How Am I Doing Anyway?
March 11, 2000
Long-term success is dependent on knowing where you are now and where you are headed, then closing the gap. Whether it’s your business, your key relationships, or your life at home, it’s easy to get off track, spin out, or get buried under. Without a true sense of where you are in the moment, it is impossible to realize your dreams.
A Success Assessment is a compass-like tool you can use to keep yourself on target, while your vision unfolds. When you started your company, no doubt you had a vision of what you wanted to accomplish and how you wanted to live your life. Do you remember what that was? Are you close to realizing that vision?
The best way to find out is to ask the three litmus-test questions below of yourself and your key relationships.
You may be surprised by what you learn. Just remember: Most of us have an easier time keeping our eyes on the quantifiable goals while the quality of our lives gets forgotten. It doesn’t matter whether you are a spanking new startup or an accomplished business owner taking a new leap, it’s critical to take a periodic reality check. Remember, knowledge is power. So go for it!
1. What’s it like to know me?
At first this may seem like a no-brainer question to answer. Put whatever you come up with down on paper. If you have trouble getting started, ask yourself some probing questions. For instance, when you’re with someone you care about, do you consume the conversation with how you’re doing? Or do you listen to what’s going on in her or his life? Be honest with yourself. Find out if you are really who you think you are.
When you feel complete with this question, take a few moments to reflect on the last 6 months. See if you’ve been the person you want to be. Try ranking yourself between plus or minus 10.
Next, pick 5 really important people to answer this same question. Ask your mom, your best friend, your daughter, even your brother. And, of course, your lover. Now don’t forget, ask for the whole truth. Then find a quiet time by yourself to compare responses.
2. What’s it like to work with me?
This one’s a bit tougher. It helps to view this process as an Internal Customer Satisfaction survey. Remember to tell your partners, employees, subcontractors, and vendors that their answers will not put them on the skids with you.
Even the most visionary of entrepreneurs forgets to walk their talk. Discover whether you are a “Red Herring Deadliner,” an “Ice Queen” running hot and cold, or a “Crazy-Making” leader without clearly defined parameters and little or no followup. Any of these ring a bell?
Although what you hear may give you an ouch! or two, don’t be too hard on yourself. You may have just been so busy reaching for your goals that you’ve lost your Soul connection to your team. Go through the steps in question one. Reflect, write your answers down, and give yourself a score. Then, ask 5 people you work with, and compare your answers to theirs.
3. What’s it like to be my client?
To get a handle on this, first ask yourself, “Would I buy from my company?” Be totally honest. Then go ahead and ask 5 of your best customers. Involving them in this exercise is a sure step to making your clients part of your extended team.
Gather up your courage and also ask those who got away. I know this is really difficult to do. Just remember the golden rule of business: It’s far easier to sell to an existing client than it is to get a new one! So find out why they leave so you can reverse the flow.
To make this easier to do, position your inquiries as part of your External Customer Satisfaction survey with exit interviews. Since somebody else got them if you didn’t, make sure to find out who your competition is and how you stack up with them. Wouldn’t it be nice if this discovery process brought a customer back?
Creating routine check-ins like these will allow you to position yourself and your business as one that is continuously reaching for excellence. Go take the challenge! Be the success you are meant to be. Close the gap.
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