1. 1-Sentence-Summary:
1.1. The Energy Bus is a fable that will help you create positive energy with ten simple rules and make it the center of your life, work, and relationships.
2. Favorite quote from the author:
2.1. "Positive energy is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. The stronger it gets, the more powerful you become. The more you focus on positive energy, the more it becomes your natural state." - Jon Gordon
3. 3 lessons:
3.1. Take control of your life with the E + P = O formula.
3.1.1. A bit of the story:
3.1.2. Since positive energy is the only proper fuel for a good journey, we should focus on the upside of everything
3.1.3. The E + P = O formula means that energy plus perception equals outcome.
3.1.4. And if your perception is positive, you’ll always have a positive outcome.
3.1.5. This is similar to the Stoic idea of ‘amor fati,’ which means to love your fate, no matter what it brings.
3.1.6. It’s the difference between thinking life happens to you and life happens for you.
3.1.7. You can’t control everything that happens, but you can control what you believe about what happens. If you focus on gratitude, solving problems, and learning new things, you’ll always come out on top.
3.2. Humans can sense enthusiasm from a distance and it’s what gets people on your bus.
3.2.1. The seventh rule is that enthusiasm is what’ll get other people to join you on your ride on the bus and motivate them as you travel through life. The word is originally Greek – entheos – and means “to be filled with the divine.”
3.2.2. You are the CEO of your bus and life – the Chief Energy Officer. It’s on you to spread his positive energy to as many people as possible. And when your good energy is sincere, that’s easier than you’d think.
3.2.3. Enthusiasm is contagious.
3.2.3.1. Over thousands of centuries, humans have evolved to understand emotions from afar.
3.2.3.2. One example is our body language.
3.2.3.3. Jon also quotes a study that showed our heart has its own electromagnetic field, and the waves it sends can be sensed by others, even if they’re up to ten feet away!
3.2.4. So don’t just look for the positive, share it with others. We don’t always have a great day, but whenever we do, it’s a chance to spread good vibes and inspire those around us.
3.3. Love people. Make time to listen, recognize them as individuals, and appreciate their accomplishments.
3.3.1. Love everyone who gets on your bus. As humans, we all have a deep-seated need for appreciation from other humans. Love fulfills this need, but it doesn’t always have to be the romantic, cheesy kind.
3.3.2. 3 things to do for and with your team:
3.3.2.1. Meet people one-on-one, make time, and listen.
3.3.2.2. Practice empathy and show people you realize they, too, are just humans.
3.3.2.3. Recognize individual accomplishments and highlight people’s contributions.
3.3.3. These are things you can do with any person you meet, be it someone at work, a date, or your closest family. If you do, you’ll soon have plenty of great company on your bus ride of life!