Here's a radical thought: what if the most strategic business move you could make isn't about marketing funnels or social media algorithms, but about alignment? I know, I know – it sounds like something from a wellness retreat.
But after helping countless professionals build sustainable careers, I've discovered that alignment isn't just some feel-good bonus — it's your competitive advantage.
As I shared recently on the Cosmic Mystic Podcast, "Purpose is an inside job. You cannot find it looking everywhere else but at yourself." And here's the thing: when you build a creative business aligned with who you are and how you work best, you don't just feel better — you perform better. Your marketing feels authentic because it is authentic. Your offers resonate because they're genuinely you. Your work energizes you because it's actually aligned with your strengths.
Here's how to build an aligned business that actually feels right.
Get Real with Yourself (Like, Really Real)
Before you can build an aligned business, you need to understand what alignment means for you. This isn't about taking another personality test or choosing values from a predetermined list. Instead, look at your past experiences and ask yourself:
- What work have you done that you're proud of?
- What causes move you?
- What problems do you find yourself naturally wanting to solve?
"It’s almost like a word cloud. You’ve got to lay it all out together and see which keywords keep showing up," I shared on the podcast. "And then you’ve got to research it because you might see a couple of things that come out of that."
Ditch the "One True Calling" Myth
Here's a liberating idea: "Let's take the freaking pressure off of purpose," as I put it during our conversation. You don't need to discover your one true calling that will never change. Instead, recognize that your purpose can evolve as you do. What matters is finding work that aligns with who you are right now and allows room for growth.
Stop Planning, Start Doing
Many people get stuck in the planning phase, waiting for perfect clarity before taking action. But as I've observed working with clients, "Sometimes people aren't surprised [about their direction]...sometimes they're too scared to do it." The key is to start somewhere, test your ideas, and adjust as you go.
Break Up with the "Should's"
"You don't have to tolerate work that you're not meant for," I emphasized on the podcast. "You don't have to live a life where you hate or just exist through your daily work." This might mean letting go of the "responsible" path that others expect you to take in favor of building something that truly lights you up.
Look, the world doesn't need another carbon copy of someone else's success story. What it needs is you — fully aligned, showing up authentically, and building something that actually works with your natural strengths instead of against them.
Because here's the truth: alignment isn't just about feeling good (though that's a nice bonus). It's about creating a sustainable body of work that no one can copy, because no one else is you.
Ready to turn alignment into your superpower? Subscribe below to The Purpose Post for weekly stories to help you redefine success on your own terms, plus actionable resources to build your own path, too. You'll join a community of 1000+ creatives building businesses with purpose and leaving their mark on the world.
