Trying to make our way in a fast-moving world, we can often feel overwhelmed, ill-equipped, and unsure of next steps. And ambition? Many times, it’s mistaken for selfishness and gets a bad rap. But what if ambition, rooted in faith, is exactly what you need to uncover your purpose, sharpen your skills, and make an impact for God's kingdom?

In Godly Ambition, hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, and popular YouTuber Ruslan KD shares his story—from growing up as a refugee with a single mom to facing a future headed for trouble. Instead, faith and hard work led him to a life filled with purpose, impact, and peace.

In this book, you'll learn how to

• understand the difference between selfish and godly ambition
• clarify your identity and purpose in Christ
• make the most of where you are right now while building toward your future
• develop skills that set you apart
• take simple, actionable steps to move forward in your life

No fluff. No hype. Just practical insights to help you chase the right goals and live with deeper purpose. Wherever you are today, Godly Ambition will challenge and inspire you to live boldly for God, using your gifts to make a difference.

Leseprobe
1

Is Ambition Bad or Good?

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

I had just finished speaking at a young adults ministry, when a young man approached me. He was sharply dressed, was earnest, and looked perplexed.

He explained he was a visual artist. Curious, I took a moment to check out his work online—it was genuinely impressive.

“This is great stuff. I definitely think you have something special here. Are you pursuing art full-time?”

“No, I’m working twenty hours a week. Other than that, just kicking it.”

I took a beat. “Gotcha. Well, do you want to pursue your art full-time?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t want to become too successful, ya know?”

As I looked at this young man, taking his first steps as a gifted artist, I understood the tension he felt. As a “Christian influencer” (a title I’m not particularly fond of, by the way), I’ve thought a lot about how to wield influence as a follower of Jesus. Most days, at least one stranger recognizes me from my YouTube channel. That might sound exciting—and to be sure there are rewarding moments—but it’s also dangerous. If I’m honest, there’s a broken part of me that wants recognition to feel worthwhile. Validation is a drug. One hit is never enough, and before long, you need more and more to feel whole.

Perhaps you wonder something like this:

Is it wrong to want success?

How do I find my calling in life?

How do I start or run a business with integrity?

How do I keep success from corrupting me?

How do I make the most out of my life and honor God?

If you’ve wrestled with any of these questions, this book is for you. In the church, ambition sometimes feels like a dirty word. We’re ashamed to admit we want things—that we’re driven to create, build, and achieve. In some circles, it’s fashionable to depend on God but “worldly” to hustle.

That said, this young man’s response saddened me. He was full of potential but held back, fearing that success would corrupt his character. It’s the equivalent of avoiding the gym because you don’t want to get too jacked. Instead, why not hit the gym and see what happens? Chances are, you’ll live a happier and healthier life.

The same principle applies to your gifts: Why not try to maximize your impact? While it’s noble to prioritize character, before you worry about the trappings of success, let’s get financially stable. Let’s build a network of support and collaboration. Let’s start a movement. Let’s make some noise about what you’re up to.

If you stop before you start, in this volatile economy, with all the distractions around you, you’ve already lost. Too much ambition can be a problem, but just as often I see people with no ambition. Apathy is a silent dream killer, and it’s taking way too many people down.

I’m here with good news: There is a way to pursue excellence—even success—without losing your soul. There is a way to dedicate your drive to God. To be sure, chasing ambition like Jesus does looks very different from chasing success like the world does. You will have to unlearn some things culture has hammered into you.

In fact, you’ve likely heard two lies about ambition, and they’re possibly influencing you in negative ways—holding you back from the type of ambition God wants for you. Let’s look at these lies now.

Lie 1: All Ambition Is Evil

In the church, many view ambition as a vice more than a virtue. It’s tacky, like that Christmas sweater you pull out once a year. It fits awkwardly and makes you feel out of place. Some of my friends who are lead pastors express mixed feelings about ambition. On one hand, they deeply desire for their congregation members to be ambitious in the sense of striving toward the fullness of what God has for them—pursuing godly lives and maximizing their God-given potential. However, they also caution against the darker side of ambition, which can emerge even within church walls. This manifests when individuals start seeking additional authority and power p…