How important is it for you to get a medical checkup? It may not be the most pleasant experience you can have done, but it is certainly necessary to help ensure proper health for your body. The more frequently we have our teeth assessed, our eyes assessed, and all areas of our physical form checked out – the better we can catch problems before they start (or get worse)!

As a matter of fact, you had an assessment done from the moment you started breathing clean air after birth. What is the 1st thing the hospital staff does for a newborn baby? They give them an all-over assessment of vital signs, response tests, count all the fingers and toes, etc.

You were an active participant of assessments before you were even 10 minutes old!

So, why do some individuals believe the fruitful act of assessing themselves stop with the body? Isn’t your mind an equally critical (some would say more so) component of your total being? You’ve probably heard the expression, "that person needs a checkup from the neck up."

We need to regularly evaluate our mind – and mindset – just as we do our bodies.

If you have no gauge to determine what is critical, what is important, what is necessary, etc – then you’re simply flowing with the current of life (and all rivers lead downhill). Every individual needs guides and barriers in life. You would agree that this similarly applies to navigation and road trips. Everyone loves a good road trip! If you set out in your vehicle to drive from Orlando, FL (for example) to Billings, MT – you’d be able to successfully navigate the trip with:

• Road signs

• GPS device

• Roadmaps

• North, West, East, South navigation postings

• City and state signs

It would be a long trip, but you’d successfully reach the destination goal you’d set for yourself (Billings, MT in this case).

How easy would the trip be if someone removed all the road signs, navigation markings, highway signs, city and state signs – plus took away your road maps and GPS device. Let’s say they were extra nice, and took away all guardrails and warning signs. This would leave you in quite a dangerous and problematic situation. Interesting thought isn’t it…?

In my many years of working with individuals to help them take control (and remain in control) of their personal and professional life, the beginning point to a solution begins with the assessment!

You have to know where you are RIGHT NOW, before you can determine your next steps. As you can imagine, it’s important to know:

• Where you’re doing well

• Where you need improvement

• Your strengths

• Your weaknesses

• Where you are now

• Where you want to be

When you look in the mirror at the person you are now, and the exact situation you’re currently in – are you happy and excited about the many possibilities around you? Are you lukewarm to your personal or professional situation and feeling that the circumstances around you are driving your future? Maybe you’re totally dissatisfied with the present situation you are in now.

It’s a known fact that you are exactly where you are right now because of the hundreds of decisions you’ve made along the way throughout your life. This may be a very positive thought for you based on your current situation in life, or it may be a distressful thought.

But you have the power within yourself to right the wrong, correct the course and move in the direction you desire for yourself. Not only for your benefit, but for those relationships close to you! This includes your family, friends, coworkers, staff, clients, etc.

A popular assessment I’ve created as part of the "Stuck to C.E.O." book and journal, includes some insightful and valuable self-assessment statements you can use to gauge your current situation such as:

1. I have defined the type of life I want to experience, personally and professionally, and written it down so I can work on making it happen.

2. I schedule time regularly (at least once a quarter) to establish personal and professional goals.

3. I work on my leadership skills so I can live my life more effectively

4. I take 100% responsibility for my life and do not blame others or circumstances for my current life experience.

5. I have a deep level of confidence that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.

So, just as the popular quote from Lao-tzu (Chinese philosopher) states – "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," I encourage you to download this 30 question assessment for your benefit, and be sure to let me know how you score: http://begintoshift.com/C-SuiteAssessment.xls.

Whatever your results, know that you are able to take control of the reigns of your life, and live the life you’ve always imagined for yourself. Take action today, before another priceless day passes you by!

Enjoy the article! Have a fabulous day, and don’t forget to keep your eyes open for all the amazing possibilities within and around you!