One Core-Value Action a Day with Flint Mitchell of iAlign

What we talked about.

Sunny Ray welcomes Flint Mitchell of iAlign for a conversation about taking one core value action a day. Mitchell explains that core values are foundational principles, and that consistently acting in line with them, even once a day, tends to make life feel better. He traces his path from electrical engineering and a pre-med track to genetic sequencing research at Roche, then to quitting, buying a van, and heading out to surf and travel. He discusses his book Seeking Authenticity, which defines authenticity as core values acted out in the real world, and describes a simple journaling exercise using up, down, or neutral marks to build personal, actionable definitions of values. Mitchell now coaches ambitious engineers who get stuck in procrastination, distraction, and overthinking, and he is building software to scale the tools he has refined with clients. He shares his mission to support one billion people in taking a value-aligned action every day, explains why the next 90 days of holiday stress matter for his clients, and offers a first step listeners can try today.

Flint Mitchell of iAlign shares a simple daily practice: one action in line with your core values can change how you feel about yourself.

The questions, and the answers.

What does one core value action a day mean to you?

Core values are the foundational principles that, when we act in line with them, give us fulfillment and pride. Integrity and responsibility are examples. Even one action a day you might not otherwise take, like telling a truth instead of an untruth, adds up. My thesis is that the more consistently we act in line with our values, the better our lives become.

What made a research scientist quit to travel for a year?

I was at Roche, building novel genetic sequencing technology, and I was happy with the work I'd done over a couple of years. It felt like a good closure point in that role. So I bought a van, put a bed in the back, and resigned. In the portal's reason box I wrote surf and attached a picture of a shark.

What did writing Seeking Authenticity teach you about your own core values?

The book's thesis is that authenticity is the consolidation of everything you believe is important, meaning your core values acted out in the real world. To be authentic, you identify and define your values and act in line with them. Writing it helped me define my own values and removed the haze around a vague word like authenticity.

Where did the idea of one core value action a day come from?

It came from an exercise I started about eight years ago, around when I began writing the book. I tested definitions of my values iteratively, like a scientist. Each day you pick your top five values, and for a month you mark an up arrow, down arrow, or neutral squiggle for whether you acted in line with each. That builds your own actionable definitions.

Who should work with you, and what do you help them with?

Right now I support the ambitious engineer who drifts into procrastination, distraction, or overthinking. Engineers tend to be thought-based decision makers, so we think about our thoughts and never act. I help them gain control over behaviors like scrolling and overthinking so they can shorten their iteration loops and test the things they're actually building.

How are you bringing software back into the coaching?

I've built tools through coaching, like creating focus, removing distractions, and closing open loops, and I'm proving them out one on one. Software lets me offer a lower cost, scalable version that doesn't require me. It can also analyze self-assessment data against things like screen time, spending, and the people around you to reveal patterns our eyes would miss.

What is one core value action a listener could take today?

Try an initial version of that exercise. You don't need the perfect words. Write down five to ten things that feel important to you, like responsibility, resilience, connection, or faith. Then rank each one through ten on whether your actions over the past day, month, or year have aligned with it, and see what shows up.