Emotion Trumps Intellect (or Does it?)

Every decision you make, whether to move to a new city or to decline bread at dinner, is based upon your emotions, your intellect, or a combination of both. My own decisions are based upon my emotions, verified by my intellect. When the decision is a close one, I reach a more satisfying result when I allow my feelings to prevail.

My father on the other hand, believes that intellect trumps emotion. And his approach has worked rather well for him.

Dad and I have enjoyed our running difference of opinion on this issue for years, and while we don’t agree, Dad’s view can be the right one for many people and in many situations.

I’m going to present both sides of our argument and let you decide.

EMOTION TRUMPS INTELLECT?

When my son Craig moved to Raleigh-Durham he asked me to help him find a home. On the first day of looking the realtor showed us seven houses. That evening Craig said, “Dad, you didn’t give me an opinion on any of the houses we saw today. Did you like any of them?”

“Craig, your job is to find a house you love. If I love it and you don’t, you shouldn’t buy it. If you love it, then I’ll give you my opinion and help you with the real estate details. Until you find a house you love, my opinion is irrelevant.”

The next day we found a house that Craig loved. I believe that when you find something, or someone you love, you should go for it immediately. So I insisted that we visit the owner that evening. Craig presented his offer, the owner negotiated, and within an hour we agreed on the terms of a sale. Emotion Trumps Intellect.

Recently, my daughter Jill saw a rescue dog she instantly loved. Jill’s family already owns two dogs, but she has seldom loved a dog at first sight before. That dog now lives happily with her in Northern California. Emotion triumphed.

I remember the first time I saw my wife Daveen out of the corner of my eye at her workplace many years ago. At that time I said to myself, “Wow. I could love that woman.” I didn’t know if she was married or single. I only felt “Wow.” No intellect. Just emotion.

INTELLECT TRUMPS EMOTION?

My father taught me a great deal about real estate investment when I was young. He always said, “Look at the numbers first. Never be seduced by ‘pride of ownership.’ If the numbers work, make an offer. Only look at the property once you have a deal.” My dad’s advice has been extremely valuable. When buying commercial real estate, I keep my emotions out of the decision until after my intellect has evaluated the investment.

I have spent more than forty-five years buying and selling commercial real estate. Over the years my dad’s advice has helped me to avoid the emotional trap we all can fall into of “I want this now.”

Once I did not follow my father’s advice and I visited the property first. It was the lovely 301 unit Governor’s Square apartments in downtown Sacramento. I liked it so much that I agreed to pay the asking price. I overpaid, lost money, and was lucky to get most of my investment back when I sold it four years later. This is the perfect example of a situation where I should NOT have let my emotions trump my intellect.

Dad is one hundred years, and has always lived by his principles. A few months ago he told me that he had read a newspaper article about Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Will Rogers.

“The article said that all three of these great men had one thing in common. They didn’t bear grudges. When Mandela came into power he did not show any resentment toward those who had imprisoned him for twenty-seven years.”

Then my dad announced, “I’m going to do the same. I’m not going to carry around grudges anymore.”

And, as always, his actions have matched his words. True to his word, Dad has learned to forgive and has now become much more complimentary and mellow.  When I was young he was a firebrand.

Dad’s intellect has trumped, or at least quarantined, his emotion. His longevity must be, at least in part, a testament to his eliminating emotional stress from his life. The man still has all of his wits, and I enjoy his company—including our running disagreements.

YOU DECIDE

Can intellect trump emotion? Should emotion overrule intellect? There are situations where a case could be made for either view. But ultimately these are questions which each of us must answer for ourselves. But the important thing is that you choose intentionally. Don’t let your emotions adversely impact sound business judgment, but don’t allow your intellect to prevent your finding joy in your life.  In other words, take a chance, but (maybe) not too big a chance.

Alan