I love people watching. I love guessing what’s going through her mind as I watch. There is much to learn by studying human behavior. It’s easy to apply the lessons to my life and, in turn, to my business.

I was sitting in an airport lounge. An alarm went off. Look up. Nobody moved. The agents at the gate went about their business. The other passengers continued to read, talk on the phone, and mind their own business.

That I have to do? The alarm was loud and insistent. I got up and asked the agent. They told me it was just a test and not to worry. I went back to where he was sitting.

When I sat down I started to think. Why was I the only one who seemed concerned? Why wasn’t anyone else moving? When did it start to be okay to ignore alarms, let alone one at an airport?

It just so happened that there was nothing to worry about in this situation; however, here are some lessons I learned.

Why was I the only one worried? Humans are pack animals. When we see others ignore something, we feel safe ignoring it too. On the other hand, when we see others panic about something, we are more likely to panic, even if there is nothing to panic about.

Lesson learned: decide for yourself if there is something you should pay attention to. Just because someone tells you that the situation is okay (or that there is a problem), take a moment to assess the situation for yourself. This will allow you to make the right decision for you and your business.

Why wasn’t anyone else moving? There is comfort in not standing out.

Lesson learned: the magic in your life and in your business happens when you stand out. That’s what marketing and advertising are for, to help you differentiate yourself from your competition. Not only is it okay to stand out, it’s vital to the survival of your business.

When did it start to be okay to ignore alarms? It’s easier to leave things as they are and hope that everything is fine. I see customers ignoring alarms every day at their business. You may think that a potential client is going to be difficult, but you accept it anyway. Perhaps you miss deadlines or have a tendency to get so involved in the day-to-day running of your business that you don’t do any long-term planning.

Lesson learned: Sometimes the alarms are subtle and feel like a nagging feeling in your stomach alerting you to a potential problem. Sometimes the alarm goes off in your face. When you ignore alarms you risk disaster. Pay attention to the red flags (especially the subtle ones), and then trust yourself to make decisions and even change direction, based on what you learn.

Now look at your business. What alarms are you ignoring? What time is it time you start paying attention? Take a moment to listen to that alarm.