The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon, has been on my list for several years and I’ve finally gotten around to reading it. What a dynamic little book! If you share life with others—uh, who doesn’t?—then set aside the couple hours it takes to cruise through this fun, u-rah-rah story. Or metaphor. Or parable. Whatever you want to call it, because that’s what it is—a listing of basic principles we all know but need to be reminded of, told in a easy-to-read, fictional story.
So…George is a guy who only sees the glass half-empty. Nothing’s going right for him, including his job or his marriage. Then one day he gets on a bus and the driver changes his life with 10 simples rules.
Yes, this is all cliché, but how often are we like George and gravitate toward the negative? Or who of us fails to regularly appreciate our blessings? According to Gordon, it doesn’t take any more energy to think positively than negatively. So let’s get on his positive energy bus!
Passages that resonated with me
You don’t have to sit passively by like so many souls who let life create them. You can take the wheel and choose to create your life, one thought, one belief, one action, one choice at a time.
For us entreprenuers, this hits home big time. Hey, it applies to everyone, both at work and at home. God gave each of us a brain and the tools to live here on earth. He may be the navigator, but he appointed us to be drivers. I know whatever I want my business or life to be, it’s my responsibility to get off my butt and make it happen. No excuses!
Chief Energy Officers (my interpretation: people successful at life) live and work with enthusiasm. They tap the power of their heart by getting excited about being alive, by filling up with loads of positive energy, and by being optimistic about life and work. They don’t let fear stop them.
Gordon goes on to say that positive energy is contagious. When we show our enthusiasm with a full heart, others want to be around us and they take on that same positive thinking. Well, duh! We all know positive people are more fun to be around than negative people.
And what about that fear? Ed Gandia recently did an excellent podcast on overcoming fear and stepping beyond our comfort zone.
Don’t be too stressed to feel blessed. Don’t compare the success of your bus to other buses. Just enjoy your ride.
You hear a lot about living thankfully these days. Last year I took up the daily practice of writing a page of thankfulness and yes, there’s a lot of truth to the idea. I find when I make mental note of my blessings—better yet, I write them down—it helps me focus on the positives in my life rather than the negatives. It ramps my confidence and well-being. Best of all, I realize my business is going just right for me and I don’t need to compare myself to others. Talk about liberating!
So what about those 10 simple rules? Here they are:
- You’re the driver of your bus
- Desire, vision and focus move your bus in the right direction
- Fuel your ride with positive energy
- Invite people on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead
- Don’t waste your energy on those who don’t get on your bus
- Post a sign the says “No Energy Vampires Allowed on My Bus”
- Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride
- Love your passengers
- Drive with purpose
- Have fun and enjoy the ride