Now, I ain’t no wizard or philosopher-king, but I’ve lived long enough to know this: if your stomach knots up before a decision, it ain’t just last night’s burrito talking. That, my friend, is your intuition knocking at the door, and you’d do well to let it in. Most times, you already know the answer—you just aren’t ready to admit it.
The world likes to hand out trophies to logic and reason—clean-cut fellows in suits with charts and graphs. But when life throws a curveball, it’s usually your gut, not your spreadsheet, that sees it coming.
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.” – Albert Einstein
The Quiet Voice That Screams the Truth
There was a time I took a job that looked good on paper—pay, perks, and praise. Everything lined up except one small thing: it felt off. Like a song just slightly out of tune. But I talked myself into it, smothered that uneasy feeling with logic and contracts. Six months later, I was walking out with a box and a story about how ignoring your gut can cost you more than your pride.
Truth is, intuition isn’t magic. It’s experience whispering. It’s every red flag you’ve ever seen, bundled into a feeling you can’t quite explain. And most of the time, it’s spot-on.
When my intuition says to sell a stock, it’s usually right. Buying? That’s harder—emotions get in the way.
Experience is the Furnace—Intuition is the Flame
In business, folks talk a lot about data-driven decisions, and sure, numbers matter. But I’ve watched sharp people with ten screens in front of them miss the obvious, while an old hand in the back of the room just nods and says, “Something’s not right.” That’s not guesswork—that’s wisdom.
“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” – Alan Alda
Intuition isn’t opposed to logic. It’s what happens when logic gets baked into your bones. When you’ve seen enough deals go sideways, or people say one thing and do another, you start picking up patterns your conscious mind can’t even name.
And in relationships—don’t get me started. If someone gives you the chills for no good reason, that is the reason. You don’t need a PowerPoint presentation to walk away from a bad vibe. But we all go against it anyway. We think we’re smarter. We think maybe this time will be different.
One factor I weigh heavily in business is honesty. Sometimes the numbers and ideas are vague—you’ve got to trust the people presenting them. How honest have they been? Do they toe the line or blur it? Ultimately, this vague thought—this intuitive read—helps me decide who I’ll work with. First come the facts; intuition fills in the gaps.
When to Listen, When to Check
Now, let’s be clear. Intuition isn’t flawless. Sometimes fear dresses up like instinct and tries to pass itself off as wisdom. That’s why you test it—against facts, experience, and sometimes a friend with good sense and no skin in the game.
“Intuition is seeing with the soul.” – Dean Koontz
But when your gut speaks up with calm certainty—not panic, not noise, just that still, small voice—you’d be a fool to ignore it.
We want to believe in people, in ideas—especially if it’s our own. But deep inside, we can feel the truth. We need to listen to that and dig deeper.
How to Look at a Business Idea
So you have this business idea… intuition tells you there might be a market.
You gather some facts—some good, some not so good. Analysis.
You decide to investigate certain aspects… intuition again.
You need more research, but you think the problems might be overcome. Still intuition.
You speak to others about the idea and get input. Analysis.
You look at possible competitors. More analysis.
Ultimately, you put the good and bad side by side and weigh them. Analysis.
And you decide to do it anyway, because you think the reward is worth the risk. Intuition.
You decide to limit your losses by making some contacts and reducing your initial expenditure. Analysis.
You decide to give a business that is losing money six months to see if it can turn around. Intuition.
So you see—deciding on a business idea requires both sides of the process.
If I had a nickel for every time someone said, “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t listen,” I’d own a small island by now. And probably feel uneasy about it for no reason I could explain.
“Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.” – Michael Burke
So here’s my two cents: trust your gut. It’s not always right, but it’s usually trying to keep you out of a ditch. Logic will win the debate, sure—but your intuition already saw the fight coming and quietly stepped out of the room.
By the way, remember: facts beat gut feelings—but always double-check the facts. Always. If someone hands you the facts, use your intuition to feel them out—and then work backward. The world is full of liars who’ll tell you exactly what you want to hear.
In a world where we’re drowning in data and starving for wisdom, that quiet little voice might just be the smartest thing you’ve got. Plus remember it is the only thing AI can’t match, at least for now.
EXTRA CREDIT
Beyond the Brain: The Self, Consciousness, and the Cosmic Connection
First Impressions Matter—You Have 3 Seconds
PRIDE
The Tapestry of Life
