Up until a few months ago, most of us were constantly on the go. Running from one engagement to the next, we rarely slowed down to smell the roses, much less perform self-analysis.

One opportunity that has come about as a silver lining to the tragic pandemic is that many of us have more time. Not everyone – essential workers are busier than ever – but for many, we’ve slowed down a bit.

I challenge and encourage you to use some of that new-found time to engage in self-analysis. Self-analysis is a systematic attempt a person takes to understand his or her own character, behaviors, and personal traits. Like seeking professional counseling or coaching, 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’s blind spots that prevent people from reaching their potential. Self-analysis will navigate those blind spots and put you on the road to success in your professional and personal life.

The past few weeks, many of us have been engaging in self-analysis when it comes to race. As we reflect on racial inequities in our great nation, we also prayerfully look inward to improve ourselves and promise our African American friends and community members that we will do better.

A good system of self-analysis allows us to respond to challenges in our personal lives, professional lives, or 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. You could choose to do this reflection daily, weekly, monthly, and/or annually. It’s not a one-and-done event.
• 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 “DoublePlus^TM” 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 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.