Introducing the ALIGN Matrix: A Simple Framework to Align Your Career with Your Values and Happiness
How often do we hear people talk about how much they dread their jobs? For so many, work feels like a daily grind, something they have to get through just to pay the bills.
But what if I told you that work doesn’t have to feel like that?
When your career is aligned with what truly makes you happy—your values, your purpose, and your long-term goals—work starts to feel less like a burden and more like a natural extension of who you are.
That’s exactly what I experienced when I shifted my focus to building a career that worked for me, not against me. Instead of just "working to survive," I found a path that allowed me to be present for my family, live in alignment with my faith, and create a future that filled me with purpose and joy. This is what led me to create the ALIGN Matrix—a simple, practical framework that helps you design a career that feels right for you.
The ALIGN Matrix: Align Your Career with What Makes You Happy
The ALIGN Matrix is built around five steps that will guide you toward a career that not only aligns with your values but also brings you fulfilment. When your career reflects who you are and what you care about, work feels less like "work" and more like living with purpose.
A - Assess Your Values and Goals
The first step is to take a deep look at what truly matters to you. What brings you happiness? What are the non-negotiables in your life? Is it spending more time with family? Is it living a life that’s in alignment with your faith and personal values? Understanding what you truly value will guide every career decision you make.
For me, I realised that I couldn’t be happy in a career that kept me away from my family or prevented me from living a life that aligned with my beliefs. Once I understood that, I could start building a career that supported those values.
L - Learn the Skills You Need
Once you know what makes you happy, the next step is to learn the skills that will allow you to build a career around those values. The key here is to focus on learning what you need to achieve your vision of a fulfilling career, not just chasing what’s trendy or what others expect of you.
For me, that meant teaching myself data analysis—skills that would allow me to work remotely and have the flexibility I needed to be there for my family. I didn’t need a degree to do it, just the willingness to learn and the drive to build a future that made me happy.
I - Implement Small, Sustainable Habits
Changing your career path doesn’t happen overnight. But by breaking your journey into small, sustainable habits, you can make real progress without feeling overwhelmed. It’s these small steps that will help you get closer to a career that doesn’t feel like work but instead aligns with your values and makes you happy.
I started by setting aside a little bit of time every day to learn and practise new skills. It wasn’t much, but it was consistent, and it made all the difference. Over time, those small habits added up to big changes.
G - Grow Your Network and Portfolio
Work that aligns with your values and brings you happiness isn’t built in isolation. It grows through relationships and the ability to showcase your talents. Surround yourself with people who share your vision of success, and build a portfolio that reflects the skills and values you care about.
When I was transitioning into my new career, I focused on growing a network of people who understood my goals and could support my journey. I also worked on small projects that showcased my skills, allowing me to prove my value even without a formal degree.
N - Navigate Towards Alignment
The final step is to continuously navigate your career toward alignment with your values and happiness. This isn’t a one-time process. As you grow and change, so will your goals. The important thing is to keep checking in with yourself and asking: Does my career still reflect what makes me happy? Am I still aligned with my values?
Every few months, I take the time to reassess whether my career is still aligned with my family, my faith, and my vision for the future. It’s this ongoing alignment that makes work feel less like a chore and more like a meaningful part of my life.
When Work Feels Aligned, It Feels Less Like Work
The ALIGN Matrix isn’t just a framework for finding a job—it’s a way to design a life. A life where your work isn’t something you dread but something that feels like a natural expression of your values and what makes you happy. When your career aligns with your purpose, it doesn’t feel like a burden. It feels like living in harmony with who you truly are.
For me, the ALIGN Matrix allowed me to create a career that supports my family, aligns with my faith, and gives me the freedom to live life on my own terms. And the best part? It doesn’t feel like work. It feels like I’m finally living a life that I was meant for.
Start Aligning Your Career Today
If you’re tired of feeling like work is draining the life out of you, it’s time to take a different approach. The ALIGN Matrix is here to help you align your career with your values, so work starts to feel less like a job and more like an extension of what makes you happy.
Take the first step by assessing your values, learning the skills you need, and implementing small habits. Before you know it, you’ll be growing your network and navigating your way to a career that truly aligns with your life.
Ready to start? Join our community on Skool and begin aligning your career with what makes you happy.