The Energy Bus teaches life lessons through telling a simple story about a guy who thinks he is down on his luck and that the world is out to get him. Throughout the book he realizes the common denominator of all his problems is HIM and that maybe he’s the one that needs some changing. By practicing small actionable steps, he is not only to turn his life around but also reshape his mentality to become a much happier person.
My current boss lent me book after he found out that I like to read entrepreneur and self-development books. As I began to read the first few pages, I thought it was going to be a little corny and wasn’t sure if I was going to get anything out of it. Then as I made my way through the chapters, the story was really captivating and made me really reflect on how I operate in my own day to day. Even though I have already heard a lot of the topics and ideas in the book, it’s nice to get a refresher every once in a while, or even look at topics from a different point of view.
The book is structured around learning “10 Rules for driving your own Energy Bus”. By following them they will help shape our life in a positive manner and one that can be impactful to others.
The 10 rules in the book are:
1. You’re the Driver of the Bus
2. Desire, Vision, and Focus move your bus in the right direction
3. Fuel your Ride with Positive Energy
4. Invite People on Your Bus and Share your – Vision for the Road Ahead
5. Don’t Waste Your Energy on those who don’t get on your bus
6. Post a Sign that says “No Energy Vampires Allowed” on your Bus
7. Enthusiasm attracts more Passengers and Energizes them during the Ride
8. Love your Passengers
9. Drive with Purpose
10. Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride
My favorite rules from this book are 1, 2, 8, and 9. Not that the other ones don’t matter, but you can accomplish a lot just by following these four which actually build upon each other.
First for Rule 1, You’re the Driver of the Bus: You’re not going to accomplish anything without taking ownership. Rather than placing responsibility on others, making excuses, or relying on magic for results, you have to own your situation and take action. One of my favorite books, Extreme Ownership (which I have already reviewed), is a whole book dedicated to this principle alone. In the book rather than strictly eluding to this, it more talks about making a choice. Making the choice to take action and have a positive outlook. Once you choose to make a change and choose to have a positive demeanor, you can move towards progress.
Then you can move to Rule 2, Desire, Vision, and Focus move your bus in the right direction: You don’t need a fully developed plan to start, but you do need some sort of direction. Then as you gain momentum, it become imperative that you have your vision set in place so you know what you are aiming for. The book makes you think about 3 things, the vision for your own life, the vision for your career, then the vision for your family and close relationships. After you have developed a vision with these three things in mind, you also need to think about them constantly. Keeping your vision at the forefront of your mind will help make sure you move towards manifesting them.
After realizing you need to make a choice and then developing your vision, you have to keep in mind Rule 8, Love your Passengers: Since our vision includes others and requires other’s help, we need to make sure they treated right. The book details 5 ways in which we can show our love for our Passengers; Make time for them, Listen to them, Recognize them, Serve them, and Bring out the best in them. By doing this, we can make sure we are holding up our duty and obligation of the relationship, as well as let these people in our life know that we truly care about them.
Lastly, Rule 9, Drive with Purpose: Were not going to wake up every day and be super happy. There’s going to be days when we feel down or worn out. But it’s finding your purpose that will help carry you through these times. You know what you are doing matters and gives you meaning. So whether you are pumped and excited to take on a new project or in the day to day operations that may tough, your purpose will ensure you stay on the right track.
When you are trying to implement these types of changes in your life, it may be difficult or nerve-wracking, but in the book there’s an awesome quote that if it’s the only thing I retain from it, it would be more than enough.