She signed a deal with Ursula, well warned of the fact that she's a cheat, knew was rigged already, risking a great deal to gain her desires by chance. Not a good sign of professional. She didn't even practice music religiously which she loved so much.

^ I agree. I think Ariel is too free-spirited to really harness work values. It's kind of hard to imagine her being able to have any job that doesn't have a ton of flexibility.