Maria, age 30, has set a personal goal of being vice president of TTX Corp. by the time she is 32. She has determined that nothing will stand in her way of her goal. When she hears through the grapevine that TTX's president is involved in a business enterprise with the president of a competitor, she recognizes that is a conflict of interest with his role of president. She reports the business relationship to the local business journal anonymously. Upon hearing the news, the board of directors of TTX Corp. calls a special meeting to initiate an investigation into the accusation. Finding this to be true, they fire the president and promote the existing vice president to president and Maria to vice president. What individual factor most influenced Maria's ethical decision?