Hearing Voices<b></b>

Are you possessed? No, I don't mean by the demons thatenabledThe Exorcist's Regan to turn her head a full 360degrees. But I have a theory (previously unspoken) that mostsuccessful people are possessed by some force (or spirit, if youwill) that drives you toward your goals. Sometimes this canmanifest itself literally as a voice in your head. Or it can bejust a feeling you get in your gut that leads you in a certaindirection. However your possession manifests itself, it'simportant to pay attention. Too many of us are so fixated on thereal and tangible that we ignore the more ephemeral, though it canlead us to the answers to our questions and challenges.

Now, I'm not telling you to go on a retreat, head for thebeach or take up meditation or yoga. (Not that those arenecessarily bad suggestions, but I, for one, am incapable ofclearing my mind.) Frequently the best solutions come to you whenyou aren't even actively seeking them. Suddenly a "whatif" pops into your head. The key here is to not ignore theniggling thought, but to play it out. What if you lowered yourprices? Would you make more by selling more? What if you changedyour marketing message? What if you targeted an entirely newaudience for your products and/or services? What if you teamed upwith a partner or another business for easier expansion? You getthe picture, right?