Zig When They Zag: Trusting Your Gut When Making Business Decisions

Zig When They Zag: Trusting Your Gut When Making Business Decisions

Do you often regret not trusting your gut? 

Have you ever had a bad feeling about something which later turn out to be right? 

The advice to trust your gut is not new. To reap the rewards, however, you have to make trusting your gut a regular habit.

Why should you trust your gut? 

Because it pays off — whether it’s in business or personal relationships.

Today, we’ll consider the business end. 

Should you stick to best business practices all the time? Even when your gut says a common business practice is not quite edible for your taste? 

Let’s dive in.

 

Trusting Your Gut For Authenticity

Yes, authenticity has become a buzzword in the business world these days. And that’s for good reason! 

Being authentic makes your marketing incredibly more potent. It helps refine your voice and better connects your goals to your audience. 

One of my clients hired me for an email sequence mock-up. He allowed me to build it using my own creativity and expertise. Before long, I noticed that my client wasn’t a huge fan of what I’d prepared.

Still, he understood the value of it. 

Then, one day, he came to me and told me he had figured it out. He said he didn’t like the style we’d come up with and wanted to do things a bit differently so that it feels “authentic” and right for his brand. I went along.

 

Pro Tip To Zig When They Zag

When you go against the grain, sometimes you stand out in a good way. You appear more unique — this puts you above the competition who decide to play it safe. 

 

You CAN Trust Your Gut And Follow Best Practices

Let’s say you’re keen on following the best business practices for your e-commerce store. One of them might be to keep your menu as short as possible. If you’re selling clothing, this might mean categorizing all upper body wear under a menu labeled, “tops.” 

You do this, yet deep down you want to have your menu subcategorized into sweaters, tank tops, t-shirts, vests, and long-sleeve shirts. 

Do it! 

Don’t go making such changes arbitrarily, though. Figure out what you don’t like about certain best practices, and try to discern why it doesn’t sit well with you. 

Then, go with your gut!

I mentioned a story about a client earlier. We continued to follow best practices for his email marketing, however, we now do so in a way that lines up with his style while leveraging the right best practices for his business.

I admit I didn’t quite understand him until I sat with the idea of trusting your gut and learned a few things from others. 

Now, I get it. 

 

Pro Tip To Zig When They Zag

When should you trust your gut and when should you follow best practices? 

Trust your gut when: 

  • You know a business decision won’t result in an obvious loss. 
  • You’re aware of biases you have and are satisfied you’re not just following conditioned habits. 
  • You’re not just going after something that looks juicy because a light bulb went off in your head as soon as you saw it. 

Ideally, you want to tailor best practices to suit your needs. There’s room for both! 

 

Trust Your Gut While Using A Framework

Best practices are like a blueprint — a high-level guide that explains all parts of the process for your business. 

Think of following a framework instead. The framework is the foundation and structure. It’s the support you need to give your business basic functionality. 

Then, let your instinct take it from there.

There are many ways to work within frameworks and still make the resulting product feel unique to you.

Let’s not disregard the importance of best practices in business. Best practices (or blueprints) are there for a reason. Overall, they work. 

It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak up if something doesn’t feel right. 

 

Pro Tip To Zig When They Zag

Trusting your gut feeling about someone is just as necessary in business as it is in personal relationships.

It’s sometimes difficult to have grit when you’re debating whether to hold onto a client or let them go. Just remember, no one’s ever regretted trusting their gut.

 

Is Trusting Your Gut A Real Thing?

Can gut instinct be wrong? Well, sort of. Like I mentioned earlier, trusting your gut is something you learn over time. 

Here’s how to cultivate it: 

  1. Stop overthinking. 

This just gets in the way of identifying what it is you’re truly leaning towards. It clouds your thought process. Your immediate thoughts or feelings are usually right. Hence the phrase, “gut reaction.”

  1. Focus on yourself and what YOU want. 

Don’t let outside pressure interfere — except for your customers. Listen to them, too.

  1. Slow down. Relax your body

Before you come to a final decision, you need to settle your energy and allow your gut to speak to you without too many sensations getting in the way.

  1. Follow through with your decisions. 

This feeds your confidence in trusting your gut and boosts the chances you’ll do it again.

 

Trusting Your Gut In Marketing 

Whether it’s in business or in life, being true to yourself is the ultimatum. 

Need help to align your gut with your marketing? Been there… I can help! Book a strategy session with me and let’s connect a marketing strategy framework to your gut instinct. Schedule here. I can’t wait to chat with you!

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2 Responses

  1. This is fantastic advice. There have been a few times I wish I would have listened to my gut.

    1. Ah – thank you. I have NEVER regretted trusting my gut. More than once I’ve regretted NOT trusting it. 🙂

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