The Alignment Audit: 5 Questions That Reveal If You're Busy or Actually Building
- yamanalu
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
Most people confuse motion with progress. They're working hard, checking boxes, staying busy—but six months later, they look up and realize they're no closer to what they actually want.
Here are 5 questions that cut through the noise:
Question 1: "If I could only work 3 hours this week, what would I protect at all costs?"
This reveals your true priorities versus your performed priorities. If you'd protect Instagram engagement over your certification course, you now know where your energy is actually going versus where you say it's going.
Question 2: "What did I do yesterday that I'll remember in 5 years?"
Brutal, but effective. Most people can't answer this—not because they did nothing, but because they did 47 things that don't matter. If the answer is consistently "nothing," you're busy, not building.
Question 3: "Am I avoiding hard conversations by doing easier tasks?" (Most people fail this one)
This is where people crash. They'll reorganize their entire workspace, update their website, research tools for 6 hours—anything to avoid the sales call, the difficult email, the boundary-setting conversation, or the creative risk. Productivity becomes sophisticated procrastination.
Question 4: "When I say yes to this, what am I actually saying no to?"
Every commitment has an opportunity cost. People who lack structure don't see the tradeoff—they just keep adding. "Yes" to another networking event is "no" to finishing your framework. "Yes" to another certification is "no" to practicing with real clients.
Question 5: "Is this feeding my fears or building my future?"
The uncomfortable truth: many "productive" activities are just fear management. Endless research = fear of not being ready. Perfectionism on small details = fear of being judged. Over-preparing = fear of failure. Aligned action often feels scarier because it actually moves you forward.
The Pattern:
If you can't answer Question 1, you're scattered. If you fail Question 2 repeatedly, you're spinning wheels. If Question 3 exposes avoidance, you need accountability. If Question 4 shows poor boundaries, you need structure. If Question 5 reveals fear-driven action, you need a coach who calls you forward.
The good news? Awareness is the first step. Structure is the second. And aligned action becomes inevitable when someone is actually watching the right metrics with you.
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