I used to be one of them. A PR director with a six-figure salary, a corner office, and campaigns that turned heads. From the outside, it looked like I had it all. But every Sunday night, dread would creep in like clockwork. By Monday morning, I’d feel the weight of work that no longer fit who I was or what mattered to me.
Now? I wake up excited for Mondays.
The difference? A framework I worked out the hard way—and have since used to create the ACT Framework. It’s the formula that transformed my career design and has since helped hundreds of others do the same.
For those of you who hate Mondays a bit more each week, let me share it with you.
A—Alignment
Misalignment is one of the biggest reasons we feel disconnected from our work.
When our values don’t align with the role we perform, every day feels heavier.
Alignment starts with creating a Career Compass:
→ Identify your strengths—what are you best at and enjoy most?
→ Get clear on your values—what principles matter so much that they guide you?
→ Map your unique skills and values to work that feels meaningful and purpose-driven.
Take “Annie”, for example. When she first came to me, she was reeling from being ousted from a challenging business partnership. The experience had shaken her confidence and left her in a swirl of doubts about her identity. Annie had no shortage of ideas for what to do next, but every option felt like a mountain to climb. The pressure to choose the “right” climb had her frozen and feeling even more stuck.
We started with alignment—stepping back from the pressure to act and focusing instead on what truly mattered to her. What any redesign plan needed to align with if she was going to feel fulfilled doing it.
Through our coaching conversations, Annie discovered her strengths and unpacked her values. She realised her creativity wasn’t left behind in her previous partnership and that she had quiet ambitions to weave in her earlier techy career. Armed with this clarity, she began exploring options that pulled everything together. This shift wasn’t immediate or easy. But as she realigned, Annie found the courage to move forward—one step at a time—toward a career that energised her instead of draining her. She created an opportunity in project management in a sustainable fashion house as her career redesign!
Alignment was Annie’s game-changer, and it can be yours, too.
💡 Key Question: What would realignment in your career feel like?
C—Career Redesign
Once you’re clear on what matters, it’s time to redesign. Career redesign is about creating a practical, actionable roadmap to move from stuck to feeling your way forward. Here’s the thing: Even if you’re not sure what the final destination looks like, you can still start building forward.
Career Redesign is NOT:
❌ Leaping without a plan.
❌ Waiting for inspiration to strike.
Career Redesign IS:
✅ Breaking your goals into manageable, realistic action steps.
✅ Experimenting with a pilot test that collects insights and creates momentum.
I often compare this to prototyping a new product. You wouldn’t launch something into the world without first testing and tweaking it. The same is true for your career redesign.
💡 Key Action: What’s one small step you could take today to test an idea for your next career chapter?
T—Transformation
This is where the magic happens. Transformation is about taking all those plans and prototypes and turning them into real-world results. But here’s the secret: Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built on consistent action, well-calibrated confidence, and tools to help you stay aligned.
One of the most powerful tools for staying on track is career agility. Sometimes, as you build forward, your goals evolve. What felt right in theory might need adjusting in practice—and that’s okay. In fact, it’s a big part of diluting risk.
💡 Key Shift: See setbacks as recalibrations on your way to succeeding, not as failures.
Take Sarah, a client who thought her dream was to become a senior executive in her industry. Through the ACT process, she realised her real goal was autonomy. Today, she runs a consultancy that allows her to balance meaningful work with time for her family. Her transformation didn’t just change her career; it redesigned her life.
Why This Framework Works
It’s not about checking off a to-do list, hustling harder or even working smarter. The ACT Framework works because it’s rooted in you—your strengths, your values, your vision.
💡 Real Results:
→ 97% of clients report they’re happy with their aligned career transformations.
→ The framework has helped hundreds across industries, from leaders to founders.
→ It’s the foundation of my book, Unstuck: A Smart Guide to Purposeful Career Redesign.
Hating Mondays isn’t about the day itself. It’s about misalignment.
When your work reflects who you are, Mondays feel just as exciting as Fridays.
Ready to Transform Your Mondays?
What if you could wake up on Monday with energy and excitement instead of dread? The truth is, you can. It starts with small, intentional steps toward alignment, career redesign, and leads to the transformation you want for yourself – where you feel noticed, valued, and purpose-driven in your career-life design.
Ready to explore what’s possible but not sure what your focus should be? You’re welcome to take the free ACT Type Quiz to identify the answer to that.
Because life is too short to dread Mondays every week until you retire!
