Sometimes leaders have to try things themselves, experiment on a micro level before they can understand the grand, sweeping changes that they are going to make on a system level. Other times it’s just important to keep growing and trying new things so that you don’t get stale and stuck in a rut, even if it doesn’t have a strategic reason.
For the past six weeks I’ve been experimenting with ways to get to work, and between Rescue Mission Campuses without using my car. There are a couple of things that have brought this on: one is the cost of monthly parking downtown, and the other is the cost of fuel. The method of experimentation can be divided into three categories: carpooling, public transport, & bicycling. For two weeks I tried to see how little I could drive my car, for the other four weeks I set a goal of trying to have at least two days a week that I used an alterate source of transportation, depending on my schedule.
Here’s what I learned:
1. I’m a big baby: the most interesting lesson by far was the emotional effect that I felt by being deprived of the instant gratitification of a car. Even though the downsides were relatively small, I found myself grumbling to myself every time I was the slightest bit incovenienced by having to take a bus or light rail instead of just jumping in my car. This is even more amazing considering I was doing this of my own free will! Human nature is interesting indeed. Fortunately, I worked through most of this and found a some pleasure in the process and relaxed and enjoyed it.
2. Schedule matters: Many days I am moving regularly between meetings and campuses that are spread out around the city of Tacoma or Pierce County. On days like these, coordinating carpools or bus routes can be challenging. But some days I am in one location all day, and the majority of these worries melt away. If you have a job where you don’t leave your desk, taking the bus or carpooling is a minimal inconvenience with a big upside. Now I find myself looking at my schedule to determine which days I’m likely to be able to stay in one or two locations, and taking public transport or biking on those days.
3. Good Friends matter: When considering carpooling, it helps to have good friends. I found myself feeling guilty for inconveniencing people by asking for rides, even though they didn’t seem to mind to much. Having said this, carpooling is a great alternative to save on inconvenience, assuming you ahve people who live very close to you and are on a simliar schedule.
4. Squeeky clean: Biking is a great alternative and is relatively easy for me. here is the challenge one needs to consider if you are considering biking: How to be clean and appropriately dressed at work. If you have a shower and dressing room at work this isn’t a problem, but my office downtown doesn’t have this so I had to work around. All in all, weather cooperating, biking is a great way to go.
5. Buses get a bad rap: Taking the bus is easy, safe and relatively quick. Driving to work takes me just under 10 minutes and taking the bus adds an addtional eleven minutes on top of that, but on days where you are in one or two locations, the added time for riding the bus doesn’t hurt too bad. As someone who tries to schedule very tightly during the day, I had to adjust my mentality a bit, but it was still a positive experience. The buses ran on time, were always clean and the drivers are friendly. Dont’ be afraid of the bus, it works great.
Upside: During this experiement I saved over $100 in parking and at least one tank of gas, almost two. Filling the tank ususally cost me $55, so i am putting the total savings at $155, conservatively.
Application: I’m going to try to continue to use some alterative transportation at least two days a week, and continue learnig.
Any thoughts on how I could improve my experience? Any lessons you ahve learned which might make my experience easier and more efficient?
David Curry
