negativity but with the hard truth. “I’ve worked for you
for several years now, George,” she said. “And every year,
every day for that matter, you seem to get grumpier and
more bitter. We even had bets about when you would just
implode, not show up one day, and give up. But every
day you kept coming in making yourself miserable and
your team miserable in the process. This team is a sham-
bles not because of us, but because of you. None of us
could believe they kept you so long. And so when you
told us you wanted us to get on your bus, I’m like there is
no way I’m getting on his bus. Why should I, when his
bus has been trudging along aimlessly for the past year?
But if you say I have to get on my bus to keep my job, I
will. I’ll get on it but I want you to know why I didn’t get
on it in the first place.”
George sat there stunned. He knew everything she
had said was true and yet it was difficult to accept it. He
didn’t know what to say or how to respond. He wanted
to tell her about Joy, the Energy Bus, and what he had
learned but he was paralyzed, and besides he didn’t have
time to get into it. All he did was thank her for her hon-
esty and for being on his bus and wait for José, who was
about to deliver another blow.
When José walked in, George immediately said he
was surprised that José didn’t want to get on his bus after
all they had done together. José didn’t pull any punches
either and came right back.
“That’s right, George,” he said. “I’ve given you my all.
I’ve done everything you asked me to do. I stay late, I
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The Energy Bus