Before we get to our blog post for today, I want to acknowledge all of the fathers out there in anticipation of Father’s Day this weekend.

Be sure to show your appreciation for all of the fathers in your life this weekend – husbands, fathers, step-fathers, single fathers, fathers-in-law, and grandfathers if you are blessed to have them with you.

I will spend Sunday with my husband, Mike, making his Father’s Day special indeed, and I will also be sure to show my appreciation to my brother, Mike Powell, who is a single father. Sometimes fathers are the least appreciated, and this is a great time to reach out to the dads in your life who you hold dear.

Now on to today’s topic… Do you often feel like you are constantly on the go, running from one meeting or activity to the next? That’s the case for most of us these days. We rarely slow down to smell the roses, much less perform self-analysis.

And yet, self-analysis is incredibly important, both personally and professionally. Self-analysis is a systematic attempt a person takes to understand their own character, behaviors, and personal traits. Like seeking professional coaching, counseling, or spiritual guidance, self-analysis is another tool in your cognitive tool belt.

The reason to engage in self-analysis is simple: it leads to self-improvement.

You can’t fix what you don’t see. And often, it is blind spots that prevent people from reaching their potential. Self-analysis will navigate those blind spots and put you on the road to success that you might miss without introspection.

A good system of self-analysis allows us to respond to challenges in our personal lives, professional lives, and even the larger world with thoughtful reflection.

How can you engage in self-reflection?

• Create time regularly to think and reflect. This is something few people do anymore, but those who do say it is invaluable. In fact, many of the top thinkers and entrepreneurs take time for this weekly if not daily. It’s not a one-and-done event. You could choose to do this reflection daily, weekly, monthly, and/or annually.
• The point of self-analysis is not self-criticism. Give yourself the grace you would give a close friend you care about when evaluating your behaviors and choices.
• It takes courage to look inward. You might not always like what you see. That’s okay. Areas that feel challenging to look at within yourself are the areas to work on.
• The work you do could take different forms – prayer, meditation, ask yourself a series of questions (keep reading), or other forms. Be creative and do what resonates with you.
• Be accountable with honesty and integrity. Work with a trusted friend, a mastermind group, or a business mentor to hold yourself accountable. I engage my Celeste Giordano Coaching clients in a process like this when we start working together and each year around the end of the year.

Questions or prompts to guide your reflection can include:

• Have I improved my character or personality?
• Have I focused on serving others?
• Have I allowed criticism from others to hold me back?
• Have I engaged in behavior that is not in keeping with my character or weighs heavily on my heart? If so, do I owe anyone apologies?
• Have I been open-minded and tolerant in conversations with others?
• Have I exposed myself to a diverse representation of media, books, and entertainment?
• Have I been overly cautious or not careful enough?
• Have I allowed my ego to get in the way of service to others?
• In what ways have I improved what I offer professionally?
• Have I been persistent, following through on plans, budgets, and time-lines?
• Have I allowed procrastination to rob myself of efficiency?
• Professionally, have I been devoting time to efforts that are neither profitable nor in service to others?
• Have I sought out a diverse group of clients, business associates, and friends?
• Have I provided services or products of real value?

Those questions are loosely based on the Self-Analysis Personal Inventory by Napoleon Hill in his seminal book, Think and Grow Rich. If you have not read the book, which was originally published in 1937, it is one to add to your business bookshelf.

“One goes ahead, stands still, or goes backward in life.” –Napoleon Hill

Self-analysis takes you forward. Which will you choose to do?

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I support my clients in growing their businesses along with improving their lives with the values of integrity, honesty, and gratitude. If you’ve ever felt like it’s tough to take the high road and grow your business at the same time, I’m proof you CAN do both and I’ll show you how.

Do you want to grow your business with integrity? Contact me today.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlusTM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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