ConnectionMarkBusiness Assessment YOUR INFORMATION Name * First Name Last Name Phone * (###) ### #### Email * Name of Your Business * Section 1: Understanding Your Business's Core Do you have a crystal-clear understanding of what product or service you are genuinely selling? Yes, Mostly Somewhat Not Really Unsure Regardless of your answer, can you describe your core brand in one concise sentence? If not "Yes," what specific aspects remain unclear, or what makes it "mostly" clear rather than "crystal-clear"? How many distinct products or services do you currently offer? How well do you understand the actual value your business delivers to your customers? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not at all clear, and 5 = Extremely clear 1 2 3 4 5 Can you elaborate on the primary benefit or transformation your customers experience from your business? In the last 12 months, how many customers have provided direct feedback on the value they received from your business (e.g., testimonials, surveys, reviews)? Given your understanding of your brand and its value, are you confident in how you price your offering? Yes, Very Confident Yes, Reasonably Confident Somewhat Confident Not Very Confident Not Confident At All What specific challenges or uncertainties do you encounter regarding your pricing? What is the average profit margin for your primary product/service? How often do you review or adjust your pricing (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually, ad-hoc)? Have you clearly defined your value proposition? Yes No Unsure What a Value Proposition Is If "Yes," please articulate your value proposition. If "No" or "Unsure," what specific obstacles prevent you from defining it, or what information do you feel you need to understand it better? If "Yes," how many unique target customer segments does your defined value proposition address? Do you feel your value proposition clearly and concisely articulates what makes your business different and better? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not clear at all, and 5 = Extremely clear 1 2 3 4 5 What are the top 2-3 specific differentiators that make your business stand out from competitors? What percentage of your sales leads (or website visitors) interact with content specifically detailing your unique differentiators? Before defining your value proposition, did you first take the time to deeply understand your customer's needs? Yes, Thoroughly Yes, to Some Extent No, Focused More on My Offering Not Sure Describe the process you used (or would use) to understand customer needs (e.g., customer interviews, surveys, market analysis). How many formal customer research activities (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups) have you conducted in the past 12 months? Section 2: Operations, Planning, and Challenges To what extent do your internal and external stakeholders (e.g., team, investors, clients, partners) understand your business's core mission and value? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Very little understanding, and 5 = Complete understanding 1 2 3 4 5 How do you typically communicate your core mission and value to these stakeholders? How often do you formally communicate your mission and value to your team (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly)? What percentage of your team members could accurately articulate your core mission if asked? How comfortable are you with your ability to systematically uncover what you know, what you don't know, and what would be nice to know about your business operations and market? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not comfortable, feel like I'm guessing, and 5 = Very comfortable, have a process 1 2 3 4 5 Describe the process or tools you use to systematically identify knowledge gaps. How many hours per month do you dedicate to structured market research or operational analysis to uncover new insights? When facing business challenges, how effectively can you dig into the 'why' behind them, identifying the root causes rather than just the symptoms? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not comfortable, feel like I'm guessing, and 5 = Very comfortable, have a process 1 2 3 4 5 Describe a recent significant business challenge and the steps you took to identify its root cause. What percentage of significant business challenges your team faces result in a documented root cause analysis? Do you have a formal strategic business plan for your business? Yes No Had One, but It's Outdated If "Yes," what are the core components of your plan, and how does it guide your decisions? If "No" or "outdated," what are the main reasons, and how does this affect your business's direction? If "Yes," when was your current formal strategic business plan last updated or created? If you have a business plan, how often do you review it? Regularly/Consistently (e.g., monthly or quarterly) Occasionally (e.g., once a year) Rarely, Only when needed for external purposes (e.g., loan) Not applicable What are the main benefits or challenges you experience with your current review frequency? If "Regularly/Consistently," specify the exact frequency (e.g., bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly). If you have a business plan, do you include your team when reviewing and discussing it? Yes No Not applicable If "Yes," how do you involve them, and what positive impacts has their involvement had? If "No," what is your rationale, and what are the perceived drawbacks of this approach? If "Yes," what percentage of your core team participate in business plan reviews? Section 3: Presenting Your Value & Confidence How confident are you in your ability to communicate the value you provide to potential clients/customers? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not comfortable, feel like I'm guessing, and 5 = Very comfortable, have a process 1 2 3 4 5 What specific methods or messages do you use to convey value? How many different channels or formats (e.g., website, sales calls, presentations, case studies) do you actively use to communicate your value? How effectively can you help potential customers understand why they should choose your business over the endless options available to them? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not comfortable, feel like I'm guessing, and 5 = Very comfortable, have a process 1 2 3 4 5 What are the key points you emphasize when differentiating your business from competitors? How many direct competitors do you typically encounter when competing for a customer? Do you feel confident you typically make a strong first impression with potential customers? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not comfortable, feel like I'm guessing, and 5 = Very comfortable, have a process 1 2 3 4 5 What specific actions or preparations do you take to ensure a strong first impression? What percentage of your initial meetings or calls with potential customers lead to a second, more in-depth engagement? How confident are you in clearly and concisely articulating who you are, what you do, how you help, and why you are the best solution for their problems? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not comfortable, feel like I'm guessing, and 5 = Very comfortable, have a process 1 2 3 4 5 What aspect of this articulation do you find most challenging? Can you deliver this articulation (who you are, what you do, how you help, why you are the best) in 60 seconds or less? Do you deeply understand the how and why of your business operations and value delivery? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Lack deep understanding/confidence, and 5 = Have deep understanding and immense confidence 1 2 3 4 5 What areas of your "how and why" are still somewhat unclear to you? How many hours per week do you spend analyzing or optimizing your business's core operations and value delivery processes? How confident are you in your ability to effectively ask for the business and close the deal? (Scale 1-5) where 1 = Not confident closing deals, and 5 = Very confident closing deals 1 2 3 4 5 What are the most common objections you face at the closing stage, and how do you typically address them? What is your typical sales closing rate (percentage of proposals or final pitches that result in a closed deal)? On a scale of 1-5, how confident are you that your business is truly the best solution for your customers' problems? (Scale 1-5) where 1 = Not confident we are the best solution, and 5 = Extremely confident we are the best solution 1 2 3 4 5 What specific evidence or experience (e.g., customer outcomes, industry recognition) reinforce your belief that your business is the best solution? What percentage of your customers achieve their desired outcomes (as defined by them or you) by using your product/service? Section 4: Approach to Growth and Learning When facing a significant business problem or challenge, what is your primary approach to finding a solution? Primarily through trial and error, learning by doing Primarily by seeking advice from mentors, consultants, or peers (looking for the "easy button") Primarily by engaging in a structured process to listen, learn, and collaborate to develop solutions; A mix of trial and error and seeking external advice. What are the key strengths and weaknesses of your primary problem-solving approach? How many significant business problems have you faced in the last 12 months, and for how many did you apply a structured problem-solving process? How often do you find yourself primarily relying on outside opinions when making important business decisions, without taking significant time to formulate your own opinion? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Never rely solely on outside opinions, and 5 = Almost always rely on outside opinions 1 2 3 4 5 In what types of situations are you most inclined to rely on external advice? For what percentage of your top 3 most important business decisions in the past year did you primarily rely on external opinions? Would you describe your decision-making in business as primarily: Reactive (dealing with problems as they arise) Proactive (anticipating challenges and building strategically) A mix of both, leaning reactive A mix of both, leaning proactive What steps do you take to foster more proactive decision-making within your business? Approximately what percentage of your time is spent on reactive problem-solving versus proactive strategic planning? Do you feel you are willing to embrace the consistent effort and "practice" required to not just want to be, but to actively work towards being the undisputed champion in your field? Yes, I am committed to the practice Yes, but I find the grind challenging sometimes Unsure, focused more on immediate results Not really, hoping for quicker solutions What specific "practice" or routines do you engage in consistently to advance your business towards leadership in your field? What is your measurable goal for becoming a "champion" (e.g., market share, revenue growth rate, customer satisfaction score)? How committed are you to take your business to the next level? (Scale 1-5) 1 = Not at all, Content with where we are, and 5 = I will do whatever it takes! Let’s get started. 1 2 3 4 5 Congratulations! You have taken the first step to self discovery, finding out what you know, what you don’t know and what would be nice to know about yourself and your business. Mark Bittle, an expert in strategic business planning, will send you a brief breakdown of your assessment to help you gain focus, clarity, direction and confidence in running your business. If you want to know more about how to make your business more profitable and successful, give us a call or email mark@connectionmark.com.ConnectionMark strongly believes in the significance of finding your "why" – the core motivations and purpose behind your actions.DISCOVER YOUR WHY
