In a departure from my usual writing style, today's blog will take a different approach. While I typically focus on highlighting issues within our industry and providing clarity on areas of tension, today I want to speak directly to my fellow bus operators. Whether you currently hold the seat I once had or plan to move into it, I hope to shed light on why our careers often become stagnant and provide encouragement on how to redirect our thinking.
Many of us fall prey to the illusion that financial success equates to personal fulfillment. However, the truth is that money alone cannot guarantee a sense of purpose or satisfaction in our careers. If it did, contract renewals wouldn't be as competitive and cutthroat as they are. I understand all too well the feeling of emptiness and lack of purpose that can come with our chosen profession. Even though I had all the material possessions one could desire, there was still a void. This realization was reinforced during my time as a recruiter, as many of the individuals in my pipeline were current operators seeking an escape from their current situation, not transplants (People coming into transportation)
My hope is that you see these tips not as criticism, but as a roadmap to finding purpose and fulfillment in an industry that can often feel purposeless. You don't have to wait for payday to experience joy – it can be a daily occurrence. These principles aren't just from a self-help book; they're based on my own experiences in my career. Remember, if you sow the right seeds and nurture them, you'll reap a bountiful harvest in due time.
Identify The Target
Just as we are trained to "see the turn" when approaching a corner while driving a bus, we must also have the foresight to see the turns in our careers. Much like navigating the different factors that determine how we drive a bus - speed, distance, space, etc. - we must also consider the unique factors that impact our career path. Seeing the turn before we make it allows us to execute it with intentionality and purpose.
Determine the exact destination of your career, just as you would with a bus, and steer towards it with purpose. If your goal is to attend college, seek out agencies that offer tuition reimbursement and other educational programs. For those interested in starting a business, consider Transit as your first investor and customer. The same principles apply to new hires entering the industry, as the traditional advice to simply make money and work overtime is incomplete. Many drivers follow this path and end up disgruntled, and it becomes evident in their work. "Mean" drivers are a prime example.
Even if your main goal is to work overtime and make as much money as possible, it's important to have a clear target in mind. Otherwise, you'll end up drifting aimlessly without any purpose or direction. Just like driving a bus, success requires intentionality, planning, and execution. You must actively steer towards your target to achieve your goals.
Don’t get Golden Handcuffed
Hear me.... as a Bus operator, it's easy to get caught up in the allure of top pay without considering the bigger picture. Without a plan, it's a handcuff that can lead to regrets and missed opportunities. I know this firsthand, as I had to leave my dream job in service development due to financial limitations.
Back when I started as an operator, the general advice was to keep your nose clean and make as much money as possible. At the time, top pay was around $50,000, which was a game-changer in 2010. Keep in mind that the average salary for most Americans is around $43,000, while most bus operators in major markets will make much more than that starting. It's crucially important to understand that there are very few opportunities for operators to transition to another position and maintain their current salary without additional skills or certifications. This is how the majority of operators become golden hand-cuffed
Without a clear goal or plan, it will be easy to get stuck in a cycle of just making money without any direction or purpose. That is a recipe to create a life where fulfillment is absent. To have the freedom to grow your career, it's essential to maintain a lifestyle within the range of $50,000 to $60,000. Overtime and making a lot of money can lead to overspending, fatigue, and a constant need for more, but it's better to be in a position where you can make more money rather than one where you have to. Money is a great worker but a terrible boss.
You cannot serve both God and money and if money is your ultimate goal, your joy will always be tied to a number....and numbers change.
Get The Right Friends
I know this may be a controversial statement, but I hope you receive it with love. As bus operators, we need to break out of our echo chambers. If you're not familiar with the term, an echo chamber is a closed system where beliefs are amplified and reinforced without any rebuttal.
Do we not see this echoed in our own assembly rooms and overall culture?
We need to expose ourselves to diverse perspectives and challenge our preconceived notions if we want to grow and evolve in our careers.
As bus operators, we sometimes find ourselves isolated within the union, limiting our growth and perpetuating the same old ideas. It's not a matter of ignorance, but rather a reminder that we need fresh perspectives to challenge and inspire us. Seek out those who have walked the path you intend to travel and surround yourself with their wisdom, as we discussed earlier. Don't settle for affirmation alone, but seek out voices that will push you to be your best.
When I founded the Next Stop Podcast, my goal was to provide a platform for individuals who have achieved great success in their careers to share their insights with those who aspire to do the same. I want to clarify that this is not a criticism of bus operators, but rather a belief that we are shaped by the voices we listen to and the perspectives we expose ourselves to. The Book of Proverbs advises us to walk with the wise to become wise, and this applies to all aspects of our lives. If we surround ourselves with negativity and discontent, we will inevitably adopt those traits. Our bodies and minds are interconnected, and what we consume - whether it be food or media - affects our emotional, spiritual, and relational well-being.
Steward The Little Things
Now, brace yourself for this next section. It might just make you want to fire off a snarky email my way. But hear me out, because it's time to challenge the norms of driver culture that we've all come to accept.
Here is the reality guys-- if we can’t steward driving down Main Avenue why would we be entrusted to manage corporate and state budgets?
Why would we be entrusted to manage major companies, workforces, and teams? If we can't manage a fare box and a manifest?
Here’s a thought-- in order to do big things you have to become a big person. And how do you become a big person? By stewarding the little things with excellence. Consider, the most amazing structures we see on this planet all start with one person laying one brick with excellence. In the book of Matthew Jesus himself says, If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
I had the opportunity to work with numerous operators across the country. Often, agencies approached me with the specific task of working alongside them, as it was widely believed that they could be difficult or challenging to work with. Even small changes, like a new route, could incite so much negativity in our spaces. At a certain point guys, we have to clean our own homes if we keep seeing socks on the floor.
While it's true that the agency is not without fault, it's important to acknowledge that we as operators also play a role in the success of our job. Like any relationship, it takes effort from both parties to make it work. While I won't take sides in the agency versus operator debate, I will say that the agency's efforts can be seen in the positive changes they have made, while some operators have regressed in quality.
Wages are rising, new laws are being enacted, and buses are safer and more technologically advanced than ever before. They have spent literally millions of dollars to improve our working conditions. They are attempting, but are we? In the grand scheme of transit-- driving a bus is not difficult. Does it take more planning to have a great quality of life here? Sure. Does traffic suck sometimes? Absolutely. Are the passengers chippy if not managed properly? Yes.
However Is it harder than procurement? No. Is it harder than getting State Leaders, Politicians, Stakeholders, and Homeowners to move a bus stop 5 feet? It is not. Is it harder than managing a team with investors and committees breathing down your Outlook? It is not. Is it harder than building a profitable business? It is not.
Is it dangerous? Sure, a lot of jobs are. Walmart workers don’t have shields and they practically engage with the same demographic we do. I say all of this to say, getting to the next level begins with you and me creating solutions to the problems, not creating additional problems for our employers.
It’s a shift in thinking and heart posture. If you focus on excellence in the little things, show love toward others, and strive to be your best, you won't need to chase opportunities - they'll come to you. The Law of attraction suggests that you attract what you are. So, if you strive for excellence, you will attract excellence. To reach the next level, you need to become the type of person that can play on the next level.
Once you embody this mindset, achieving your goals becomes second nature because it's not what you do it's who you are.
In closing guys, when you look at things differently, things begin to look different.
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