Are people who are not ambitious at a disadvantage in life?

I think it really depends on what kind of life you want to lead. For competitive fields like UI design here in Shanghai, not being ambitious can put you at a real disadvantage because the industry moves so fast. I see colleagues who just do the minimum requirements struggling when new design trends emerge. That being said, I have a cousin who works as a librarian back in Hangzhou - she's perfectly content with her steady routine and finds fulfillment in helping readers. The key difference is whether your environment values constant growth. In creative industries, standing still means falling behind, but in some roles, consistency and reliability matter more than ambition.