Let’s be real for a second—sometimes, you just have to ignore the numbers. That’s right, I said it. As business owners, we’re taught to track every dollar, every metric, every tiny detail. But sometimes, your gut knows things that your spreadsheets just can’t show you.
Why do I say this? Because as business owners, we have to follow our gut. Sometimes what we feel, what we know in our core being to be true, is not presently reflected in the financials. For example, that key hire you made two years ago might be crushing their sales numbers, but if they’re toxic to the culture you’ve worked so hard to create, is it really worth it? Or what about that client who brings in great margins but talks down to your employees? We often see these problems long before they show up in the bank account.
I want to encourage you to follow your gut. You know your team and your clients better than anyone else. If something (or someone) doesn’t sit right with you—if you get that uneasy pause every time you think about them—step back and look at the big picture. Is that employee or client truly worth what you might lose? Letting go of a top sales producer to protect your culture shows you value your people over profits. Walking away from a client who mistreats your team shows your employees you care about their well-being more than the bottom line.
Trust yourself. Sometimes, the best decisions aren’t the ones that look best on paper—they’re the ones that feel right in your heart.
-Lisa Dionisio