By Colleen Gallion
Hopefully, you are reading this on your way to the Parking Industry Expo (PIE) 2025. There you’ll meet new people, listen to interesting speakers, attend workshops, and probably hear at least one person talk about “industry best practices.” Good for them! I’m sure they’re an expert on something, and what they have to say is important (at least to them.) But, in the same way that perfection is the enemy of the good, so is “best.”
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“Best” is an opinion masquerading as a fact
Whether it’s a sign saying, “Best Burger in Town,” or a magazine promising, “Best Exercise for Six-Pack Abs,” we recognize that the word best is being used to get our attention and to entice us to learn more.
However, something happens when someone claims that what they are saying is an established “best practice.” It adds a level of gravitas that can drive even the most confident of us to think, “I don’t do that. Should I be doing that? Does everyone else do that?” Unless there are safety or legal ramifications tied to whether you adopt this practice, their opinion about a “best practice” has about the same validity as the “Best Burger in Town” billboard.
What is best for others may not be best for you
Just as the best burger in town isn’t the best if you’re a vegan, the best practice in the world may not be the best for you. In his book “Predictably Irrational,” Dan Arieli describes how classic economic theory is based on the “Rational Man.” This theoretical person makes rational, well-thought-out decisions. Behavioral economics shows how “rational man” and real people don’t have much in common in their decision-making processes. Think of best practices as being theoretically the best. Take what works for you and drop the rest.
Striving for “best” is a surefire way to be miserable
Many studies have been conducted on decision-making, decision fatigue, and regret. One of the common traps we fall into is trying to make “the best decision.” Let's say I need a green sweater. If I go to the mall thinking, “I’m going to find the best green sweater for the best price,” I would spend hours at the mall going to every store and then circling back to whatever sweater seemed like the best one at the best price. Exhausted, I would purchase it, but instead of a sense of accomplishment, I would be haunted by the question, “Was this really the best sweater at the best price?”
If I had gone to the mall thinking, “I want a green sweater that will work well with the rest of my clothes and is less than $50,” I would have had a very different experience. When I found a sweater that checked those boxes, I’d slap down my credit card and maybe do a little victory dance. Is it THE BEST sweater? I don’t know, and I don’t care. It’s the sweater that meets my needs.
Making the shift from best to good
Walking the convention center floor at PIE25 can be a bit like going to the mall looking for a green sweater. Your mindset will have a very real effect on your experience. As you enjoy the complimentary breakfast buffet at your hotel, take some time to decide what a good experience would look like.
Here are some questions to help you get started:
• What are the events that, if I missed them, I would feel disappointed?
• Who are the people that, if I don’t spend time with them, I’ll be bummed out?
• What questions do I hope to find answers to?
Then, take a moment to imagine your bleary-eyed, post-event self heading home. Think of the boxes you need to tick so you can say, with satisfaction, “PIE25 was really good.”
When good happens, celebrate!
In BJ Fogg’s book, “Tiny Habits,” he explains the neuroscience of how we form habits and ways we can get good habits to stick. One of the most effective ways to solidify a habit is to celebrate as SOON as you’ve completed the task. (Anyone who has clicker-trained a dog is familiar with this feedback loop.)
When you get a seat in the workshop you didn’t want to miss, give the person next to you a little fist bump. When you meet up with your old friend for coffee, indulge in a “hooray!” When you check something off your “good” list and then release feel-good hormones with a little celebration, you will leave behind the illusion of “best” and live in the wonderful land of “good.”
COLLEEN GALLION is an ICF-certified professional coach whose passion is supporting entrepreneurs and founders in building healthy and sustainable teams. For more information, visit www.gallioncoaching.com.
