MANAGER

A leader knows what’s best to do;
A manager knows merely how best to do it.
-Ken Adelman, business executive

Jerry White, internationally known business consultant, puts his finger on the critical point of difference between managers and leaders. “Leaders and entrepreneurs use intuition as much as anything in divining vision, strategy and dealing with change. The quantitative bean counters be damned.”

Managers follow rulebooks. Good leaders, if they have enough guts, follow their Gutfeeling. Learn to make the distinction yourself.

Rule books are necessary. But all too often they are substitutes for honest reflection and instinct. “Do it by the book” is an expression you will hear all managers use. It relieves them of responsibility for thinking!

There’s nothing wrong with following the book, unless you are unable to recognize when it’s time to set the rule book aside and follow your Gutfeeling. You already have the benefit of the best advice the book can give you. Now forget it, and work out the problem on your own. Let your instincts tell you…..

Read more of Gutfeeling…..buy the book
Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

INSIGHT

A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, philosopher

Employees with too much insight often drift off-target. They move in circles and the higher up in the management corps they are, the bigger the circles.

If you know too much about a company, you may become a difficult person. If your co-workers think you know too much they’ll see you as someone with the master-key to company secrets that not even the Mounties, Scotland Yard, or the FBI has access to. They’ll also become suspicious of you and you may also attract the anger of corporate managers by being too insightful.

To me, insight is a form of self-knowledge. All of the above simply means that if you are insightful, you ought in general to keep it to yourself. I respect someone who lives by his or her own beliefs. But I’m always suspicious of those who flaunt their beliefs too openly. Share when asked, but be suspicious of those who come on strong.

Read more of Gutfeeling…..buy the book
Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

GROWTH

To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.
-Bruce Lee, movie star

Growth is good. But it may be painful. The emotional pain we have all experienced. Lost job opportunities. Unhappy love affairs. Divorces. Deaths of loved ones. No wonder we call these experiences character building!

And remember all those painful physical growth pains you had when you were young? Teeth growing in, then falling out. Legs growing it seemed about a foot a month? Remember not knowing what to do with your sex urges?

The growth of any company or department is filled with as much pain as it is with joy. Is it any wonder, then, that if you can develop your Gutfeeling, there is a discomfort stage too?

Read more of Gutfeeling…..buy the book

Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

Financial Freedom

A lot of money is money you need and don’t have.
-Peter Urs Bender

Everyone thinks they’re underpaid and overworked. We all aim for financial freedom. But to live a more satisfying life, maybe you should reduce your expectations. You don’t have to give up your financial dreams. But be realistic about your earning potential. Look carefully at your actual needs.

There is a story about a high achiever who takes an island holiday in a foreigh country. He meets a young boy lazing about the beach. In conversation he tells the lad how important it is to work, to improve his English, to go to university.

When the boy asks why, the tourist replies,…..read more

Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

POWER – with Gut Feeling

Power’s twin is responsibility.
-Willa Gibbs, writer

Power is all around us. It surrounds us. We possess it. There are some who say there is no such thing as Spiritual Power. They are mistaken. It can heal or harm. Go to any hospital and see. Miracles do happen. Ask physicians. They have experiences with patients they cannot explain.

Yet many negative things have been said about power. It is hard for us even to view it as an aspect of Gutfeeling. Yet power sets our boundaries. It gives form to our relationships. It even determines how much we let ourselves liberate and express aspects of the unconscious.

If something can be described as negative spirituality or Gutfeeling, the naked pursuit of power must surely be it.

But why?

Read more of Gutfeeling…..buy the book

Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

GOLF

Golf is a spiritual game. It’s like Zen.
You have to let your mind take over.
-Amy Strum Alcott, Golfer

All great sports depend on analysis and instinct. Golf does, too.

There’s a wonderful story about a rabbi from Israel who was invited to a conference in Florida. As it happened, his room backed onto a golf course. He woke up at 4:00am. After looking carefully around and seeing no one on the course, the rabbi, even though it was the Sabbath, took out his clubs and headed for the fairways.

Above, Moses noted this breach of religious etiquette. He went off to tell God, recommending that the rabbi be punished. God looked down just as the rabbi began his swing, and winked. The rabbi scored a perfect hole-in-one!

Moses protested. “A hole-in-one is punishment?” God just looked at him sadly for a moment, then said, “But Moses, it’s the Holy Sabbath; He can’t tell anyone about it.”

Read more of Gutfeeling…..buy the book

Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

Communication – with Gut Feeling

To be twice as powerful – use half the words.
-Peter Urs Bender

To everything there is a structure. Everything has its rules, whether they come in instruction manuals or not.

Communication is one of those activities we cannot not do. If we are silent, say nothing to anyone, we communicate. What do we say? “Stay away from me. I don’t want to/can’t talk. I’m shy/secretive/alone.” Maybe that’s not true, but that’s what we’re communicating. Saying nothing is not an option.

On the other hand if we’re too talkative, can’t keep our mouths closed, we’re communicating the opposite message. “Don’t tell this person anything – unless you want the world to know it.”

It is useful to ask the question, “Why is communication so important?”

I think there are three reasons why it is so important for human beings to communicate effectively.

Read more of Gutfeeling…..

Peter Urs bender, Author
Gut Feeling

Negotiation

Anything is negotiable.
-The Godfather

As a kid, you started negotiating with your parents. How long could you cry until your demands were met? And that was just the beginning! We all negotiate all our lives.

Certain people negotiate better. They aim for more than others. Remember. You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate for.

I am willing to buy your present car for $80,000. The terms are $1 down and $1 per year for the balance. Offer sounds great. But payment terms are lousy and unacceptable.

You have to learn to negotiate with yourself, too. You need to convince yourself to listen more closely to Gutfeeling. Learn to negotiate with yourself after analyzing and scrutinizing. Then listen.

There’s a lot of similarity between negotiating and Gutfeeling.

Read more……..

Peter Urs Bender, author
Gutfeeling