Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success

by Ron Clark

In the style of Spencer Johnson's international bestseller Who Moved My Cheese, comes an accessible and uplifting business parable from bestselling author and award-winning educator Ron Clark. Picture a corporation, business, school or team as a bus. The distance the bus travels represents the goals and progress of the organisation. The bus itself has no gas, and is dependent upon the people within to provide the energy to move. Imagine there are holes in the bottom of the bus and that everyone must move the bus with their legs. The people on the bus can be divided into groups according to how fast and how far they push the bus. Runners- These individuals are running as hard as possible and are basically carrying the bus. They come early and they stay late. They never complain and their work ethic is strong. They are the reason for the success of an organisation. Joggersdo their job, and have marginal success. They try to keep up, occasionally sprint, but don't maintain a strong level of effort. They seek to draw attention to themselves as a form of self-validation. Walkersare being pulled by the bus, tripping over their feet and complaining, 'Why are we going so fast?' They talk negatively about the business and spread bad energy. Ridersare dead weight, and cause constant issues. They don't care about overall or personal success. Drivers- The job of the driver is paramount. The driver must steer the bus to the appropriate destination and ensure that all of the passengers are pushing themselves accordingly. Ron Clark draws on his educational experience to show how leaders in all professions can foster the spirit of the runners to allow them to guide the bus, ultimately pushing it as quickly and efficiently towards success as possible.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Leadership, Business, Teaching, Self Help, Audiobook

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

Ron Clark has been called "America's Educator." In 2000, he was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose book, The Essential 55, has sold over 1 million copies and has been published in 25 different countries.

--from the author's website

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Eliza · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book for ideas and strategies on efficient leadership but found it harped on the makeup of inherently effective and ineffective employees. Preachy. Singleminded. Sexist, even.

[Shawn Stone · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book comes off more as a rant piece against former colleagues than the thinly veiled educational management book it purports to be.

Without stating the obvious, Clarke unintentionally takes the reader for a tour ride on the darker side of intra-organizational drama-queen politics. Clarke doesn’t show how to move the bus as much as how to throw people under it. He attacks any number of former colleagues and staff members for the most minor of infractions acting as judge, jury and executioner.

Starting out as a rookie teacher 10 years ago, Ron Clark was a real inspiration. - but since moving from the classroom to being the “CEO” of his own "academy" (not a school mind you), name featured prominently on the letterhead, Clarke seems to have made the transition from inspiring classroom teacher to being one helluva egotistical, whiny, bitchy-bitch hung up on counting widgets and micromanaging human resources via the vehicle of his own ego-driven project.

Since going fully corporate, no one’s as good as old Ron, and his anecdotes ooze with self aggrandizing hubris on every page of this gripe piece.

The premise is simple. An organisation (the bus), is usually comprised of many different types of people. "Runners" are your superstars. "Riders" are the people who do the job, but are mostly coasting along. "Walkers" are the dead weight dragging down the bus. Clarke’s prescription for success centres around throwing as many man hours as humanly possible to build a better school while presumably paying peanuts and rallying the team under the rhetorical rallying cry of "Do It For Da Kids!"

While I acknowledge that it takes dedication and time to being a great teacher, most "normal" people with well rounded lives will find themselves operating at better levels of performance and efficiency if they strike some semblance of balance in their lives. Ron instead labels these kinds of people in his book as “walkers and riders” (aka. “slackers) Rather than developing and supporting these "lesser beings", they should instead be pressured to leave or turfed out at the first opportunity so that resources can be better channelled to the “runners” - i.e. “Clarke’s Clone-bots”.

Teaching is about self sacrifice - not self crucifixion, no matter what this “Gospel of Ron” might otherwise preach. But Clarke, much like other “uber educators” such as Rafe Esquith, sacrifice every waking hour to teaching and believe that everyone else in the field should do likewise. Unless you have the same manic drive and energy - in their eyes you need to step aside for the next wave of keen recruits ready to serve up their standadised curriculum. Welcome to the McDonaldisation of education, folks.

Teachers are drawn from all walks of life, unique in their personalities and pedagogies - some are the quiet, reserved and on the surface, less energetic (than Ron) type. Not every lesson needs to be a singing, dancing, Broadway production. Connecting with the kids minus the gimmick is difficult in the short run, but just as effective and sustainable in the end, given a level of true passion and solid pedagogy.

In short, I’m no longer a Clarke fan. The guy performs his schtick and does it well. I’ve no doubt he’s touched and inspired the lives of many children he’s come in contact with and is a remarkable teacher. But, his condescending and derogatory remarks towards other staff members in this book is a weak, cheap, bullying move considering the person being attacked has no recourse of reply.

The book represents a model of Educapitalism at its worst. Employees aren’t automatons Ron - and your bus shouldn’t be a running roughshod over the people you deem as undeserving of a seat.

[shanghao · Rating 1 out of 5]

Comes across as a one-type fits all solution, and all the while it was waxing lyrical about the author's own institution. Which wasn't a problem to me, except that I don't see how using a parable to simplify, identify and interact with employee types equals extraordinary management wisdom.

Thankfully the prose is readable/skim-friendly enough, so at least there are no lingering bad feelings.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’d never heard of Ron Clark before my colleagues & I were asked to read this book by our Supervisor. I am not easily impressed by “celebrity teachers”, so I did not buy into his poor bus analogy. Good writers don’t need to explicitly explain their “parables” by bold face typing the beginning letter of each of the character’s names. Please don’t write to educators as if they aren’t able to figure out that Rufus is the “runner.” If I had a penny for every time this book made me roll my eyes, I could pay $18,000 per student so that they could go on field trips to South Africa like the students attending RCA. (Side note for educators who aren’t smart enough to figure it out on their own...I am using hyperbole).

Clark says “runners” don’t call themselves runners...then he labels himself a runner (& a driver-don’t forget- it’s all about him)!

He explains that a runner will neglect their personal life, yet he seems to value this. He does not go on to mention that perhaps they shouldn’t. In fact, he says “joggers” value a work-life balance, but then says he wants joggers to be runners. Perhaps if he had taken the time to think about his simplistic parable a little further, he would’ve noticed an error. The difference between a runner & a jogger is that a runner is moving faster than the jogger...the runner is then a sprinter, which everyone knows runs very quickly for very short distances. Meanwhile, the jogger is running at a steady pace and is able to travel further than the sprinter who used up all of their energy too quickly. Dear educator, please value your personal life. Be like an actual jogger, and I promise you will travel further and you won’t burn out.

[Amanda Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. My principal asked the teaching staff at my school to read this, and I'll admit it prompted a lot of self-reflection, but overall it gave me the heebie jeebies. Some of the advice is basic but solid (avoid negativity, dress sharply, etc.), but Clark conveys this idea that if you aren't willing to make your job your life and make sacrifice after sacrifice, you shouldn't be there. I struggle with this, because as teachers we are already making so many sacrifices. My school day is 9 hours, and that's just classroom time. There are extra hours required for staff meetings, grade team meetings, and of course events like parent conferences, etc. So to suggest that in addition this we should come in early and stay late is just madness to me. I think you can excel in your job without giving up your personal life or giving up some semblance of balance. Clark seems to celebrate teacher burn-out, which we need less of, not more of. This is why there's a shortage of good teachers.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed emotions about this book. I completely agree with his strategies on how administrators should support the "runners" in the organization; that chapter should be required reading for admins.

However, I disagree with the implications that a person's career should be his/ her life. For example, he writes, "Even if you can stay only thirty minutes past quitting time, do it" (47). "Only" thirty minutes? If you have an employee who is willing to give you 30 minutes of unpaid time (volunteering) when he or she could be spending time with family/ friends or pursuing a hobby, be thankful instead of resentful. I respect people who understand the need to have a balance between work and life. Throughout the book, he discusses that everyone should be a "runner" and give, give, and give more to the business. I understand the benefit this has to him, the administrator, but is he considering the draining impact this has on his employees? On pages 6-7, he references that runners often neglect their personal lives and health and put loved ones second. However, that still seems to be the lifestyle he advocates for his employees.

He appears arrogant and condescending when he speaks of some co-workers. I was surprised since that is not how he seems in interviews I've seen.

I enjoyed chapters 20, "Realize You Are not Entitled to this Job" and 27, "Go Right to the Source When there is a Problem." I also liked eVestment's honoring people who recognize their core values of excellence, focus, integrity, innovation, teamwork, and attitude/humility (128).

As another reviewer mentioned, the epilogue is powerful.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book and thought wow and then thought WTF.
Is this book supposed to help people or call people out.

I was open minded when I started and then I began to see what the author was doing. Calling out former colleagues.

I wish people would build one another up instead of trying to label them and not help people achieve the best that they can be.

As a 90% runner and 10% jogger, I’m flabbergasted that drivers would recommend this book as a staff read.

[Shawn Berry · Rating 1 out of 5]

The guidance in this book is a recipe for toxic school culture and teacher burnout. Ron Clark describes “runner” teachers as the only ones that are truly functional at school and dismissively acknowledges that it comes at the price of personal relationships. This shouldn’t be unexpected coming from a man who was hospitalized from over-working.
Any administrator who demands his or her teachers to be runners is going to end up with a lot of unhappy teachers once all their personal lives start falling apart. Work-life balance is hard enough as a teacher and this man’s demands to do everything humanly possible “for the kids” just adds to teacher guilt. Teachers must be able to set boundaries and take care of themselves and their families without being called a “jogger” or “walker” by this guy and others who have adopted his philosophy.

[David Doty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full of self promotion and arrogant in tone, this book is nothing but a weak analogy (move your bus like the Flintstones) that serves as a bragging platform for the author. If you're in the market for a good business book, look elsewhere.

[bartley schwegler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grandpa tells us how we should dress for work, shares his opinion on how to lift pedagogy into the bright future of 1850.

edit: I had to buy this book for work, so I may have gone in overly critical.

[Roberta Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but superficial. I think it is important to realize that not every organization wants more runners. for organizations that want all of the control to be from the top down, runners are threatening. They either leave or become joggers.

I gleamed a few ideas and Ron's writing style is easy to follow.

[Keather Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked this idea or parable of “the bus” at first, but he lost me when he started saying how you dress derived the amount of respect or trust you deserve. I get the concept of “dress for success”, but the way he portrayed this was super judgey and outdated way of thinking. I’m a leader within my organization and I couldn’t care less if you wear jeans to work - I do care if you aren’t getting your work done though.

Overall this book had some great points, but I think his Southern superficial charm (aka mean girl energy) clouds the pros to his argument. I get the vibe that he would be horrible to work with or for.

I’m definitely a jogger most days so that would probs be his counterpoint to my post….

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured in less than 24 hours

[Danielle Patterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely horrible

[Beth Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thoughts on encouraging the best employees and not wasting time on the dead weights.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the symbolism of a bus, Ron paints a simple yet wise picture of how the organization that you work within is a bus.
There are different types of workers making the bus move forward.
This book gives real life examples of keeping folks motivated,
rewarding folks,
providing a welcoming, clean, high standard work environment,
sharing expectations,
brainstorming,
innovating,
being creative,
problem solving,
celebrating,
playing,
laughing,
contemplating,
and learning together.
This book was a breath of fresh air! It invigorated me for a new school year although technically I am not teaching. :)
(I loved Ron's insights on how to impress and get the attention of your supervisor. He also explains the benefit of being TRULY appreciative. And following directions and contributing as you are asked to are pluses for employees. I have had these kinds of thoughts regarding supervising but it felt so great to have someone else articulate them!)

[Nurzhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the metaphor of comparing a school or an organisation to a BUS and the classification of workers. But almost 80% of the advice in the book reminded me of the words my previous school principal used to say. Actually, I think he has a lot in common with Mr.Clark. So basically I can't tell there were much for me to learn. But knowing and practicing are two worlds apart. Some things we keep doing the way we do. So Mr.Clark reminded me of the important things and in a way inspired me to focus on them. The next challenges for me are 1. to decide who I am: worker, jogger or walker; 2. to convert knowing into doing

[Jessica Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are parts of this book that are terrible advice. It also boils down humanity into 2 dimensional charicatures. Maybe if you have nowhere else to start this is better than nothing. I also question the motivation of keeping your staff for longer hours to be " runners." Burnout is real and it isn't addressed in a meaningful way.

[Lorin Mobley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The more compelling and informative points of this book could have been condensed into an article. Much of the book comes off as an elitist account of past work experiences in which he describes employees as broken people for not responding to his directive style of leadership in the way he’d prefer.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow another great book from Ron Clark. Thank you for reminding me to be a runner not a rider. I cried at the end.

[Intan Diyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Clark categorises 5 types of people in an organisation:
1. Drivers - who steer the organisation (usually leaders/bosses)
2. Runners - who go above and beyond to keep the bus running
3. Joggers - who do their job well without pushing themselves
4. Walkers - who being pulled along
5. Riders - who are dead weight

This book teaches how to have good work ethic, to be a runner and be a good driver (leader) to keep the bus (your company) running. This book spoke to me and how I can relate with my work life.

Although I have to disagree with his opinion on how older people know better and we the youngsters should listen to them. We too often treat older people as wise and all knowing. Just because they’ve lived longer and experienced more, their words carry more weight. This is not true all the time. You have to value everyone’s opinion and sometimes, we can be just as intelligent, if not more so.

There’s a lot to learn from this book and I would encourage anyone taking over a leadership role to read this book, and anyone who wants to improve, this book is also for you.

A little heads up, the ending will make you cry.

[Dot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at Barnes & Noble recently on one of their clearance tables. I’m soaking up lots of info related to making some changes/improvements in my own life… both personally and professionally….these days, so seeing the words “accelerating success in work and life” caught my eye right away. Written by nationally acclaimed educator Ron Clark, “Move Your Bus” is a fantastic book that focuses on the various people that make up an organization and how their contributions can either keep the team (aka the “bus”) moving forward or bring it to a stop altogether. Published in 2015, Clark talks about his experiences as a classroom teacher and as a school administrator focusing on the five types of employees he’s worked with over the years. He says every “bus” has these folks: Runners, Joggers, Walkers, Riders, and the Driver. It’s such a simple metaphor, but it really packs a punch. After reading this book, I know I’ll now see things in my workplace in a brand new light. It’s just such a commonsense look at how a workplace should operate if the goal of the organization is to be reached.

I know that there is some criticism of this book and Ron Clark’s approach in general…”His school gets millions from Oprah! We can’t compete with that!” or “What he does with HIS students and staff would never work for us.”…. I get it, we’re not him. My takeaway from this book isn’t to end up with a school like his RCA (Ron Clark Academy)…(although it looks pretty sweet on the website!). I’m reviewing this as a “five star” book because, as a 28-year veteran educator, I see so clearly what he’s saying. I’ve worked with ALL five types of people on the bus. Heck, I’ve been several types myself over the years! We can do better. We SHOULD do better. Our focus is our students, right?

It’s a small book, but don’t let the size fool you! There is SO much good information packed into 164 pages, and I am certain if you really keep an open mind while reading it you’ll walk away not only recognizing which type you are currently, but also perhaps wanting to make some changes in your own workplace and life. Bottom line…this well-written, relevant, spot-on book is simply a must-read!

P.S. The Epilogue was over-the-top inspiring!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little hard to rate, on one hand I love it. It's a great metaphor for working in an organization, and how to continue to move the organization/yourself forward.

On the other hand, I didn't like some of the things that he had to say about the different categories in which he places people. While yes, the runners are important and should be given acknowledgement, I feel like you should appreciate all of your workers. Especially people you'd consider a jogger because they're still working their butts off too. I agree completely when it comes to riders, kick them the hell off the bus bc they aren't helping anyone with negative attitudes, or a bad work ethic, and I agree that entitled people should be checked once in a while, but completely dismissing some workers feels wrong.

I liked this book over all, it spoke to me in some ways, and I would encourage anyone taking over a leadership role or wanting to be in one to read this book.

[Malory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this book for PD. While I was eager and excited to learn from Ron Clark and get a better idea at how his school runs, I left this book with mixed feelings towards his goals and intentions. It seemed to me like there was no other choice than to be 100% dedicated to the job. While I know there are teachers/people out there like that, it seemed like any other level of work and dedication was simply not enough. I personally value employees who are able to create a healthy work life balance and that has been something I have worked hard to create for myself. There was a section in the book when he talked about how these “runners” were sacrificing their personal lives…and he didn’t really expand on that thought further? It was just hard to read knowing that I will never be the person who is working overtime without pay and sacrificing time with my family for work.

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did want to like this book. Two stars are the result. It is an odd book, based on a metaphor of the bus. On the bus are Runners, Joggers, Walkers, Riders and Drivers. This seemingly is a metaphor for life and work. Yet the challenge and I would argue the flaw of the book is that speed is always - it is argued - a positive force in the workplace. In an accelerated culture, working quickly is not always working efficiently. Indeed, completing work that does not need to be completed - empty and vacuous tasks - is not efficient. It is unnecessary. Leadership emerges when understanding the important of differential speeds. This task requires caution, care and a methodical approach. This one can be ripped through because it is simple and of less importance. Great leaders can remove tasks before they are even attempted, because they are redundant.

But this is an example of a book where the metaphor blocked the creation of a complex argument. There are some touching stories, but their generalizability beyond a school-based environment is not clear.

[Alysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad this was our staff book club read for this year! I am motivated now, more than ever, to consistently be a runner for our school. Ron Clark’s insight into what will propel a team forward to greatness is spot on. Highly recommend for all educators!

[Ricardo Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to take care of your rockstars.

[Emily Sayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great perspective. Makes me as an educator think about what lane I’m in and how I can move faster to inspire my kids and impact work culture.

[Turquoise Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy relatable read no matter what business or stage you're in ..are you a runner, jogger, walker or rider ...

[Pat Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Clark makes you want to RUN!