Gut Feel: Ignore at Your Own Peril
As I look back over 2013, it was the year of gut feel. Unfortunately it was also the year that I ignored it several times, and not once did it end well. For me, ignoring my gut feel impacts my sleep which then rolls over to a, I’ll admit, crappy day with family, or lack of productivity at the office.
My New Year’s resolution is to do a better job listening to instinct and pausing to analyze before acting. In reflecting on the last year, I thought I would share the top three mistakes I have learned from that will make for a more magnificent 2014!
Rule of Three
I am not advocating a knee jerk reaction to every situation but rather looking for patterns. If the same issue comes up from three different sources and your gut is speaking up each time, do something about it.
Hire slow, Fire fast
Not an original concept but this can be difficult, especially for startups who need all the extra help they can get to get the company off the ground. Once you have made that commitment and are paying someone, it can be painful to admit they don’t actually fit with your company – anything from company mission to values and culture. Continuing with a bad fit is detrimental for both the hire and all others, including your company.
Value not Cost
Money is always tight in a startup but cost is not the bottom line. Our new test is to look at the value added and how the spend will impact overall. What are the tangible and intangible benefits?
Additionally, metrics are important but sometimes you have to go with the notion that the project or hire will provide education, have an impact on visibility, or increase your network.