Ali’s Success Garden Matrix

Job satisfaction has a major effect on how we function and develop as human beings and as professionals. Having a passion for a certain profession and pursuing that passion can lead to a lifetime of happiness regardless of how hard you have to work to be successful. Being stuck in a dead-end job, however, or working at a job only because it pays your bills can be debilitating. But all is not lost. Ali’s Success Garden matrix shows how to avoid as much risk as possible and still manage to work toward your passion and land that dream job or be in a position you have always wanted. Let’s see how this is possible.

Section 1: Plant

“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” ― W.P. Kinsella

You probably have a current job or run a business that keeps you professionally occupied. More importantly, it helps pay your bills and sustain your lifestyle. You may want to change your current profession, though, for a job that you prefer or simply pays more. Your current job in my matrix is the “plant,” which helps you survive and covers your day-to-day expenses. It is low risk and relatively stable, meaning that even though you may not enjoy your current job, you can continue doing it for the rest of your life just to support yourself or your family without facing the risk of losing the job or business. But it doesn’t provide you utmost “happiness.”

Section 2: Seed

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. — Robert Louis Stevenson

The next component in our matrix is the “seed,” which is the potential job or business that really excites you. This job may be one that you enjoy doing or one that comes with a higher salary. To get this job, however, you have to invest various resources, such as time, money, and education, to acquire more skills and be ready for the job. It could also be a business that you’ve thought of pursuing for quite a while but haven’t had the time or resources to do so.  So while your current job doesn’t particularly engage or excite you but keeps the money flowing in, it is vital to allocate some resources to your seed so that you can nourish it and help it grow into a tree. If you are able to provide this seed enough nourishment (provide the proper resources to gain your dream job/business), this seed will become a fruitful tree that can replace your current plant.

Section 3: Magic Bean

“If you wait for opportunities to occur, you will be one of the crowd.” — Edward de Bono

The “magic bean” can represent the resources that we have and the opportunities that come our way. It can work like an elevator to success. Many of us have access to beneficial resources, whether they are our own skills, a product, education, opportunity, or a service, but we often ignore them. These resources can help us be successful. If we use them, which I call the “magic bean,” we can help our tree grow faster and reach our goals in less time. A missed opportunity can be very costly in the future, so we have to be vigilant to take advantage of what we can. The magic bean can bring a drastic, positive change to your life, helping to elevate your level of success, but it has high risk and low possibility, which is why you need to be careful. You should allocate only a small portion of your resources to this component, but do not completely ignore it.

Section 4: Red Rose

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

― John Bunyan

The “red rose” is an important part of this matrix. While you are trying to achieve your own goals and dreams, you should help other people have a better life and fulfill their dreams as well. Such action can include helping people around you and being involved in charitable activities. They represent actions you do to assist others—those who truly need guidance and support. It is essential to assign some of your resources to give back to society. Not everyone is as fortunate as you are, so take time and help others who are less fortunate. While doing this may not be financially rewarding, it will help you in the future. The cycle of life is such that the good deeds you perform today will help you tomorrow. Helping others will give your life more purpose and meaning. After all, we’re human beings first and professionals second. We aren’t here just to make money. We’re here to help each other through hard times.

Conclusion

While many of us may be relatively satisfied with our current jobs (plant), this satisfaction is mostly because it pays our bills. We have to plant a seed that will eventually grow into a tree and replace our current plant. To accomplish this goal, it is vital to allocate resources; otherwise, nothing will result. Regardless of what resources we allocate to this seed, however, the magic bean is what will give it that extra boost. It teaches us how to use current opportunities and take calculated risks to achieve our goal. Lastly, the red rose signifies the act of giving. While you’re busy trying to be successful, don’t forget to help others along your way to the top. It will only help you get there faster. Keep living as you are now, but always strive to keep improving, and take advantage of any opportunities you may have to help you achieve your goals while helping others fulfill their dreams as well.