I Failed. There, I Said It Out Loud.

Photo by Brandon using my camera

Last month, I failed my Class 2 road test.

There, I said it.

Background

This summer, I decided that I wanted to do something besides sitting at a keyboard pounding the keys. I thought that driving a school bus would be fun and relatively easy.

The transportation department of the Foothills School Division was offering training. So, I signed up and started classes.

I had done the training, passed the written exam for a Class 2 licence. I had practiced the pre-trip inspection until I could name every light and hydraulic line in my sleep. I was ready. Confident, even. I could practically hear the kids cheering as I pulled up to their house in my shiny yellow chariot.

The test started well. The examiner said I nailed the pre-inspection. The turnarounds? Good. The simulated student pickups? Smooth. The railway crossing? Perfect.

Then came the phrase that instantly made my heart skip a beat:

“However, you failed.”

The examiner explained that on a left turn, I didn’t give a car coming from the left and travelling at 100 km/h enough time to pass in front of me. The driver had to slow down. In testing terms, that’s “obstructing traffic.” And in the rulebook, that’s an automatic fail.

So yes, I made a mistake. And yes, I failed.

Lesson 1: Perspective Matters

The next day, I told my supervisor what happened. She nodded knowingly and said, “You just learned one of the most important lessons about driving a bus.”

That lesson? A school bus is not a Jeep Wrangler.

My everyday vehicle is a two-door Wrangler, compact, nimble, and quick off the line. The bus, on the other hand, is the opposite: thirty feet long, slow to accelerate, and about as aerodynamic as a loaf of bread.

At the moment, I misjudged the timing because I was still thinking like a Jeep driver, not a bus driver.

Lesson 2: The Tools Change, So Should You

It hit me later that this wasn’t just a driving problem. It’s a marketing problem too.

Many business owners approach marketing like they’re driving their old Jeep: quick to turn, easy to stop, and familiar in every way. Then suddenly, they’re in charge of a much bigger vehicle, a growing brand, a new market, a larger audience, and they’re still trying to handle it the old way.

But bigger vehicles need more time, more planning, and a wider turning radius.

The tools are different.
The pace is slower.
The stakes are higher.

If you don’t adjust, you might end up obstructing traffic or failing to move forward altogether.

Lesson 3: Failing Isn’t Fatal

Failing didn’t feel great, but it didn’t crush me either.

The examiner’s feedback was clear and fair. I made a critical mistake. I learned from it. Next time, I’ll be more cautious.

In marketing and in business, the same principle applies. You might launch a campaign, design a new site, or test an offer that flops. It’s easy to call it a failure, but it’s really just part of learning how to improve.

Lesson 4: Slow Down and Look Farther Ahead

When you’re driving something large, whether it’s a school bus or a business, you can’t just look at what’s right in front of you. You have to look farther ahead.

You need to anticipate what’s coming, understand your momentum, and allow more space for your decisions to take effect.

That’s not just good driving advice. It’s good marketing advice: Look further into the future and think about the consequences before launching a marketing campaign.

The Road Ahead

I failed my Class 2 road test.
But I passed something more important: the test of humility, awareness, and patience.

Next time, I’ll give that car plenty of room.
And when I sit down to build a marketing plan, I’ll remember that success, like a 12-ton bus, takes a little more time to get up to speed.

Travel safely!