My workplace assigned us the task of reading a motivational book this semester: The Energy Bus. Now, the general consensus, with which I agree, is that this is a useful book. Uplifting, even. Still…

When I started reading, I told myself not to have any preconceptions. True, I don’t regularly appreciate “7 Steps to a Happier Life.” But c’mon, sometimes you just have to …ahem…jump on board the bus (wagon).

The book (The Energy Bus, remember?) starts with a forward, and I actually read forwards, which lists off all other books authored by Jon Gordon. Books like The Energy Addict and The 10 Minute Energy Solution. What I saw was an author admitting to me, before I even started his book, that this is not original. I can get the same message from several other books. Also written by him. He stretched one idea into three books.

This guy is publishing a watered down, elementary level parable about a bus driver named Joy (really?) and a guy named George (so vanilla) who work at the NRG company. (Say it slowly…Get it? Cute, huh? Vomit.)

This doesn’t prove anything, but it did bug me that the font is huge and there are wide margins and graphics—I thought I was reading the novelization of a Disney movie.

Bottom line: we all need someone to energize us. But I think we’d all rather it be a real relatable person instead of cutesy little metaphors and generalized rules that fit for every situation but speak to no one in particular.

All that being said, I do have an inspirational mantra. My brother actually gave it to me recently. He said, “Look at yourself every day and say, ‘I’m a badass.’” I do, too. It feels great, I highly recommend that one.

–Mollie