I was having trouble with QuickBooks and had to ask a co-worker to help me determine whether an invoice had been paid. It had been, so I wrote down the check number and date so I could go back to the vendor with the information. As I was about to hit send, I thought to myself, "I should check whether the check has cleared."
"Nah, then I'd have to ask him to go into QuickBooks again." So I sent it.
And two minutes later I received a response from the vendor. "Can you see if the check was cashed?"
As if I didn't know that was going to happen.
This type of thing happens all the time, doesn't it?
I should go put out the trash now. Nah, I'll remember after dinner. And then the next morning as the trash truck rolls by without our trash in it, I'm kicking myself.
I haven't heard from that client in a while. I should check in and try to strengthen the relationship. Well, I don't want to be a nuisance. I'm busy. I'll do it next week. And then I hear we've lost the business.
Your gut isn't always right. But often it is. Ask this question to determine whether you should listen: What's the worst that could happen if I don't check this out? In the first case, it was that I'd need to bug my co-worker again about that check. Not the end of the world. In the second case, it's that if we don't put the trash out, we'll go without trash pickup for a week. That's a little more painful. In the third case, we lost the business. It may have already been too late when I had that gut check, but I sure wish I didn't have to deal with the regret of not being proactive.
It might be a small voice you hear. It might be a little tug at your heart. It may be a gut instinct. Whatever it is and wherever it hits you, there's something to learn. Trust it.
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash