The Kid …

Decisions. Those points in time that define your life. Truth? You are the product of the decisions you make. For sure. Analyzing, rationalizing facts, weighing the pluses and minuses. The intellectual necessities. Essential. I’ve spent a lifetime interviewing candidates for jobs, transitioning professionals through careers, helping people navigate crucial times in their lives. My coaching? When all the information is in. (Don’t overdo gathering info by the way. I have found most who can’t make a decision always seek more information … only confusing themselves.)

My advise? You’ve weighed all the facts … talked to confidants, colleagues, family members. Good. Now!

Sit back, maybe with a glass of wine? … soothing music. Relax and ask … “How do I feel~~ in my ‘gut’?” About the decision I’m about to make? What’s my “gut” instinct about this person? How might I feel a day, a week later? After I’ve made my decision.

Best, most decisions in my experience … are as much matters of the “heart” as they are the “head.” Some rely entirely on facts. OK… I get that. Decisions must focus importantly on the facts. But in my view… “heart” trumps “head” almost every time? What your “gut” tells you is defining. Here’s the best way for me to illustrate “gut” feel for you… 

“The Kid”

The kid was Columbia’s third string running back. On the bench, every game, uniform clean. Back to his locker after each game … uniform clean. Simply, he never got to play. Then one day … the Princeton game! For the Ivy League Championship. Both first string running backs go down with injuries in the first quarter. Oh oh. Sitin’ on the bench … there’s the Kid. The Coach, reluctantly takes a deep breath. Looks over. “OK, kid, you’re going in.”The Kid scores two touchdowns before halftime, catches the winning pass with 40 seconds left in the game. Columbia beats Princeton 28 to 26. The coach runs up, eyes wide. “Kid! If I’d known you could play like that, you’d have been starting day one!” What just happened?! The Kid, exhausted, looks up. “Coach, did you ever see me walking across the field arm and arm with my father after practice each day?”

Coach nods curiously. “Sure, many times.”

“Well, coach, you see for most of my life my father was blind. Last week he died. And today was the first game he ever saw me play.

Feel that? That’s your heart speaking to you. Listen to your heart… when you make those key decisions. Always trust your “gut.” I invite you to ponder, reflect.

Here? The coach had a painful feeling in his gut. He found he had only one choice. Decide the kid would play. He had to put him in the game. So, sometimes we are faced with circumstances when no decision can be made other than the one choice in front of us.

Empathy, feelings … “gut” feelings. Will almost always direct us to best decisions. Especially the big ones.