3 Reasons to trust your gut, because it's probably right

 

You've heard the old adage trust your gut. Trusting your gut is how many people, often successful, make their way through life and business. There is counter advice that you should not trust your gut but instead trust the data. Today, let's talk about why you SHOULD trust your gut. 

1. Experience

Your gut is your subconscious mind talking to you when you're confronted with a situation. That sinking feeling you get when around a business partner that may not be doing things the right way. The feeling during a negotiation that you need to ask for something specific to get the result that you want. Your gut is the culmination of both your experience and the subtle non obvious cues about the world and situations you're currently in. It's your brain telling you, "Hey pay attention to this!". 

This goes back to our cavemen days when we would need to notice the snake hiding under the rock or the jaguar rustling in the bushes. It wasn't overtly obvious that danger lurked under that rock or in that bush, but our subconscious mind noticed the subtle clues that we learned through years of experience. Something is here and you need to be aware!

2. Express your true voice

People often suppress their true voice. They don't go with their gut, but instead go with what the data tells them. This results in a watered down version of themselves. There's a little bit of the individual in the ultimate result, but it's watered down. Like pouring half a glass of water into half a glass of lemonade. It still tasks like lemonade, but it's just not the same.

Not trusting your gut can lead to disaster. A great example of when this happens is in the auto industry. Auto manufacturers go to trade shows and bring their best and brightest concepts. Beautiful cars with features that are years ahead of what's the market now. Customers express their praise for them and the company goes into motion turning the concept into a production vehicle. Unfortunately when that final car comes out, it looks awful. It's missing the essence of what made the concept exciting and sexy. The company has grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory!

Why did this happen?  The designers built a car that was amazing. Everyone knew it the moment they saw it and they knew they had to share it with the world. When it came time to build it though they focused grouped it to death and were told that people want a car to be a 2 door or a 4 door and they tried to please both customers or the marketing department said that it has to have this feature. that feature because their data tells them that it needs it to be able to advertise it, the manufacturing department says that they can't build the body panels a certain way because it's too hard and so the design is changed to appease the manufacturing.  The end result is a completely different vehicle. One that has been ruined by a thousand tiny changes.  To illustrate this further I recommend researching how the Pontiac Aztec went from a stunning concept that could have been the hottest hatch on the market to a financial failure that contributed to the ultimate death of the Pontiac brand. 

3. You don't have time

Sometimes, you don't have time. There are situations where you find yourself up against the wall and you have to make a quick decision. These situations happen in life and business all the time and you use your gut to make a decision about how to move forward and may not even realize it. You see a driver ahead of you acting erratically and your gut tells you to back off because they're a drunk driver. You are rushing through a busy store to pick up a gallon of milk when someone steps out in front of you. You don't stop and analyze the different paths you can take to get around the obstacle, you don't have time. Instead, you make a snap judgement and move forward. You've trusted your gut. 

When you're presented with a situation where stopping to take a look at the data just isn't possible, you need to trust your gut. Listen to your inner voice and make a decision and move forward.

Trusting your gut can lead to great success. When you trust your gut you allow your true self to shine through. Having that confidence not only makes you feel good, it's also noticed by others. Their conscious and subconscious mind will notice the confidence and be drawn to it.  People naturally want to be around those that are confident and trusting your gut without second guessing yourself will result in you exceeding a high level of confidence.

Do you have stories about trusting your gut?  How has it worked out for you? Tell us below.