How many people have said to you “Listen to
your gut!” when you ask them for advice about what you should do in a given
situation? Several, I’m willing to bet.
Following your instincts
is even more important when you’re an entrepreneur, but not everyone has the
innate confidence in their gut feelings that some people just seem to be born
with. So, here are a number of tools you can use to help you use your gut
instincts.
Move out of your comfort zone
It is very easy to get stuck in a rut and
ignore the fact that you are in a place that isn’t really helping you to move
forward. When you’re an entrepreneur, you also don’t want to admit that your
great idea isn’t working, especially if you’ve put a lot of effort into it. It’s
also easy to lie to yourself and believe that it’s going just fine, when in
fact it’s turning into a major flop. So, always try to remain objective about
any of your projects because that way you’ll be able to ‘hear’ what your gut is
telling you.
Build a suggestion box
Perhaps not literally build one, although
that might have a purpose in some situations. I’m thinking more of asking
people your respect and trust for opinions about your project. There are two
ways other people can help you: having a person support your positive instinct
about an idea can be the catalyst for your actually doing it; on the reverse
side of this, a person who questions an idea may actually make you reappraise
your project before you start and find you’ve ignored a flaw. Getting a second
opinion from trusted advisers is a very important part of your toolbox.
Always follow your instincts
Having said all that about trusted
advisers, I will also say that if you feel that their opinions just aren’t
quite right because something inside is telling you that, then do not betray
your own instincts and go with another person’s opinion. Weigh up advice,
consider the other person’s expertise in relation to your own, but never take
anybody else’s word as gospel. It is your vision in the end that matters.
Don’t lie to yourself
One of the ways in which new business
founders avoid paying attention to what is really happening is by being ‘busy’.
Business blocks out reality, because it feels good to be busy and being very
active with meetings, phone calls and emails signals that what you’re doing is
successful – right? Yes, I know we all think that, but it’s wrong. Plus, when
you’re multitasking you’re actually being less productive.
What I do is create a set of large goals
right at the start and every day I do three things that serve those goals. They
don’t have to be big things, but they must be aligned with my ‘big picture’.
While I’m focused on those tasks, I’m not distracted by the conversations that
don’t serve what I want to achieve.
So, now you know when to trust your gut.
It’s a vital part of business success.
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