Drive the Bus for Success!
By Deanna L. Vigliotta
When you’re building something new, a business, a sales territory, or even a personal brand, it can feel like you’re driving a bus on a route no one knows exists. You start the engine, check your mirrors, and begin the ride, only to realize there are no passengers at the stops along the way.
That’s where most people get discouraged. But here’s the truth: no one is coming to knock on your door if you don’t take the wheel. Success, in sales or entrepreneurship, doesn’t come with a roadmap. You have to chart your own course, mile by mile, until others begin to see where you’re headed.
The Behind-the-Scenes Work No One Sees
From the outside, it’s easy for others to see the “finished product”, for example, the growing client list, the new partnerships, or the expanding business. What they don’t see are the late nights, the small wins that feel monumental, and the quiet determination it takes to keep that bus moving when the fuel gauge is hovering near empty.
Every entrepreneur and salesperson knows this feeling. The early stages are about creating something from nothing, showing up, making introductions, planting seeds, and believing that one day, those seeds will grow into passengers who trust you enough to step on board.
When the Passengers Start to Appear
Over time, as you build credibility, consistency, and visibility, the route begins to fill up. People start showing up at your stops. They’ve heard about your product, your service, or your story.
They want to be part of your adventure.
But here’s the key: it doesn’t end there. When passengers board your bus, whether they’re customers, clients, or partners, it’s your job to make sure they enjoy the ride.
Make Their Experience the Destination
Ask yourself:
Is your environment friendly and welcoming?
Do your passengers feel valued and understood?
Are they comfortable enough to stay on board, or are they counting down the stops until they can get off?
In sales and business, the experience you create defines your reputation. Every touchpoint matters. Every conversation is part of the voyage.
When your passengers feel seen, appreciated, and respected, they don’t just stay for the ride. They start telling others about it and that’s when your bus really begins to fill up!
The Road Ahead
So, if you’re just getting started, and if your bus feels empty & the road feels long, keep driving.
Keep believing. Every successful entrepreneur and salesperson began with a single route that no one else could see yet.
Seek out new stops. Open new doors. Wave to the people standing on the sidewalk as they might just be your next passengers.
The road to success doesn’t wait for permission. You have to drive the bus and when you do, enjoy the ride. After all, every great sales adventure begins with one mile at a time.
