Self Improvement-Rate Yourself

Each of us is equipped with a number of talents and using them to the best of our ability is key. This quiz will help determine your strengths and weaknesses—the first step to becoming the person you want to be.

Scoring: Give yourself one point for each time you check the first answer. Two points for the second answer. Three points for the third. And four points for the final answer. You’ll add up at the end to determine your score.

Have you set priorities in your life with a personal mission statement, complete with written goals and objectives that guide your daily decision-making?

1. Have no idea what you're talking about.
2. Have thought about writing a personal mission statement.
3. Have written one but seldom refer to it.
4. Have an outstanding mission statement that guides my daily decisions.

Do you create time to achieve the elements of your life that bring the greatest return. Are you organized? Every day? Every week?

1. Don't even make a grocery list.
2. Check off a to-do list but it just contains my daily chores.
3. Do a pretty good job, but I've gotta run now or I'll be late for the gym.
4. The balance in my life would make a tightrope walker jealous.

One of the best coaches of all time, Vince Lombardi, said, "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender." Do you give it your all?

1. I'm waving the white flag right now.
2. I know the value of breaking a sweat but would rather watch somebody else do it.
3. I break a sweat, but don't always have to shower.
4. I could play for Vince.

Do you constantly look for ways to improve yourself in all of the major aspects of your life — professional, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual?

1. I'm as good as it gets baby.
2. I'm always running out of time to self-improve.
3. I do some things to improve myself, but it's not a top priority.
4. It's part of my daily routine.

Do you enjoy all aspects of your life? Are you living the dream? As Jack Nicklaus said, "It's difficult to excel at something you don't truly enjoy."

1. I hate golf, always did and always will.
2. Jack's right. I want to get excited about my life, but I'm not right now.
3. It feels good, so I'm doing it. But the earth hasn't moved yet.
4. Just had a hole-in-one!

Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want. Where do you stand on happiness scale?

1. Still looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
2. Got the plans but haven't started building.
3. Building my dreams.
4. Living my dreams.

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. No matter how difficult the situation, no matter how bad things get, how well do shake it off and step up?

1. I'm overwhelmed with all of life's troubles.
2. I've got to get moving.
3. I'm stepping on up.
4. I'm out of my hole and charging ahead.

Walt Disney, the man who literally brought dreams to life, once said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Do you dream of a brighter tomorrow?

1. I woke up screaming from a nightmare.
2. I can't remember my dreams.
3. I dream, but only in black and white.
4. I dream in living color.

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Can you put yourself in other people's shoes? Do you try and understand how they are feeling?

1. I wouldn't be caught dead in anybody else's shoes.
2. I looked but their shoes don't match my outfit.
3. I tried, but got blisters on my feet so I took them off.
4. I put a pebble in them and walked another mile.

Are you good at communication? Do you listen twice as much as you speak? Do you fully engage others to find out what's really on their mind?

1. What did you say?
2. I spend more time talking than listening.
3. I'm learning the art of communication.
4. I seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Despite your own personal struggles, are you strong enough to bend and be flexible?

1. No
2. Maybe
3. I've survived some severe weather.
4. I'm strong enough to bend and can weather any storm.

All things being equal, people like to do business with people they like. Are you easy to get along with? Do people enjoy your company?

1. Hey pal. I don't have time for all this psycho mumbo jumbo.
2. I was wondering why I always was a day late and a dollar short.
3. Guess I could do a little better business.
4. I'm fighting off the customers. Take a number please.

Are you able to think outside of the box? Do you look at problems from a fresh and unique perspective?

1. Is there life after the box?
2. I'm a prairie dog. I pop up and look around once in a while, but the box is cozy.
3. I get out from time to time but I always keep the box in sight.
4. I've been out of the box for so long that I couldn't tell you what it looked like.

When the going gets tough, do you keep going?

1. When the going gets tough, I don't.
2. I look for the path of least resistance.
3. I stick with it pretty well but I've got several things I haven't quite finished.
4. Like a fly on flypaper, baby.

Do you shape things before they shape you? Do you take initiative, or do you merely react to the situation?

1. I'm sitting this one out.
2. I'm scared to take a risk.
3. I like to work with a safety net.
4. Always ahead of the curve.

It’s easy to be a pessimist, but can you see that the glass is half full?

1. What glass?
2. The glass is almost always half empty.
3. Can’t decide if the glass is half full or half empty.
4. The glass is half full.

Do you give faith a chance to take root in your life? Can you take a leap of faith?

1. No, I can’t.
2. I need to see some proof.
3. I'm straddling the fence.
4. I leap all the time.

Do you try to make a difference—even against seemingly impossible obstacles?

1. Not at all.
2. Well, maybe.
3. I’m pretty sure I can make a difference
4. I do matter. I make a difference.

Do you tune distractions and concentrate on achieving your objectives?

1. Never.
2. The target moved.
3. I keep missing the target.
4. Bulls-eye!

When you wake up, do you hit the ground running or do you just talk a good game?

1. I don't even talk about it.
2. I talk a good game but when push comes to shove, I keep talking.
3. I take action most of the time, but I want to do more - acting not talking.
4. I act, therefore I am.

Can you develop and stick to an intense routine?

1. Discipline, what’s that?
2. I'm working on it.
3. I’m almost there, ask me again in a couple months.
4. Watch out, I’m ready.

Add 'em up!

21-42 points = You've got your work cut out for you. 42-63 points = You're on the right track. More than 63 points = Keep up the good work! Now go back and target each category where you rated yourself a "2" or less and develop an action plan to improve.