Summer is the perfect time to give your business a checkup. You know, to look under the hood, kick the tires and see what squeaks. It’s tempting to let things go for a while with the idea that the slight grinding noise that you can only hear when you turn the radio off will go away. However, just as ignoring bumps and noises in your car can be detrimental it’s the same with your business. The more you put off making necessary changes, the worse the problem gets and in the end it can be costly to repair.

So the question is: How do I give my business a check up?

Jane Goldner, PhD., is Founder and President of the Goldner Group. In her new book, Driven to Success A 10- Point Checkup for Achieving High Performance in Business, she provides a step by step guide to help business leaders propel their organizations to the next level of high performance. Goldner is experienced and knows her stuff. She’s worked with many organizations like the Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau of Domestic Operations. Here’s what that means for you as the business owner: reading Goldner’s book is the difference between pulling your car into a one size fits all generic mechanic and the specialty diagnostic shop that works on high performance vehicles. One gives you what they think you should have and charges you outrageously for a half done job, the other recognizes you as a valued customer, listens and brings their expertise to your situation. It’s important to understand the two.

There are many resources available for start-up companies, they’re very good and serve to equip the new business owner with the tools, motivation and resources to get things off of the ground. However, once a company is in the next phase the resources need to be relevant to the current position of the company. Driven to Success, speaks to the already up and growing company that seeks to advance, thrive and take new territory internally and externally.

Here are a few check points that you will find in the book:

Checkpoint 1: Assessing How Well Your Company is Doing
Checkpoint 2 : Defining and Articulating the Core of Your Company
Checkpoint 3: Developing the Current and Next Generation of Leaders
Checkpoint 4: Building Customer Loyalty
Checkpoint 5: Ensuring That Everyone is your Company Is a Strategic Thinker

Each checkpoint has the strength and depth to be a standalone book; Goldner has fine tuned these chunky messages and presents them in a concise, easy to follow time respecting publication. It’s evident in this work that she knows how to address high-performance leaders, helping them to align their passion and vision. Using driving and vehicle analogies provides a foundation that everyone can relate to; most of us drive, and most of us are aware of the damage that can be caused by overlooking the rules of the road and the benefits of paying attention to them.

Driven to Success, A 10-Point Checkup for Achieving High Performance in Business is rich in content, yet flows easily and can be read in a weekend, it’s a very useful tool for taking your business to the next level.