Craig Collins, JP Morgan
When I interviewed Craig Collins, he was Vice President, Principal Finance at JP Morgan Securities in London. I was visiting London and called Craig because he is my cousin and I had not seen him for many years.
I had no intention of interviewing him until, in speaking about my business and the research for this book, he expressed how often he relies on intuition in everyday dealings at JP Morgan.
As an investment banker, his role involves looking beyond the analysis finding new investment opportunities for the global bank. Craig’s professional training is in accountancy, which relies heavily on logical analysis. His career change enabled him to allow his intuition to become a more active force. He recognises that intuition is an invaluable ally in filtering information and determining priorities in business decisions. Craig met with me in his office in London’s financial district in a multilevel skyscraper which houses the Banks head office. It was unusual to see my cousin in this sombre environment where he obviously had made his mark. Craig related a situation he had recently experienced when logical thinking over-rode his intuition.
I find that the really important decisions I tend to use intuition for.
There are some cases where I get feelings, and I am not always able to articulate why I am chasing a particular deal, for example, in business development.
In a recent competitive bid for a new business opportunity. Craig’s intuition helped to determine the correct price to offer for the business. The group did not agree and bid a different price, subsequently losing a two-to-three billion Euro deal for the bank.
If they had followed Craig’s intuition, a different outcome was assured.
I asked him what happens when he has ignored his intuition.
It’s has turned around and bit me!
The feeling you have talked about, is it a gut feeling?
How does it work for you? (is it physical or)
It is very quick for me. It is almost instantaneous. Within a second of seeing the facts, it is an ability to map it all together.
J.P. Morgan, the founder of the investment group was known for playing Solitaire prior to making an important decision, distracting his logical mind and allowing his intuition to come into play.