Great entrepreneurs are inveterate detectives. I visited the Brainy Quote website for some chestnuts about detection from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of that master sleuth Sherlock Holmes:
▪ “It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.”
▪ “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”
▪ “Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them.”
▪ “Nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person.” (Therein rests the great importance of Dr. Watson to Holmes and to Conan Doyle’s stories.)
Great detectives see how ideas play out on themselves and other people on a purely visceral level. The often start by examining themselves for the physiological effects of ideas they are considering.
It pays to read your own body and behaviors. Your stomach is a finely tuned gauge to detect nervousness, uncertainty and stress. Many people find anger to be the root of lower back pain. When we’re confident, we can often sense that certainty through a steady centered feeling in our chests.
Entrepreneurs are detectives who are hot on the trail of tracking down a new idea or how to revitalize an old and tired idea to make it profitable. Entrepreneurs know how to cut their losses and to maximize their wins. While successful entrepreneurs possess great persistence and overcome adversity with determination, they also know when a situation is futile. Trusting their detective instincts is a big part of deciding when a lead is worth following.