"Brain researchers estimate that your unconscious data base outweighs the conscious on an order exceeding ten million to one. This data base is the source of your hidden, natural genius. In other words, a part of you is much smarter than you are. The wise people regularly consult that smarter part." - Michael J. Gelb

When it comes to achieving greater success in business, most people look beyond themselves for insight on what steps they should follow to take their business or career to the next level. They attend conferences, consult with colleagues, watch webinars, sign up for new training, and read books written by experts.

All these are great things to do - but if you only turn to outside experts for answers on what to do next, you could be overlooking a very powerful source of wisdom: YOUR OWN INTUITION.

Successful people trust their own intuition

All of the most successful people I know inquire within and trust their own intuition first and foremost when it comes to finding answers or making any important business or career decisions. They understand that all the ideas you need to complete any task, solve any problem, or achieve any goal are available inside you.

For example, when Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, wanted to buy the Stevens Corporation at auction, he submitted a sealed bid for $165,000. When he awakened the next morning with the number 180,000 in his head, he swiftly changed his bid to $180,000 and successfully secured the company.

The next highest bid was $179,800 - which means Hilton bid just enough to barely edge out a competitor. And that acquisition generated an easy $2 million in profit for him!

This is an excellent reason to study the habits of successful people

Or consider how Mark Victor Hansen and I came up with the title for our best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series...

We had almost finished writing the first book but still didn't have a title for it. Because we both meditate, we decided to "inquire within." Every day for a week, we asked our internal guidance for a bestselling title.

On the third morning, I suddenly saw a hand write the words "chicken soup" on a blackboard in my mind. My immediate reaction was, What does chicken soup have to do with our book? I heard a voice in my head respond, Chicken soup is what your grandmother gave you when you were sick as a child. But this book isn't about sick people, I thought. People's spirits are sick, my inner voice replied. Millions of people are depressed and living in fear and resignation that things will never get better. This book will inspire them and uplift their spirits.

During the remaining minutes of that meditation, the title evolved from Chicken Soup for the Spirit to Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit. When I first heard Chicken Soup for the Soul, I got goose bumps. I have since learned that giving me goose bumps is one of the ways my intuition tells me I am on track.

And over the last 20 years, Chicken Soup for the Soul® has become a brand responsible for more than $2 billion in sales of books and many licensed products including pet food and greeting cards. So, how can you tap into your own intuition to unleash your creative genius, make better decisions, solve problems faster, create winning business strategies, and make more money?

Here are my suggestions:

1. Meditate regularly

In order to be able to listen to your intuition, first you need to be able to "hear" it. This is where regular meditation comes in. It will help you clear out mental distractions and teach you to recognize subtle impulses within. This is especially important when you're about to make a big business decision. I recommend meditating every morning as soon as you wake up. It doesn't have to be for long - even ten or 15 minutes each day will have a significant impact on your life.

As you learn how to meditate and become more spiritually attuned, you can better discern and recognize the sound of your higher self or the voice of God (or the universe, or however you want to describe the power that flows through all things) speaking to you through words, images, and sensations.

When I meditate, I'm able to see connections that were previously not clear to me. I'm able to understand my motivations, fears, and desires at a deeper level.

If I'm dealing with a challenge in my life, solutions come pouring into my mind - clear thoughts and images of the steps I need to take, the people I need to talk to, and what I need to do to transcend the obstacles in my way. It's a truly magical experience.

2. Get clear on the questions you want answered

If you're looking for answers, first you need to get clear on what it is you're asking.

I recommend that you take the time to figure out exactly what truth you're trying to uncover, or decision you need to make regarding your business or career - and write it down on paper in the form of a question.

Then, before you go to bed at night, speak that question aloud at least three times, to embed it into your subconscious. Then put it out of your mind and go to sleep.

When you wake up to perform your meditation the next morning, you may find that your subconscious mind has been busy while you sleep, and ready to provide you with the answers you've been looking for.

3. Cultivate mindfulness so you can receive messages in whatever form they arrive

Your intuition can communicate with you in many ways. It may come to you in a vision or appear as an image while you are meditating or dreaming. It may speak to you as a hunch, a thought, or a voice actually telling you yes, no, go for it, or not yet.

In order to hear it when it speaks to you, practice mindfulness whenever possible. Mindfulness is the act of bringing your complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis in an open, accepting, nonjudgmental way. By remaining mindful in the present moment, you open your awareness of what you're thinking, feeling, and experiencing, so that you can recognize your intuition when it communicates with you.

4. Listen to your body

Your intuition may speak to you through your physical senses.

A negative message or warning may come to you in the form as a chill, the creeps, a sense of restlessness, discomfort in your got, constriction in your chest, tightness or pain in your head, even a sour taste in your mouth.

A positive or "yes" message might come in the form of goose bumps, a dizzy feeling, warmth, a sense of opening or expansiveness in the chest, a sense of relaxation or relief, or a letting go of tension.

5. Listen to your emotions

Maybe your intuition will speak to you through your emotions.

If it's trying to caution you or warn you against taking a particular course of action, you may feel a wave of uneasiness, concern, or confusion when you think about taking that action.

If, on the other hand, when you think about taking that action you feel a rush of joy, excitement or euphoria or profound inner peace, that could be your intuition telling you you're on the right track.

6. Write down your answers

Whenever you access your intuition, make sure to immediately write down any impressions you receive. Intuitive impressions are often subtle and therefore "evaporate" very quickly, so make sure to capture them in writing as soon as possible.

Recent research in neuroscience indicates that an intuitive insight - or any new idea - not captured within 37 seconds is likely never to be recalled. And in 7 minutes, it's gone forever.

So make sure you always have your smartphone or memo pad with you so you can record any intuitive insights or ideas that emerge.

7. Take immediate action

You know the saying, "the universe rewards action?" It's true!

When you act on the information you receive, you'll find that you get more and more intuitive impulses. After a while you will be living in the flow, and it will all seem easy and effortless as the wisdom comes to you and you simply act on it. You will learn to trust yourself more, and receiving insight from your intuition and acting on it will become automatic.

Experts agree that your intuition works better when you trust it. The more you demonstrate faith in your intuition, the more you will see the results of it in your life. So I strongly encourage you to listen to your intuition, trust it, and follow it.

Trusting your intuition is simply another form of trusting yourself, and the more you trust yourself, the more success you will have. This is a crucial factor in personal development for those interested in learning how to be successful.

Practice and be patient - Rome wasn't intuited in a day

If you have never meditated before or practiced "inquiring within" to receive guidance from your intuition, be patient with yourself. It can take time to learn how to quiet the mind and recognize what your higher self is telling you to do.

This article was written on Jack Canefield's Blog