I have had a somewhat successful career as both an executive and entrepreneur, always making pragmatic decisions based on data, logic, and reasoning. Growing up poor had something to do with that.

As an executive in tech startups I have often witnessed entrepreneurs making what seemed like emotional decisions, good or bad, just because they felt that way, without any regards to data, or factual evidences. And I am taking about hiring, firing, layoffs, M&A, financing, re-financing, breaking leases, moving locations, closing down branches...

I do read a lot of business and personal development books, and recently I am reading, again, "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek.

Generally speaking I like the book, but there's an entire chapter where Simon praises making decision by listening to one's gut feelings; especially within the context of being an entrepreneur.

I am aware of Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink". I love that book, and the way I interpreted it is that people who have both deep expertise and vast experience in a field, can often, but not always, sense end results with incomplete data. I get that, I have witnessed and experienced that. But to me it's not gut feelings, it's expertise.

I am a good executive but a terrible entrepreneur. I am trying to change that.

Should I go more with my gut feelings AND at the same time take more actions/risks? Without pondering too much about data, and analysis and trying to take calculating risks?

HN: do you have any insightful comments or resources for me?

Thanks in advance.