Well, I’m not a professional basketball fan. Some in my family are, but I personally got stuck on basketball in college and have remained true to the Carolina Tar Heels. With such a dynasty there was no need to move up to the pros. But, this morning when I turned on the television there was an interview with LeBron James. Although I’m not a fan of the pros, I’m not unaware of the hype that has followed his announcement of his choice of team as he prepares to move from Ohio to the Miami Heat. But, that is not what struck me about the interview. Personally, I do not care where he plays. As we say in the south, I don’t have a dog in the hunt.
Anyway, as LeBron James was being asked why he chose the Heat, he stated that Warren Buffett had told him to “follow his gut.” Well, that sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Of course, I will never have the opportunity to have Mr. Buffett offer me such sage advice but it did start me thinking.
My stomach was growling. I had not had my breakfast. Anyway, I laughed, thinking that my “gut” was telling me something. As I poured a cup of coffee and took a seat at the breakfast room table to watch the rest of the “Good Morning America” I was struck by the simple words “follow your gut.” After all if Warren Buffett had offered the advice, it has to be valuable knowledge. Who can argue with his success?
As I sat and thought about those seemingly simple words, I was reminded that many of us spend a part of our lives being torn between the little voice that tells us that it is alright to do whatever we want to do and that gut feeling that is the “voice” of reason. I began to think back over time — at my age that’s a lot to think about. I have made my share of misktakes in life. All of us have, or will. But, as I reviewed many of my choices and failures, what my dad referred to as character building experiences, I was reawakened to the notion that my best decisions have been based on “gut feelings.”
I’m not going to say that we should not think. We should think things through before we make our life decisions. But, you know, we control our brains — or we can. And, sometimes our “wants” color our thinking. We can rationalize our way through anything. Many of us have. Many more will in the future. We can convince ourselves by our thoughts that what we want to do is right — “logically” speaking. And, sometimes our rationalizations and our thinking have taken us to the edge, or sometimes over.
I can remember once, a long, long time ago when I wanted to buy a car. It was an expensive car, too expensive for my wallet, but almost perfect for my personal tastes. I saved the money to buy the car. (At least, my logic didn’t convince me to finance it.) Anyway, I had worked hard to save the money. At the time it would have been enough for a good start on a retirement plan. But, once I had the money saved, maybe it was my gut that told me not to buy the car. That was one of those times when I followed my gut. I put the money in savings. And, to be honest I was just as happy driving the small Chevrolet I bought. Within the year, my mother became ill and I needed the money I had in savings to help take care of her.
Maybe that’s not the best example, but it was one of those times when I did follow my gut rather than my flawed thinking. Had I purchased the car of my dreams, I wonder now how my mother would have received the medical treatment she needed.
Of course, over the past few months we have seen great athletes and politicians being taken down by their brains. Many convinced themselves that because they had money or power or position that they were above the law or morality — or that their commitments were not as important as their desires. That’s what their brains did for them. Maybe they should have listened to their gut.
I’m not dismissing correct thinking by any means. But, I am convinced that our brains can lie to us or that we can manipulate our thinking because it is within our control. There is something about the primal gut that is a force we cannot control. So, maybe after we think things through, we should sit back for a while and listen to what the gut of reason tells us.
Who knows? Maybe LeBron James is following the money. Who could blame him? Or, maybe LeBron James is following his dream for a championship ring. Or, maybe LeBron James is following Warren Buffett’s advice. I bet most of us would have been disappointed if Mr. Buffett had offered us such simple advice — follow your gut. Or, maybe we would have taken the advice and followed it. After all, it does feel right.
