When I boarded his bus last summer, the driver told me I looked familiar. Well, after some chatting I realized we both spent time at the Barnes and Noble coffee shop reading books several years ago. I told Fernando, the bus driver, that I would go there frequently to read best-selling business books. I wrote biz book summaries about entrepreneur skills/strategies and posted them on the Internet.
Then, when on 22 this past Sunday, Fernando (originally from Argentina) asked me if I ever looked into how much one bus can impact a community's economy. He began to point out to me that each bus run goes by numerous businesses, places of commerce in the community. A person takes the bus to the store, of many varieties. He/she gets a haircut, sees a doctor, grabs a sandwich. If you add up each person, plus the places where money exchanges hands, it can have significant impact. I was thinking about all the options, and I usually spend money somewhere when on and off the bus. It is a conduit so all sectors of society can participate in commerce, affecting the economic well-being of the community.
A few days before this, while on 2, I was thinking how much a local business, whose market base is on the bus, would benefit from riding the bus. Wearing their business logo on their coats, hats, shirts, people would see their business. By encouraging their people to ride the bus, they could market their business. In warm weather, they could wear t-shirts with a marketing message.
Following my conversation with Fernando, I thought it would be interesting if a college economics class did a study on the economic impact from bus passengers. We have several outstanding universities in this city. Take one bus, the stops, the dollar spent, add many passengers on many buses, all day… it’s my guess a lot of money not readily seen is moving through the community… contributing to economic strength through transit alone.
Then, when on 22 this past Sunday, Fernando (originally from Argentina) asked me if I ever looked into how much one bus can impact a community's economy. He began to point out to me that each bus run goes by numerous businesses, places of commerce in the community. A person takes the bus to the store, of many varieties. He/she gets a haircut, sees a doctor, grabs a sandwich. If you add up each person, plus the places where money exchanges hands, it can have significant impact. I was thinking about all the options, and I usually spend money somewhere when on and off the bus. It is a conduit so all sectors of society can participate in commerce, affecting the economic well-being of the community.
A few days before this, while on 2, I was thinking how much a local business, whose market base is on the bus, would benefit from riding the bus. Wearing their business logo on their coats, hats, shirts, people would see their business. By encouraging their people to ride the bus, they could market their business. In warm weather, they could wear t-shirts with a marketing message.
Following my conversation with Fernando, I thought it would be interesting if a college economics class did a study on the economic impact from bus passengers. We have several outstanding universities in this city. Take one bus, the stops, the dollar spent, add many passengers on many buses, all day… it’s my guess a lot of money not readily seen is moving through the community… contributing to economic strength through transit alone.
Some I think misjudge bus passengers as a bunch of freeloaders. I don’t see that. They do spend money freely, that an economy needs to have flowing.
I asked Fernando what he liked about driving a bus. He said he liked interacting with people and driving. As a school bus driver, he was trained in driving a school bus by Dawn, now a fellow city bus driver. “One thing she told me I always remembered,” Fernando added. What is the most important part of driving a school bus?... the kids. Today, the idea still applies to my job. What is the most important part of driving a city bus?… the passengers.
Fernando has started to post positive thoughts on the drivers’ bulletin board. Being an illustrator he adds a cartoon sketch to his positive thought of the week. He showed me his most recent one. “You can’t stop the waves... but you can learn how to surf.” “You know,” he said, “if we all did positive things every day the world would get better.” Well Fernando, think you gotta point there that’s a world changer.
Needless to say, that bus ride with Fernando gave me several things to chew on in my mind.
Life is about the difference it makes when small things add up… whether it’s money flow or speaking positive thoughts to each other. Look for the good and build on that.
“Do not despise small beginnings; one seed can grow to be a tree with many branches.” (Zechariah, Jesus)
I asked Fernando what he liked about driving a bus. He said he liked interacting with people and driving. As a school bus driver, he was trained in driving a school bus by Dawn, now a fellow city bus driver. “One thing she told me I always remembered,” Fernando added. What is the most important part of driving a school bus?... the kids. Today, the idea still applies to my job. What is the most important part of driving a city bus?… the passengers.
Fernando has started to post positive thoughts on the drivers’ bulletin board. Being an illustrator he adds a cartoon sketch to his positive thought of the week. He showed me his most recent one. “You can’t stop the waves... but you can learn how to surf.” “You know,” he said, “if we all did positive things every day the world would get better.” Well Fernando, think you gotta point there that’s a world changer.
Needless to say, that bus ride with Fernando gave me several things to chew on in my mind.
Life is about the difference it makes when small things add up… whether it’s money flow or speaking positive thoughts to each other. Look for the good and build on that.
“Do not despise small beginnings; one seed can grow to be a tree with many branches.” (Zechariah, Jesus)
(Those who advance are very good at cultivating benefits from all circumstances.
See the Spirit Savvy Business blog post at
http://spiritsavvybiz.blogspot.com/2011/06/spirit-savvy-business-heart-and.html
by Dale Shumaker, 417-224-3517)
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