2. What is intuition?What is intuition?
The hunchThe hunch
The gut feelingThe gut feeling
The sudden insightThe sudden insight
The flash out ofThe flash out of
blueblue
All these areAll these are
evidence ofevidence of
intuitionintuition
3. DefinitionDefinition
The capacity for guessing accurately; sharpThe capacity for guessing accurately; sharp
insight.insight.
Intuition is knowing without knowing how youIntuition is knowing without knowing how you
know.know.
The act or faculty of knowing or sensingThe act or faculty of knowing or sensing
without the use of rational processes;without the use of rational processes;
immediate cognition.immediate cognition.
A more common definition is knowingA more common definition is knowing
something without the use of the fivesomething without the use of the five
known senses.known senses.
4. Five truths about intuitionFive truths about intuition
1. Intuition must be developed.1. Intuition must be developed.
Each of us has intuition within us, but we must accept theEach of us has intuition within us, but we must accept the
responsibility for our individual style of intuition and itsresponsibility for our individual style of intuition and its
development.development.
2. Intuition and reason are complements2. Intuition and reason are complements ..
It is the combination of reason, experience, information andIt is the combination of reason, experience, information and
intuition that is so powerful.intuition that is so powerful.
3. Intuition is unemotional.3. Intuition is unemotional.
It is paying attention clearly to the most appropriate alternativeIt is paying attention clearly to the most appropriate alternative
that comes from the creative Essence.that comes from the creative Essence.
4. Intuition requires action.4. Intuition requires action.
Follow-through is key to successful use of intuition in business.Follow-through is key to successful use of intuition in business.
It requires timely hard work.It requires timely hard work.
5. Intuition is mistake free.5. Intuition is mistake free.
There will always be "rational" reasons to support intuitiveThere will always be "rational" reasons to support intuitive
leaps. Beyond this we must have absolute faith that the intuitiveleaps. Beyond this we must have absolute faith that the intuitive
part of us does not make mistakes.part of us does not make mistakes.
5. Evolution of intuitionEvolution of intuition
Intuition is the oldest, most vital part of human intelligence. It is inIntuition is the oldest, most vital part of human intelligence. It is in
daily use and accounts for human survival as well as for the secret ofdaily use and accounts for human survival as well as for the secret of
most successes.most successes.
Intuition has been reduced to a myth and allowed to sink into theIntuition has been reduced to a myth and allowed to sink into the
province of mystics and fringe groups because its operation isprovince of mystics and fringe groups because its operation is
unconscious.unconscious.
In the course of the evolution of human intelligence, intuition had toIn the course of the evolution of human intelligence, intuition had to
become unconscious for the sake of the brain's economicbecome unconscious for the sake of the brain's economic
effectiveness.effectiveness.
Intuition has its seed in ancestral instincts for survival and adaptation.Intuition has its seed in ancestral instincts for survival and adaptation.
For our ancestor's survival, there was no time for thinking or consciousFor our ancestor's survival, there was no time for thinking or conscious
and laborious logic. Their responses had to be instantaneous. Theand laborious logic. Their responses had to be instantaneous. The
sound of movement in the brush caused an immediate reaction. Thosesound of movement in the brush caused an immediate reaction. Those
who failed to respond were removed from the gene pool by voraciouswho failed to respond were removed from the gene pool by voracious
predators.predators.
Therefore these original instincts, now distilled asTherefore these original instincts, now distilled as
intuition, had to be based on a rapid-access fastintuition, had to be based on a rapid-access fast
track system separate from conscious thought, andtrack system separate from conscious thought, and
unencumbered by hesitation and doubt.unencumbered by hesitation and doubt.
6. Think about the time, before speech was bornThink about the time, before speech was born
some quarter of a million years ago.some quarter of a million years ago.
There was little likelihood for full, alertThere was little likelihood for full, alert
awareness.awareness.
Besides hunting, gathering, and preparingBesides hunting, gathering, and preparing
food, they enjoyed satiety and sleep on thefood, they enjoyed satiety and sleep on the
one hand, and apprehension on the other.one hand, and apprehension on the other.
They must have lived in a sort of twilight,They must have lived in a sort of twilight,
dreamy state.dreamy state.
What we now call myths and figures of speechWhat we now call myths and figures of speech
(like metaphors) were realities.(like metaphors) were realities.
And instinctual, now called intuitive,And instinctual, now called intuitive,
reasoning was their only daily intelligencereasoning was their only daily intelligence
7. After speech was developed, allowing oralAfter speech was developed, allowing oral
and written tradition and eventually theand written tradition and eventually the
transfer of information, the mind sharpenedtransfer of information, the mind sharpened
into the cone of consciousness, and fantasyinto the cone of consciousness, and fantasy
separated from reality.separated from reality.
And techno-intelligence, stimulated by theAnd techno-intelligence, stimulated by the
evolution of the human eye, the prehensileevolution of the human eye, the prehensile
hand, and the rapid growth of the ten billion-hand, and the rapid growth of the ten billion-
celled new brain (the neocortex), began tocelled new brain (the neocortex), began to
bend the environment to suit Man.bend the environment to suit Man.
Thus logical, speech-promoted intelligenceThus logical, speech-promoted intelligence
took over at the expense of instincttook over at the expense of instinct
8. Homo sapiens did this adaptive jumpingHomo sapiens did this adaptive jumping
by compelling the environment to adaptby compelling the environment to adapt
to it, rather than adapting itself to theto it, rather than adapting itself to the
environment.environment.
The inventive and creative aspect ofThe inventive and creative aspect of
techno-intelligence had to be built ontechno-intelligence had to be built on
the experiential basis of those instincts.the experiential basis of those instincts.
Hence, there is a parallel system for theHence, there is a parallel system for the
slower-than-survival-orientedslower-than-survival-oriented
emergence of intuition.emergence of intuition.
9. Once the conscious, new brain evolved, withOnce the conscious, new brain evolved, with
its two cerebral hemispheres joined byits two cerebral hemispheres joined by
connective nerve fibers (corpus callosum), theconnective nerve fibers (corpus callosum), the
mind had to protect its cone of consciousnessmind had to protect its cone of consciousness
—its precious, concentrated thinking—by—its precious, concentrated thinking—by
thinking about a thing at a time.thinking about a thing at a time.
The mind thus evolved barriers, dams orThe mind thus evolved barriers, dams or
censors to protect that pinpoint of clear, alertcensors to protect that pinpoint of clear, alert
reasoning from invasion by items stored in thereasoning from invasion by items stored in the
brain's memory banks.brain's memory banks.
These barriers become porous whileThese barriers become porous while
dreaming, and defective in psychopathics,dreaming, and defective in psychopathics,
schizophrenics, and during collapse toschizophrenics, and during collapse to
senility.senility.
10. Evidences 0f intuitionEvidences 0f intuition
Despite the fact that many people have little respectDespite the fact that many people have little respect
for the concept of intuition (in these days of over-for the concept of intuition (in these days of over-
reasoning), all of us, including myself, still refer to itreasoning), all of us, including myself, still refer to it
as instinct: "I have a good instinct for this," or "It wasas instinct: "I have a good instinct for this," or "It was
an instinctive reaction.“an instinctive reaction.“
There could hardly have been much consciousThere could hardly have been much conscious
thinking before speech evolved some 250,000 yearsthinking before speech evolved some 250,000 years
ago. Yet Pith's (Pithecanthropus erectus) ancestryago. Yet Pith's (Pithecanthropus erectus) ancestry
goes back some 4.5 million years. He could notgoes back some 4.5 million years. He could not
possibly have survived his predators or such naturalpossibly have survived his predators or such natural
threats as ice ages without intuitive decisions—suchthreats as ice ages without intuitive decisions—such
as where to make fire, when to store meat, or whenas where to make fire, when to store meat, or when
to move to the highlands for the summer.to move to the highlands for the summer.
11. Even today, in daily life, most humansEven today, in daily life, most humans
don't exhibit well-reasoned thoughts, letdon't exhibit well-reasoned thoughts, let
alone much originality. What do theyalone much originality. What do they
rely on? Customs, traditions andrely on? Customs, traditions and
intuitionintuition
In the short run of mere survival, onlyIn the short run of mere survival, only
intuition saves them from accidents,intuition saves them from accidents,
foolish risks, disease and emergencyfoolish risks, disease and emergency
decisions in the social crises ofdecisions in the social crises of
marriage, childraising, and personalmarriage, childraising, and personal
disputes.disputes.
12. In tomorrow's research climate, you will be forced toIn tomorrow's research climate, you will be forced to
make more decisions in a less traditional manner.make more decisions in a less traditional manner.
You will need to reach decisions without sufficientYou will need to reach decisions without sufficient
data or when information is too costly to assemble. Itdata or when information is too costly to assemble. It
is in precisely this kind of decision-making climateis in precisely this kind of decision-making climate
that intuitive skills are most useful.that intuitive skills are most useful.
People who are highly intuitive function best inPeople who are highly intuitive function best in
complex, rapidly changing situations. They like tocomplex, rapidly changing situations. They like to
wrestle with the unknown and to choose amongwrestle with the unknown and to choose among
alternatives that are all backed by good arguments.alternatives that are all backed by good arguments.
They thrive when facing a high level of uncertainty,They thrive when facing a high level of uncertainty,
when time is limited, and when precedent is lacking.when time is limited, and when precedent is lacking.
13. Taking Advantage ofTaking Advantage of
IntuitionIntuition
So how do we get to the place where weSo how do we get to the place where we
can really use intuition?can really use intuition?
Like learning any other skill, the most important partLike learning any other skill, the most important part
is practice.is practice.
I knew no way of using any ability I was born with.I knew no way of using any ability I was born with.
I did have a few interesting experiences that madeI did have a few interesting experiences that made
me sit back and wonder.me sit back and wonder.
From there I began to get curious. I began learningFrom there I began to get curious. I began learning
about it, studying and experiencing it. Now I’ve hadabout it, studying and experiencing it. Now I’ve had
enough experiences to know it’s realenough experiences to know it’s real
14. Perceiving intuitively orPerceiving intuitively or
imaginingimagining
As you become aware of how you perceiveAs you become aware of how you perceive
things, you will begin to recognize thethings, you will begin to recognize the
difference between perception anddifference between perception and
imagination.imagination.
Perceptions tend to be, quick, moving, andPerceptions tend to be, quick, moving, and
changing.changing.
Our minds grasp stimulus very quickly andOur minds grasp stimulus very quickly and
move on.move on.
Whereas imagination tends to be more stable,Whereas imagination tends to be more stable,
more concrete, evolving slowly.more concrete, evolving slowly.
How about that rose, can you hold it clearly inHow about that rose, can you hold it clearly in
your mind? That’s a quality of imagination.your mind? That’s a quality of imagination.
15. Identifying "Intuitive “&"thinkers"Identifying "Intuitive “&"thinkers"
They challenge traditional assumptions. They preferThey challenge traditional assumptions. They prefer
non-routine tasks and informal work styles andnon-routine tasks and informal work styles and
settings. Often their bursts of energy are followed bysettings. Often their bursts of energy are followed by
slow periods. They solve problems by followingslow periods. They solve problems by following
hunches instead of traditional logic, often bouncinghunches instead of traditional logic, often bouncing
around from the back of a problem to the front ratheraround from the back of a problem to the front rather
than reasoning in a sequence.than reasoning in a sequence.
In contrast, "thinkers" follow routines and step-by-In contrast, "thinkers" follow routines and step-by-
step procedures and often prefer a standard workstep procedures and often prefer a standard work
schedule. They are great for many crucial tasks, haveschedule. They are great for many crucial tasks, have
good follow-through, and seem "steadier"—moregood follow-through, and seem "steadier"—more
reliablereliable
16. ThinkerThinker
• • Careful with detailsCareful with details
• • Strong on follow-through and implementationStrong on follow-through and implementation
• • Enjoys handling routine and repetitive tasksEnjoys handling routine and repetitive tasks
• • Works smoothly day to dayWorks smoothly day to day
IntuitiveIntuitive
• • Good at generating ideasGood at generating ideas
• • Good, creative problem-solverGood, creative problem-solver
• • Can spot emerging trendsCan spot emerging trends
• • Can make sense of situations even if data are limitedCan make sense of situations even if data are limited
or unavailableor unavailable
17. Getting the Best from BothGetting the Best from Both
Clearly, what we need is a climate and a method that allowClearly, what we need is a climate and a method that allow
intuitive brain skills to flourish and be integrated with traditionalintuitive brain skills to flourish and be integrated with traditional
approaches.approaches.
When you face a tough problem, I believe it's best to start withWhen you face a tough problem, I believe it's best to start with
Separating the intuitives from the thinkers, so ideas can surfaceSeparating the intuitives from the thinkers, so ideas can surface
freely and receive an open hearing. This way, you will get morefreely and receive an open hearing. This way, you will get more
and better suggestions from the intuitives because they noand better suggestions from the intuitives because they no
longer face a "cold war" of criticism from thinkerslonger face a "cold war" of criticism from thinkers
Selecting thinkers to evaluate the suggestions. Thus you willSelecting thinkers to evaluate the suggestions. Thus you will
still obtain the benefits of the critical review (although at anstill obtain the benefits of the critical review (although at an
unusually late stage in the process).unusually late stage in the process).
This process vastly improves the ultimate quality of the finalThis process vastly improves the ultimate quality of the final
product because intuitive people tend to be careless with factsproduct because intuitive people tend to be careless with facts
and details, especially during implementation.and details, especially during implementation.
