What If You’re Silently Climbing the Wrong Ladder? 7 Ways to Align Your Goals With the Life You Actually Want
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For a long time I thought success meant working harder, doing more, and constantly striving for the next big achievement. But one day, I stopped and asked myself: Am I even building the life I want? Is this what I want to do the rest of my life?
I knew then that a well lived life was more than that.
Then some months ago, I came across a blog post by Vinay Hiremath, co-founder of Loom (acquired for $975M) where he shared his struggles with insecurity, self-doubt, and emotional emptiness - even after achieving massive success.
He wrote:
"I am rich and have no idea what to do with my life. I have infinite freedom, yet I don’t know what to do with it."
That hit me. Success isn’t just about achievement. It's about building a life that truly fulfills you. It’s about alignment. If your goals don’t match the life you actually want, you might end up feeling lost, no matter how much you accomplish.
What’s in Store:
7 powerful ways to align your goals with the life you truly want.
Actionable steps to move toward a fulfilling, purpose-driven future.
A reflection challenge to get clear on what success means to YOU.
7 Ways to Align Your Goals With the Life You Actually Want
🚨 There’s no single definition of success.
Too many people chase goals that look good on paper but feel empty in reality.
Why? Because they’re following society’s definition of success instead of their own.
If you want to build a life that excites you - not just one that impresses others - start here with these 7 steps:
1. Define Success on Your Own Terms 🎯
Too often, we follow someone else’s blueprint for success instead of creating our own.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Forget the traditional path. What does success FEEL like to you?
🔹 Is it freedom, creativity, impact, or deeper relationships?
🔹 Write down a personal definition of success that excites you.
2. Identify Your Core Values 🏆
When your goals align with your values, work feels meaningful instead of exhausting.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Journal about what truly matters to you.
🔹 Identify 3-5 core values that guide your decisions.
🔹 Compare your goals. Do they align with these values?
3. Craft a Vision for Your Ideal Life 🖼️
Without a vision, you might climb the wrong ladder and end up in the wrong place.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Imagine your perfect day. What does it look like?
🔹 Who are you with? What kind of work excites you?
🔹 Write down this vision and revisit it regularly.
4. Set Goals That Reflect Your Values 🎯
Chasing status-driven goals can leave you feeling empty.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Ask yourself: "Does this goal support my ideal life?"
🔹 Avoid setting goals just to impress others.
🔹 Prioritize what brings purpose and joy, not just external validation.
5. Align Your Habits With Your Vision 🔄
Your daily actions determine your future. Small changes create massive results.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Audit your current habits. Do they support your dream life?
🔹 Replace habits that drain you with ones that energize you.
🔹 Implement small, daily actions that move you toward your vision.
6. Say No to What Doesn’t Serve You ❌
Every “yes” is a “no” to something else. Choose wisely.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Audit your commitments. What’s draining you?
🔹 Set clear boundaries for your time and energy.
🔹 Only say yes to opportunities that align with your values.
7. Take Aligned Action Every Day 🚀
Dreams stay dreams unless you take action.
How to Apply It:
🔹 Break your big goals into small, manageable steps.
🔹 Commit to daily progress, even if it’s just 1%.
🔹 Celebrate small wins to stay motivated.
🚀 Action Plan: Aligning Your Goals With Your Dream Life
1️⃣ Take 10 minutes today to define what success means to YOU.
2️⃣ Identify one goal that no longer aligns with your values - and let it go.
3️⃣ Set a new goal that supports your ideal vision of life.
Linked And Lift Picks 📚
📖 Book: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – A guide to wealth and happiness [podcast].
🎧 Podcast: The Minimalists – Conversations on purpose and intentionality.
💡 Quote: “Don’t aim for success. Aim for a life you won’t want to escape from.”
What’s Your Take? 🤔
👉 Vote here and see the live results in next week’s edition!
Closing Thought 💡
👉 Success isn’t about achieving MORE.
It’s about achieving what truly matters to you.
Boost Your LinkedIn Visibility Edge
You've already taken the first step toward designing a life that truly fulfills you.
And guess what? You’re not alone. Many of you have expressed a strong interest in growing and monetizing your personal brand - and I listened.
That’s why I’ve created a dedicated newsletter segment focused on personal branding.
If you want to be part of this special list where I share actionable strategies, tips, and resources to help you stand out on LinkedIn and beyond, start by grabbing your free copy of The LinkedIn Visibility Playbook: 5 Strategies to Grow Your Authority & Opportunities.
✨ Ready to make your mark?
👉 Download the Playbook & Join the List!
Cheat Sheet Vault!
PS: As promised, click below to access 100+ of my best resources and cheat sheets.
I Want to Hear From You!
💬 How do you define success in your own life?
💬 What’s one goal you’re letting go of because it doesn’t align with your values?
Hit reply and let me know!
📩 Share the Lift: Know someone who needs this reminder? Share this newsletter with them. Let’s help more people create success on their own terms!
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Thank you for being a part of our Linked And Lift community!
See you next week! 🚀
Founder, Linked And Lift