You may be wondering what intuition has to do with business, especially in a world where they are often kept separate, or where intuition is not recognized at all.  Intuition is not a gift that only certain people are born with - we are all born intuitive.  We just need to learn to recognize it, motivated by how we can benefit. 

Let's start with a few definitions from Webster -

Business:  An occupation, profession or trade.

Intuition:  Direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process.  A keen and quick insight.  Pure, untaught, noninferential knowledge. 

When we integrate the two we have Business Intuition:  Using intuition to quickly perceive the truth about business.

Most successful entrepreneurs use intuition in business, whether they call it intuition or "shooting from the hip."  Here's an excerpt of an article from Black Entrepreneur Magazine:  "[Oprah] Winfrey has spent her entire business career beating the odds. Intuition and timing have been her strongest allies in her ascent.  Winfrey strongly believes that intuition is a guiding force. "That is truly the way my life works. I believe it works that way for everybody, but you have to allow yourself to be in the space where you are carried by the flow of life and not pushing upstream," she maintains. "When you are in the flow, all things come as they should, all the time. I believe you can move into the stratosphere. I believe there is no ceiling.""

 
Intuition can be used to access expanded vision and creativity, to confidently validate your business direction and develop an optimal action plan.  

I was recently looking for new office space and challenges kept popping up with each of the spaces I was considering - everything from current tenants dragging their feet vacating, owners being inflexible in their lease terms, and leasing agents not being responsive.  I decided to turn off the mind analysis that was creating frustration in finding just the right space and let my intuition be my guide.  I visited each of the 3 spaces.  At each location I took a few deep breaths and released all the pent up energy around the negotiations.  Next I closed my eyes and imagined myself working there and just experienced the energy of the space including how my physical body felt.  The decision then became easy - clarity at last!  One of the 3 spaces felt clearly more relaxed as well as enthusiastic and creative than the others.  My decision was made.  Interestingly, the searching and negotiations concluded positively shortly after I let my intuition guide me in making the right decision.

(By the way... watch for an announcement soon on the grand opening of my new office.)

So why not incorporate intuition into your work day and let it help you make optimal decisions?  It starts with turning down the mind chatter and listening to the wisdom of your soul - your intuition.