The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy

Gordon emphasizes taking ownership of the direction of one’s life instead of attributing outcomes to external forces. The book’s foundational principle is that “You’re the driver of your bus” (25), a metaphor that emphasizes personal responsibility across personal and professional settings. This principle mirrors practices in cognitive-behavioral therapy and corporate coaching models like GROW, which reframe personal agency to initiate change. For example, a project manager struggling with an underperforming team could adopt this mindset by acknowledging their role in enabling dysfunction—perhaps by failing to set clear expectations—and then actively creating new norms. More broadly, individuals can start by auditing their decisions and results, identifying areas where they’ve abdicated responsibility and shifting their language from blame to action. Ultimately, the metaphor is about cultivating an internal rather than external locus of control, a concept proven to correlate with higher resilience and effectiveness.

For Gordon, positive energy isn’t merely a feel-good concept; it is a strategic asset in leadership and team success. Gordon’s third rule—“Fuel your ride with positive energy” (47)—advocates for consciously replacing negative thought patterns with optimism, enthusiasm, and gratitude. George, the