I read this book a little while ago by Jon Gordon, and there are some very good principles within this story. I personally found the story a little cheesy and a little far-fetched, but it was the author’s vehicle to share some very helpful principles. In this story, George is failing at work and at home. His car breaks down, his wife is busy taking their children to various activities, and he is forced to take the bus to work for two weeks while his car is being fixed. And it just so happens that the bus he takes is “the energy bus”, driven by a very spirited woman. Over the next two weeks, she and her “disciples” on the bus share the 10 rules with George. It works so well, that he decides to continue taking the bus to work after his car is repaired. Hmm… having rode the RTA to work for a year myself recently, I never came across any drivers (or passengers) like this and once we had other opions… well, let’s just say that I haven’t missed it.

HOWEVER, there are some very good principles in this book and I believe ALL of us could benefit from more positive energy in our lives. I definitely have a negative bent to begin with, and I continue to work to overcome that, and be more positive in my relationships, in my work, and in my own mind and heart. Life is too short to worry about things we can’t control, and no one wants to work (or LIVE) in a negative work environment. So I’m getting myself on the Energy Bus, in the figurative sense.

While the story is told with indeed just 10 rules, there is the Energy Bus Action Plan in the back of the book that actually has 11 steps. Here is a copy of that Action Plan:

Step 1: Create Your Vision
Gather your team and spend time developing a vision for where you want your bus to go. You may present a vision to them and ask for input or you may start with a blank slate and develop the vision together. You might create one vision or several visions.

Questions to ask

  • What are our goals?
  • Think into the future. What do we see?
  • What do we hope to accomplish?

Step 2: Fuel Your Vision with Purpose
As you create your vision you’ll want to associate it with a larger and bigger purpose.

Questions you may want to ask to develop your purpose

  • How will our vision benefit the growth of the individuals who make up the team?
  • How will our vision benefit others?
  • What greatness can we strive for?
  • What do we stand for?
  • How can we make a difference?

Step 3: Write Down Your Vision/Purpose Statement
Incorporate your vision and purpose into one powerful vision statement and write it down.

Step 4: Focus on Your Vision

  • Make a copy of your Vision/Purpose Statement and hand it out to your team.
  • Encourage each team member to review the vision daily.
  • Ask each team member to visualize the team achieving their vision for 10 minutes a day.

Step 5: Zoom Focus

  • Identify the goals your team needs to achieve to make your vision a reality.
  • Write these goals down.
  • Identify the action steps necessary to achieve the goals that will make your vision a reality.
  • Write down these action steps.
  • Make a copy of these goals and action steps and give them to each team member.

Step 6: Get on the Bus

  • Identify who else needs to be on the bus to help you implement the action steps that will achieve the goals and vision you and your team have set.
  • Invite them on the bus. Visit www.theenergybus.com and e-mail them an e-bus ticket or hand deliver a printed ticket.

Step 7: Fuel the Ride with Positive Energy and Enthusiasm

  • Engage and energize your employees on a daily basis filling the void with positive energy so negativity can’t breed.
  • Incorporate practices and processes that cultivate a culture of positive energy.
  • Visit www.jongordon.com for proven solutions and best practices.

Step 8: Post a Sign that Says “No Energy Vampires Allowed”

  • Identify the negative team members who are affecting the success of your bus ride.
  • Open the lines of communication. Let them know they are being negative. Determine if there is a justifiable reason. Determine a course of action that will lead to individual and team successes. Encourage them to get on the bus with positive energy. Give them a chance to succeed.
  • If they fail to make changes and continue to be negative, then you have no choice but to let them off the bus.

Step 9: Navigate Adversity and Potholes
Expect that every great team, including yours, will face adversity, challenges, and struggle along the ride. Every great team will be be tested, but great teams don’t let flat tires stop them from reaching their destination.

When faced with a challenge, setback, or adversity ask the following questions

  • What can we learn from this challenge?
  • What is the problem teaching us?
  • How can we grow from this adversity?
  • What opportunity does this challenge present to your team?

Build upon your challenges and use them to pave the road to success.

Step 10: Love Your Passengers
During the course of your ride, as you drive towards vision and purpose, let your fellow drivers and passengers know you care about them.

Ask the following questions

  • How can I recognize them?
  • How can I spent valuable time with them?
  • How can I better listen to them?
  • How can I serve them and their growth?
  • How can I bring out the best in them? How can I energize their strengths to better themselves and the team?

Visit www.jongordon.com for practices to bring out the best in your people and team.

Step 11: Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride

  • Remember that every bus trip and journey should be fun.
  • It doesn’t have to be a difficult and painful ride.
  • Ask your team regularly how we can be more successful and have more fun in the process.
  • Ask how we can bring more joy to the work we do.
  • Remind yourself and your team that the goal of every journey should be to arrive at your destination with a smile on your face. It’s not just about the destination but about the team you become along the way.

Remember… you only have one ride through life so give it all you got and enjoy the ride!