Not long ago, my guts left me. And while the procedure was noninvasive, it felt like something vital was removed from my insides. Actually, I can’t blame anyone but myself. I let cold, hard logic get the better of my instincts.
That was then. Now gut checks are as much a part of my day as brushing my teeth.
To be clear, this isn’t about shooting from the hip. To trust your gut is to trust the accumulated experience you have in a given area. Experience that when applied correctly, prevents emotion and the “tried and true” from running interference to what feels right.
This is easier said than done. But that’s why it’s called the gut. It takes guts to use it. Our greatest innovators — inventors, statesmen, corporate leaders, whomever — have all embraced their gut feelings at one time or other. If they hadn’t, their legacies would be very different.
Take Steve Jobs. When he returned to Apple, there were dozens of new product ideas on the table. After evaluating their potential, he cherry-picked three for future greatness. Sure, he solicited the opinions of his people. But he also acted instinctively when deciding which ideas should move forward. The winners of Steve Job’s gut check? The iPod. The iPhone. And the iPad.
Warren Buffet is another individual who never met a hunch he didn’t like. When the market crashed, what did he do? He decided to buy. And buy. And buy. And by the way, he did quite well.
Next time you’re caught between a rock of “logic” and a hard place, do a gut check. Do it in a relationship, a job — any situation where you have the knowledge and experience to go with your instincts.
You’ll sleep better at night.