Success Without Alignment Is Just Luck

Let’s talk about something that happens way too often in corporate life: people hitting a wall, burning out, or getting completely overlooked — not because they aren’t good at their jobs, but because they’re chasing growth without clarity.

And let’s be real: clarity isn’t always handed to you. In a perfect world, your boss would lay out their goals, the company’s vision would be unmistakable, and your path would be obvious. But that’s not always how it goes — and waiting for it can leave you stuck.

If you want to grow in your career, you need alignment.

And if you don’t have it? You need to go get it.

Why Alignment Actually Matters

Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You could be doing everything “right” — working hard, volunteering for stretch projects, even getting praise — but if what you’re doing isn’t aligned with:

• Your own goals,

• Your boss’s priorities, and

• The company’s direction…

…you’re spinning your wheels.

You don’t need to be obsessed with your company’s mission. You don’t need to drink the Kool-Aid. But you do need to know how your work fits into the bigger picture — or you're relying on luck to get noticed, rewarded, or promoted. And luck is a terrible growth strategy.

The Three Layers of Alignment

This isn’t just a “think about your goals” journaling exercise. There are three specific alignment layers you want to get clear on:

1. Your Goals

Where do you want to go? What kind of work lights you up? What do you want more of — or less of? This is where clarity starts. It doesn’t need to be a 10-year plan, but you do need a compass.

2. Your Boss’s Goals

What matters most to your boss this quarter or this year? What would make their life easier or their team look stronger? Even if you think you know, ask. The best performers I’ve seen don’t just do their jobs well — they align their impact to their manager’s success.

3. The Company’s Direction

What’s the organization actually trying to do? What matters most to the business right now? Is it growth? Efficiency? Market expansion? Surviving a restructure? The more you understand, the better you can tie your work to the priorities that drive decision-making.

Real Talk: Should Your Boss Do This for You? Probably.

But “should” is irrelevant.

Yes — in an ideal world, your boss would help you connect the dots between your role, your future, and what the company needs.

But this series isn’t about how corporate should work. It’s about how to make it work for you — as it is.

And the truth is, bosses are human. Some are amazing. Some are overwhelmed. Some are undertrained. Some are just… not great.

But you are responsible for your alignment. Because no one knows what you’re capable of more than you do. If you wait for someone else to spell it out for you, you risk missing the window altogether.

So What Can You Do About It?

Here’s the good news: alignment isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction.

Here’s how to start:

• Ask yourself: What do I actually want to be doing more of?

• Ask your boss: What does success look like for our team this quarter? What’s your biggest priority right now?

• Ask around: What’s the company actually focused on right now? (Hint: it’s not always what the town hall said.)

Then, look for overlap. Look for places where your work already supports those priorities — and where you might need to shift.

If that feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. That’s why this article has a free worksheet you can download — to help you break this down into something you can actually do.

And One More Thing…

You’re allowed to be frustrated by all of this.

You’re allowed to think it’s unfair that clarity is so hard to come by.

But you also have more power than you think.

And when you start from where you are — with what is — and get clear on what you're doing it for?

You’re not relying on luck anymore.

You’re building your way forward — on purpose.

Action Required:

It’s time to gut-check your wins: are you building momentum — or just getting lucky?

Ask yourself:

• Do I know what success looks like for me — or am I chasing someone else’s version?

• Are my goals aligned with my values… or just my company’s quarterly targets?

• Would I even want more of what I’m currently succeeding at?

Now take one small step toward alignment:

• Revisit your last big “win” — what did it cost you, and was it worth it?

• Write down what aligned success would feel like, not just what it would pay.

• Set one goal this quarter that reflects your definition of progress — not just your org’s.

Because success without alignment is possible. But it’s unstable, unsatisfying — and unsustainable.