Too many Choices

Tear Down the Walls:

Trust Your Instincts

By David Suzuki- President of Bio-Therapeutic, Inc.

Have you ever met a person and instantly felt as if you have known them forever? This deep and immediate connection is often described as fate, destiny, or a meeting of kindred spirits. While it is difficult to truly define the experience with words, it is unmistakable when it happens.

These encounters seemingly defy logic, reason, and the very boundaries that govern our sophisticated social behaviour. As a result, we knowingly often deny ourselves of what our heart tells us is true. Do we ignore this primitive instinct because it appears to be illogical, or is it because we are afraid to trust, believe, or let down the walls that protect us, all based on a feeling? Risky as it seems, without recognizing that this instinct is real we cannot grow, evolve, or experience life as it was designed. Internally, we know this to be true yet we function as if it does not exist.

Information Mining

Information mining is a staple in today's society. Regardless of whether it is part of a hiring process, while making a purchase on line, or filling out an intake form at a physician's office, our information is perpetually being mined in one way or another to help assist us in making more appropriate decisions - or at least this is the rationale. At the end of the day, it is not all bad in that it works as a type of internal automated networking system that recognizes your patterns and connects you with other people, places, and things that seem likely to fit your profile.

While information mining does bring privacy in to question, it certainly makes “finding the needle in the haystack” a significantly more refined process and can greatly increase your rate of success as well as save you a significant amount of time achieving your unique objectives. When the dust settles however, it is still up to you to make the final decision; do you decide with logic and reason, or go with your gut instinct?

Professional Personality Tests

The first occupational personality tests entered the American work force in the early 20's. By the 60's personality tests were used more often for this purpose than to determine a person's sanity in the world of psychiatry. Today, personality testing is an industry within itself and can cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to carry out and interpret. The rationale is to pay it forward, in that avoiding a bad hire could easily save you tens of thousands of dollars and a mountain of time. This seems like a very logical and sensible approach, and the most strategic way to make a sound decision based on facts rather than emotion. But is it effective?

In Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink, he explores this subject specifically and notes that more often than not your gut or “blink” instinct is more correct and more accurate for you than the most sophisticated tests available on the market today. He relates this to two philosophies. First, that more information is not always better. In fact more information can create a form of analysis paralysis, which simply means that the more data collected the more confusing and daunting the task of making a decision becomes. The second reason is because the data and the system suggests that you are not important or qualified as a decision maker, and as a result you subconsciously surrender your god given ability to make decisions. This in itself can be a very contentious tipping point, and has the potential to lead you to a place that you will not recognize, as it is no longer your vision, your business, or your life. The point being is that only you, know what is right for you.

It's About the Experience

As a skin therapist it is our very instincts combined with science and data that we use to determine how to serve and satisfy each of our clients. In fact, many experts believe that success or lack thereof in the treatment room has everything to do with the person who is performing the service, rather than the product used or the type of facial that is being performed. This is an interesting and profound notion, and answers many questions about the service industry as a whole. It is the reason why you can have the exact same business environment (clinic, customer base, service menu, etc.), intermix it with a different skin therapist, and achieve a completely different result. And by result, I am not referring to the client's actual service results, but rather their experience as it is their immediate response that leads to another booking, or not. Although it is difficult to discern and describe in words what one skin therapist may do so differently than the other, it is abundantly clear that an instinctual difference exists and that it is this difference that can take a business from being OK, to extra ordinary.

Trust Your Instincts

So, what do you do? Make your life and business decisions based on what “feels” good at that moment regardless of how illogical it may seem, regardless of the factual data, and regardless of the consequences? Of course not. In the end good sound decision making must include all of the available facts and data, and most importantly, your intuitive instincts. This is the part that we fail to recognize, respect and champion, and very well may be the most powerful tool that we possess as a human being. Every minute of every day we are processing data and making decisions. When we are interviewing a new team member, for example, we may be asking a basic rudimentary question, however, we are experiencing their body language, etiquette, demeanor and to a certain degree, their character. Whether we care to admit it or not, most of our final decisions in life are based on our experience opposed to the content of an answered question. These basic intuitive instincts exist in all of us, while at the same time it is up to each of us to recognize and trust our instincts, refine them, and allow them to lead us to where we belong - to our vision. As like the touch of our hands on the face, there will never be any test or technology that can duplicate this energy.

Trust Your Instincts

The simple leap of faith of trusting your instincts will open up remarkable new pathways in terms of new vendors partners, new team members, new clients, and most importantly a fuller and more fulfilling life. It allows you the freedom and confidence to believe, trust, and to truly, fully experience life. Trusting your instincts allow you to make expeditious decisions that you already know - are right for you. When this is realized, you will no longer need the walls, as their job is now done - you, are ready to live!

David Suzuki, President of Bio-Therapeutic, Inc., has been an active licensed member of the aesthetics industry for more than 18 years. He is an authority on technology and regulatory issues. Suzuki serves as an advisor to institutions and state boards, writes for numerous industry publications and journals and conducts educational seminars and classes.