How your parking style gives away your level of job satisfaction
A quick observation to open this overcast, wet Thursday:
People who reverse into their parking spaces are more motivated by their work than those who slip in forwards.
I’m not talking about street-side parking. You can’t tell which way the parker needs to leave with street-side parking. I’m talking about parking in a lot where we know for sure that forwards parkers will have some reversing work to do later on in the day.
How does any of this relate to motivation, I hear you sigh? It’s simple. Those who reverse into their spaces are forward thinking, with enough self-esteem (i.e. positivity) to plan for later and derive some kind of trivial satisfaction from the knowledge that they have optimized their end of day exit.
It seems counter-intuitive that those who plan to leave quickly would be the most motivated, but just look out your window at your car park. Who has reversed into their spot today? The high-end luxury cars, no doubt. Those doing well, with recent promotions and bonuses. The fat cats and big dogs.
And who has slipped into their spot forwards? Those selling themselves short, that’s who. Grabbing at the instant gratification of the quick park. Saving the hard part of parking for later in the day when they’re most tired. The least prepared. The least satisfied with their current position. The least successful. Most people. You don’t want to be like most people, do you?
So let me add to this, no doubt the deepest of today’s insights, by coining a new and terrible term. Wait for it. You’ve met power dressing from the 70s and 80s, now meet:
Power parking [n] /ˈpaʊ.ɚ ˌpark.ɪŋ/
The act of reversing into a parking spot to emulate and attract international success and renown.
Now get out there and turn your car — and your life — around.
PS: The same goes for bikes. Turn that bike around, cyclist.
