What's wrong in public transportation

I am sorry that this newsletter comes a day late. I planned to write this yesterday before my hours-long session with the high-school kids started.

As a Finnish person, I revere punctuality. So, I left home a good 2.5 hours earlier to have time to write, have a cup of tea and chill out before the session. It was a chilly, windy and less summery morning, but I had high hopes while walking to the railway station. I would take the earlier train, arrive early, and get everything done without hassle.

Little did I know. Or actually, I knew a lot about the local transport provider's (Metlink for those who know the Wellington area) uncanny habit of delays, disruptions and sheer clunkiness. 

First, the trains were replaced by buses. Secondly, the bus that should have arrived on time never came. Thirdly, I was standing on the windy platform, my fingers blue from cold and jeans flapping in the wind like the lips of Metlink's CEO giving service. 

So I waited over one hour. When the bus finally came, it smelled like it had been transporting dozens of peeing cats instead of human creatures. When I asked why the delay was, the glassy-eyed Metlink representative told me, "Be patient". 

And off we went. 

A young bloke next to me was listening to deafening music. He wore a white painter's smock – covered with all the colours you can imagine. Even his shoes looked like they were painted by Monet. When I asked him if he could turn down the volume a bit, he said, to my surprise, with a friendly tone, "OK, mate. It's just so fucken terrible that the trains are always late or replaced with these third-world buses. Third time in a row and my boss will shit on me when I arrive late – again". 

In the end, it was a very slow but joyful ride. My new friend played me the poignant song by American rap artist Lil Nas X, 'Where Do We Go Now'. Listen to it here. The young painter was an expert in rap and rag. A funny guy and full of life and contradictions.

It is strange how a stranger can change your misery into exploration. The painter's apprentice left one stop before me, which left me time to think about how I would have my revenge with Metlink. However, I was in a good mood and didn't produce enough adrenaline to write a fiery LinkedIn post about the company's stupidity.

The rest of the day went as planned. I was coaching business ideas of high-school students, and time suddenly had wings. I was in a flow-motion, animated by the innovation and enthusiasm of these kids. 

My revenge is a simple solution

I still have grudges about Metlink. But now I have a solution for them. The service would soar, and the quality would shine like a jewel if they implemented a simple yet powerful new policy. All executives, senior managers, and board members should use only Metlink's services for their daily commute and other travels without exception. No taxis, Über or private cars allowed. That would do the trick.

If these arrogant executives and managers had to swallow their own medicines, I bet the change would be swift, simple, and sophisticated. And then, we would see how the service leadership culture would polish the sight of the glassy-eyed minions. 

Next week, I will give you the newsletter I planned to write yesterday. It was about gratitude, but it didn't fit into my state of mind today. I hope you understand why.

Do you think that people would prefer public transportation if the suggested remedies were put in place?

Ngā mihi

Jussi

This week’s Book is Principles by Ray Dalio

"Principles are ways of successfully dealing with reality to get what you want out of life." – Dalio.

I got this book from the oven when it was warm, and I keep returning to it regularly. It is still full of hot insights, cool observations and a warm heart. 

Dalio shows how life's complexity can be seen through principles to make sense of it. Principles make life manageable. 

Instead of writing a long review, I just encourage you to get this book and see how it can make your life more principled. 

Get it from here. There are also other goodies from Dalio worth exploring.