“First ponder, then dare.” Helmuth Von Moltke. In a world besotted with action and busyness, how much time have you given to consider how effective all that frantic activity has really been?
This is a perfect time of year for such contemplation. From my perspective, I view the Christmas and New Year period positively and as a natural time of year for reflection and contemplation. Reflecting on the year that was, both good and bad, and contemplating the promise of a New Year filled with potential and opportunities.
In this post I have included an extract of 28 questions from Napolean Hill’s famous book, ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ I encourage you over the festive period to find a quiet and pleasant location, free from disturbance and perhaps with your favourite beverage and sincerely consider these questions.
This is not an exercise of right or wrong, rather an opportunity for you to self-assess and ask yourself, “If I continue this behaviour, will it lead me to where I truly want to be?”
Your answers in the affirmative should encourage you to continue that particular behaviour and conversely, the answers that leave you dissatisfied should encourage you to consider how you might address that behaviour.
Here are the 28 personal inventory/ self-examination questions from Think and Grow Rich:
- 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).
- Have I delivered service of the best possible QUALITY of which I was capable, or could I have improved any part of this service?
- Have I delivered service in the greatest possible QUANTITY of which I was capable?
- Has the spirit of my conduct been harmonious and cooperative at all times?
- Have I permitted the habit of PROCRASTINATION to decrease my efficiency, and if so, to what extent?
- Have I improved my PERSONALITY, and if so, in what ways?
- Have I been PERSISTENT in following my plans through to completion?
- Have I reached DECISIONS PROMPTLY AND DEFINITELY on all occasions?
- Have I permitted any one or more of the six basic fears to decrease my efficiency (1. Fear of poverty 2. Fear of criticism 3. Fear of ill health 4. Fear of the loss of love 5. Fear of old age 6. Fear of death)?
- Have I been either “over-cautious,” or “under-cautious?”
- Has my relationship with my fellow workers been pleasant, or unpleasant? If it has been unpleasant, has the fault been partly, or wholly mine?
- Have I dissipated any of my energy through lack of CONCENTRATION of effort?
- Have I been open-minded and tolerant in connection with all subjects?
- In what way have I improved my ability to render service?
- Have I been intemperate (shown a lack of self-control) in any of my habits?
- Have I expressed, either openly or secretly, any form of EGOTISM?
- Has my conduct toward my fellow workers been such that it has induced them to RESPECT me?
- Have my opinions and DECISIONS been based upon guesswork, or accuracy of analysis and THOUGHT?
- Have I followed the habit of budgeting my time, my expenses, and my income, and have I been conservative in these budgets?
- How much time have I devoted to UNPROFITABLE effort which I might have used to better advantage?
- How may I RE-BUDGET my time, and change my habits so I will be more efficient during the coming year?
- Have I been guilty of any conduct which was not approved by my conscience?
- In what ways have I rendered MORE SERVICE AND BETTER SERVICE than I was paid to render?
- Have I been unfair to anyone, and if so, in what way?
- If I had been the purchaser of my own services for the year, would I be satisfied with my purchase?
- Am I in the right vocation, and if not, why not?
- Has the purchaser of my services been satisfied with the service I have rendered, and if not, why not?
- On a scale of 1-10 (1 being poor and 10 being excellent) how would I rate my performance in this past year on the following ‘success attributes’? 1. Clearly defined goals 2. Self-confidence 3. The habit of saving 4. Showing initiative and leadership 5. Using my imagination 6. Being enthusiastic 7. Applying self-control 8. Doing more than I am paid for 9. Having a pleasing personality 10. Accurate thinking 11. The ability to concentrate 12. Being cooperative 13. Learning from my mistakes 14. Being tolerant 15. Doing unto others as I would like them to do unto me (The Golden Rule)
Now, when you take the time to sincerely consider and answer these questions you will have a great deal of knowledge about yourself to help you craft your goals for 2020. Only you will know whether you are satisfied with who you are and where you are.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family all the very best for Christmas and a New Year that is filled with love, joy, peace and prosperity… Mark