1 .) Did you make at least 20% net profit after provision for taxes on invested capital last year?
YESNO

2 .) Did you net at least 7% profit on sales before taxes last year?
YESNO

3 .) Were you within 10% of budget profit last year ( must be a formal, written budget prepared before the year started-actual not a guess).
YESNO

4 .) Was your sales volume within 10% of budget volume for last year?
YESNO

5 .) Are at least 85% of your accounts payable under 38 days old?
YESNO

6 .) Do you have written objectives or operating guides for your firm that spell out a specific percentage expectation in terms of either net profit on sales or return on invested capital?
YESNO

7 .) Do you have a statement in writing that spells out at least five of your policies in each of (at least) three areas?
YESNO

8 .) Do you now have ready, in writing, and use a "realistic," detailed income and expense budget with margin analysis of operations for this year?
YESNO

9 .) Do you have a "pessimistic" budget prepared that details what you must do if volume falls off substantially?
YESNO

10 .) Do you have adequate liquid funds or a specific "rainy day" fund to carry you through at least six months of a very poor market?
YESNO

11.) Have you devoted at least 20 hours in the last two months to planning activities (setting objectives, short/long-range planning, determining policies, establishing / reviewing standards of performance or procedures, or establishing specific revenue and expense budgets)?
YESNO

12.) Do you have someone trained to take over your own job, and do you feel that person can operate it successfully in your absence for at least six weeks?
YESNO

13.) Have you taken a regular vacation of at least two weeks duration in the last year? (cannot count several shorter ones of less than one whole week that total two weeks).
YESNO

14.) Do you have applications on file, or do you have someone in mind (including a person cross trained for each position), to replace any one or all of your key people in the event they are disabled or leave you?
YESNO

15.) Do you have accurate written job descriptions for all key employees in the firm?
YESNO

16.) Do you have accurate written standards of performance for each key person in your firm and are these standards well known to each person?
YESNO

17.) Do you conduct interviews with each of your key employees at least twice a year for the specific and sole purpose of appraising his or her work? (Do not count salary review meetings.)
YESNO

18.) Are you happy with your compensation system for key personnel?
YESNO

19.) Do you have a computerized accounting and cost accounting system with which you are completely happy?
YESNO

20.) Is your schedule in such form that you can look at it and within five minutes get a good idea where your whole operation stands for the week?
YESNO

21.) Are you completely sure that you have no problems of dishonesty with regular employees in your company?
YESNO

22.) Have you completely avoided any lawsuits filed against you during the last year by a customer over claimed product, service, or contractual problem?
YESNO

23.) Are you making any special effort to update materials, designs, or field methods to improve productivity and make cuts in direct hard costs?
YESNO

24.) Do you have specific goals in writing to improve sales and marketing penetration and results in your business this year?
YESNO

25.) Do you honestly feel that your management tools are "cutting edge" and company performance is maximized.
YESNO

Now, scroll back up and count total the number of  "yes" answers. Multiply that total number times 4 to get your percentage score and compare to the scale below.

               # total of "Yes" answers * 4 = _____%

     92%+       Superior Manager 

                         (Best of Class: Congratulations!)

     80%-91% Good Manager  

                         (Dare to be Great: Constantly Improving)

     69%-79% Average Manager

                          (Surviving, not Succeeding)

     56%-67% Fair Manager

                           (Hoping to Survive)

     50%-55% Poor Manager

(Resigned to failure; Careful your competition may be watching you!)

Below

      50%        Failed Manager

(You should take immediate, demonstrative action, or get out of this business quickly, if you still can!)

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