Pop quiz!

We are well into the second month of 2011, so it is time to ‘fess up. How many of you made New Years’ resolutions? Let’s see a show of hands. Okay. Now, of those of you who made New Years’ resolutions, how many of you have kept those resolutions thus far? Hands up. Uh-huh.

Well, it’s not too late – in fact, it’s never too late – to take stock, make some resolutions, and actually keep them. To further assist you in the “taking stock” phase, I offer the “Self-Analysis Questionnaire for Personal Inventory” taken from Napoleon Hill’s classic self-help book, Think and Grow Rich. Write down your answers to these questions:

1.Have I attained the goal which I established as my objective for this year? (You should work with a definite yearly objective to be attained as a part of your major life objective).
2.Have I delivered service of the best possible QUALITY of which I was capable, or could I have improved any part of this service?
3.Have I delivered serice in the greatest possible QUANTITY of which I was capable?
4.Has the spirit of my conduct been harmonious and cooperative at all times?
5.Have I permitted the habit of PROCRASTINATION to decrease my efficiency, and if so, to what extent? (Don’t put off answering this one.)
6.Have I improved my PERSONALITY, and if so, in what ways?
7.Have I been PERSISTENT in following my plans through to completion?
8.Have I reached DECISIONS PROMPTLY AND DEFINITELY on all occasions?
9.Have I permitted any oneor more of the six basic fears (fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, death) to decrease my efficiency?
10.Have I been either “over-cautious” or “under cautious”?
11.Has my relationship with my associates in work been pleasant or unpleasant? If it has been unpleasant, has the fault been partly, or wholly, mine?
12.Have I dissipated any of my energy through lack of CONCENTRATION of effort?
13.Have I been open minded and tolerant in connection with all subjects?
14.In what way have I improved my ability to render service?
15.Have I been intemperate in any of my habits?
16.Have I expressed, either openly or secretly, any of of EGOTISM?
17.Has my conduct toward my associates been such that it has induced them to RESPECT me?
18.Have my opinions and DECISIONS been based upon guesswork or accuracy of analysis and THOUGHT?
19.Have I followed the habit of budgeting my time, my expenses, and my income, and have I been conservative in these budgets?
20.How much time have I devoted to UNPROFITABLE effort which I might have used to better advantage?
21.How may I RE-BUDGETmy time and change my habits so I will be more effcient during the coming year?
22.Have I been guilty of any conduct which was not approved by my conscience?
23.In what ways have I rendered MORE SERVICE AND BETTER SERVICE than I was paid to render?
24.Have I been unfair to anyone, and if so, in what way?
25.If I had been the purchaser of my own services for the year, would I be satisfied with my purchase?
26.Am I in the right vocation, and if not, why not?
27.Has the purchaser of my services been satisfied with the service I have rendered, and if not, why not?
28.What is my present rating of the fundamental principles of success? (Make this rating fairly and frankly and have it checked by someone who is courageous enough to do it accurately).

Now, stop banging your head against your desk or your laptop. If you are not satisfied with your answers to these questions – go and do better. If you are completely satisfied maybe you should ask yourself if you have been entirely honest.

We have covered, over the past few posts, the thirty causes of failure and now the twenty-eight questions for self-analysis. If you have read this material, analyzed yourself and asked yourself the questions – that is, if you have actually assimilated the material – then you are now ready to create a practical plan for marketing your personal services.

Bear in mind, once again, that when Hill talks about marketing, WE are not just talking about selling services (the jobs that we are hired to do) but also about selling products and, most importantly, about selling ourselves. We are talking, essentially, about doing and being the best that we can do and be.

Class dismissed.

Author's Bio: 

Sara Dillinger is a Baby Boomer herself and a newbie internet entrepreneur focusing on the Baby Boomer generation because she spent sixteen years serving as pastor in United Methodist congregations all over Kansas. Those congregations were made up primarily of Baby Boomer or older members, so Sara has developed some expertise with the Baby Boomer generation. Sara is now on leave of absence and living in Atchison, Ks. with her almost-thirty year old son and two cats. She also helps her daughter, also living in Atchison, with three sons, ages 8, 6, and 1, while their father is in Afghanistan. Her blogs are found at http://www.for-boomers.com.