Council Post: Why You Should Trust Your Gut Over Relying On ‘Best Practices’

By Tyler Bray, Owner of The Trailer Parts Outlet

When people tell you to “follow the best practices,” they’re narrowing your options without even meaning to do so. In the tech world in particular, innovations are so constant that today’s best practices are often outdated tomorrow. Nobody knows your business better than you do.

There was no such thing as an assembly line before Henry Ford, and there won’t be an improvement on it until someone innovates again. Some best practices are unavoidable, like with accounting and legal work, but you should trust your gut when it comes to determining the best way to run your own business.

When I started my business at 14, I didn’t follow best practices; I just used logic and common sense most of the time. I started off by following what made sense for an early drop-shipping business model.

Best practices are guidelines, not a strict set of rules. While this has more or less always been true, it’s even truer in the digital era. You could create a system that becomes best practice for everyone else. I got started so early on that nobody had popularized a best-practice model for drop shipping. Furthermore, even if they had, their best practices for iPhone cases or lamps would not have applied to my auto parts and the freight work involved.

Innovating on best practices doesn’t mean avoiding the basics. It’s about streamlining the basics. Take inventory, for example. There’s no question you need to have inventory, but you don’t have to be committed to the traditional way of creating and updating your inventory. New digital tools designed to help entrepreneurs with the building blocks of their businesses are appearing all the time. Never let someone who says, “We’ve always done it this way,” stand in the way of a great opportunity for streamlining and creating better efficiency. 

Here are a few things to remember when you’ve been pitched a boilerplate “best practice” for entrepreneurs.

1. No two businesses are identical.

You’ll have obstacles, restrictions, assets and opportunities that nobody else has ever faced. If you aren’t alert and adaptable, you’ll wind up with the wrong tools for the job. If there’s a stand-by piece of advice regarding any part of your business that doesn’t make sense to you, don’t be afraid to use your common sense and discard it.

2. Automation is easier than ever before.

Just about every single sector has been reimagined in the last 10 or 15 years. In particular, I’ve seen opportunities for automation that were never possible before. Much of the grunt work of running a business can be handled by the right program if you can find it.

3. People are more connected than ever before.

Constant connection on social media has given companies the chance to express their personalities like never before. Insurance is serious, but is Geico formal in its public persona? No. Of course, you have to be aware of your audience. Some customers are here for no-nonsense solutions. Others can be brought to the table with a human touch. That’s where you really need to rely on your gut as an entrepreneur.

4. New B2B digital tools are appearing every day.

New business-to-business digital tools that are designed to help companies run more effectively are appearing every day. Now more than ever, we have to be lifelong learners so that we don’t miss new opportunities to optimize. Fortunately, with a wealth of online channels, audiobooks and more, there’s no shortage of information.

How do you separate the good from the bad? Consider the source. If somebody else got the results you want, they’re worth listening to. We are also blessed with the phenomenon of “found time.” I can throw on an audiobook written by my favorite entrepreneur while I make my daily hour drive or while I’m cooking dinner. 

Remember, at the end of the day, nobody, including me, knows your business better than you do. Trust yourself, and respectfully dig a little deeper when someone recommends a “best practice” that doesn’t feel right for your business.