We live in an age where we can google just about ANY question and find an endless supply of answers.
You can instantly find expert opinions and advice from people online for just about ANY topic.
Like with many things in life, easy access to information is a double edged sword. And when it comes to information, as Einstein said, “Information is not knowledge.”
I see too many people looking to the “experts” or “thought leaders” for life’s answers.
And to be frank, it’s detrimental to your personal and professional growth–it needs to stop!
When did we stop doubting ourselves and stop trusting our own ability to figure out solutions to our own internal challenges?
I highly recommend getting professional advice, seeking other people’s opinions and hiring coaches but that will only take you so far if you lack your own internal clarity.
If you catch yourself constantly looking to other people to answer life’s deeper questions, it’s time to look within.
Nothing will ever take the place of thought-provoking questions to guide your business and life decisions.
Within time, asking the right questions will reveal the right answers. It’s the questions we ask ourselves that teach us the most.
There’s immense value in an introspective process to get the answers you seek. Nobody knows you like you do.
Here are 12 self-reflection questions to help you be the leader of your business and life:
1. What is my vision of “success”?
We are all trying to get somewhere in life. But where’s “there”?! Only you can define it. Success looks different from person to person. It’s so easy to look at other people and get attached to their definition of success. Once you get clear on what that looks and feels like for you, you’ll finally stop chasing shiny objects so that you can focus on creating what’s most important to you. Answer this question to get a crystal clear vision for both your business and your lifestyle, making it easier to reverse engineer any result you want to create.
2. Who do I have to become to get where I want?
As someone who’s ambitious and driven to reach your highest potential personally and professionally, this question will prompt you to become the highest version of yourself. To get where you want to go will call a different version of you to step up along the way. What got you here, won’t always get you there so you’ll have to constantly be evolving to reach the next level of success. Answer this question to think bigger about what kind of person you’ll have to become to create the kind of business and live the kind of lifestyle you desire.
3. What would I do if money was no object?
Imagine if you didn’t have the pressure to “work” for money. Everything you could ever want could be bought at a seconds notice without the worry of your money running out? If this was the case, how would you spend your time? What would you be doing on a daily basis as you have more free time than ever before? Answer this question to get insights on what activities will bring you genuine fulfillment and happiness in your lifetime that go way beyond money.
4. How do you want to feel in each area of my life?
Have you ever created a goal, reached it, yet felt anything?! The BIG accomplishment didn’t feel nothing like you thought it would. I’ve been there and it’s happened to all of us at some point in life. Danielle LaPorte introduced me to the idea that knowing how you want to FEEL is the most potent clarity you can have. Once you know how you want to feel, then you can create goals and do things that create your core desired feeling. Answer this question to get clear on how you want to feel, the perfect question to jumpstart your goal-setting session.
5. Where in my life am I settling?
There’s a difference in having deep gratitude for what you already have and settling for less than you deserve. When you’re living life on autopilot, it’s easy to get stuck in old ways of thinking and working. In what areas of your life are you playing small? Really think about this. Are you making less than you deserve? Have you settled in a bad relationship? When you’re playing small, life feels practical and practical is safe. What do you need to let go of to live you best life? Answer this question to reveal where you need to step up your game to get to the next level in business and life.
6. What are my natural strength, skills and talents?
Everyone has a unique genus that is valuable. After work樂威壯
ing with some of the most extraordinary entrepreneurs at every stage of business, I was surprised to see how many of them severely undervalued their natural gifts. What can you do better than anyone else? Knowing how you’re unique will help you discover what you’re meant to do in this lifetime. Once you discover your unique genius, you can build your business around your strengths. It will also help you create products, programs and services in your business sweet spot. Answer this question to discover hidden talents that you can monitize.
7. How can I have more fun in business?
Believe it or not, fun is critical to your business growth. Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul and business expert featured on the Shark Tank show said in her inspirational talk at Inc. Women’s Summit, “Fun is good for business.” She even goes on to say that fun is the most underutilized tool in doing business. Imagine what would happen if you spent just 10 minutes each week strategizing on how to create more fun for you, your customers and the people you bring on your team? Just think—happier employees, repeat customers and you having the time of your life! Answer this question to blur the lines between work and play, dramatically increasing your potential for business growth.
8. What does my perfect day look like?
How we spend our days are important. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, months turn into years. If you could design the perfect day without constraints, what would it look like? What happens first thing in the morning? What are you eating? What are you doing? Who are you spending time with? What are you experiencing? Where are you during different times of the day? Answer this single, yet complex question to reveal important lifestyle traits that you desire, giving you the clarity on what you can implement today to experience a fulfilling life day after day.
9. What am I NOT willing to sacrifice along the way?
As an entrepreneur on a mission to make money and change the world, where will you draw the line? Knowing what your core values are and making a commitment to stay true to them is life-changing in its own. What are you willing to sacrifice, if anything, to make it to the top? It’s easier to define this now, than to wait until later. For some of us, sacrificing our health, happiness, relationships and sanity is like making a deal with the devil. I’ve been there and I will not sell my soul again. Answer this question to take a stand for what’s most important to you and follow through to it until the end.
10. What’s my biggest fear and if it happened, what’s my worst-case scenario?
We all deal with fears that leave us paralyzed to take action on our dreams and prevent us from achieving our definition of success. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tim Ferriss about this very topic. The conclusion was that many of us are living with an emergency brake on. And if you can attest to this in your own life, it’s most likely because you have fears that haven’t been examined and deconstructed. Your fears are most likely rooted in an overactive imagination. If what you feared most happened, how would you bounce back? Answer this question to separate your well-founded fears from your unfounded fears
11. What would it look like if it was easy?
As entrepreneurs, we love a good challenge! However, when things feel too challenging, there’s a chance you’re doing things the hard way when you don’t have too. I’m not promoting laziness, I mean come on, we all know you’re not afraid of hard work! This isn’t about cutting corners and being mediocre. This is about working smarter, not harder. When you can, take the path of least resistance. Answer this question to use your creativity to make life and all it’s business dealings easier.
12. What would I do if I couldn’t fail?
If your success was inevitable in any endeavor you pursued, what would you do? Your fear of failure could be stopping you from doing your life’s work and making the change you want to make in the world. At times you need to reframe your thinking to move past perceived limitations and open up your mind to greater possibilities. Answer this question to discover the action you may need to take to experience true fulfillment.
Take a moment and be still. Allow the space in your day to gain the self-awareness you need to make life-altering decision.
Leave a comment with your favorite question or share your biggest insight!
Noelle
