The most important decisions of your life will be made with your intuition and gut, not analysis…
I think Jeff Bezos actually explains it best with his heuristic for decision-making:
When you can make decisions with analysis, do it. But, all of the most important decisions will be made by instinct.
When I decided in 2020 to make the leap and become a full-time angel investor, there was no “data” to support that decision. The capital markets were essentially frozen, innovation had been kneecapped by lockdowns, and no one was investing in anything new. There was no obvious reason for me to take such a substantial career risk in the middle of a pandemic. But, it turned out to be the best professional decision I had ever made.
Whenever I make an investment, I start by looking at the data as a disqualifying mechanism. I look at the data to tell me all the reasons NOT to invest. Then, I listen to my gut to tell me whether this company and founder are worth backing.
This is the same advice that I give to founders, colleagues, mentees, and even my own children:
Learn to trust your gut and it will never lead you wrong.
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