Alison BlairMar 293 min read
10 Reasons to be an Uber or Lyft Driver — Even if you are Rich
- Above all else, nothing is beneath you. Being a driver — even just once — can be a humbling experience.
- It’s cool to see the other side of things. While you may use these services plenty to get around, you cannot possibly understand unless you live it; and I can promise you that this is a unique experience that does not have to be the least bit inconvenient. With your new perspective you will start having more interesting conversations, and when you are a passenger you will understand why you can stop asking “how is it to be an Uber driver?”.
- Networking in the most efficient form ever. I am now forever connected on LinkedIn to computer programmers, Uber employees and others in my field and those who I may have never met let alone had a conversation with. There’s something about being in a space with someone that makes for a fruitful conversation. I’ve had passengers tell me to apply to their companies and use them as a reference. Oh, you are senior level or above? I’ve had an executive from the Google building and other ‘big shots’. Don’t worry — one day, it will be normal to drive each other, and by signing up soon you can pioneer a movement.
- Get ideas to start a company. Ride sharing is taking over the world; there are companies, not to mention new business lines UberEATS popping up in cities all over. I once participated in a cool Hyper Island workshop where we proposed a unique angle for Uber medical deliveries and emergencies.
- Teach others a lesson without teaching. The yoga teacher in me loves this one. I often surprise passengers in my Uber when they hear that I have a career, understand other languages, and am college educated, among other “successful-people” attributes. Some reactions are priceless. It is quite interesting to say the least — a sociological phenomenon if you will.
- Contribute to making the world a better place. Ride sharing is just that — less cars on the road thereby equating in less carbon emissions, less traffic, and the list of efficiencies goes on.
- Learn how people live. You get to understand lifestyles of all different kinds of people — from the logistics of how they get around to habits and new locations and hot spots, and this can actually make your life a bit more convenient and enjoyable, and I’d even go so far as saying — make you a bit more worldly.
- Never be bored again. Think it’s unproductive? Listen to your favorite podcasts. Driving is also a stress relief especially when you are blasting the BeeGee’s or Blake Shelton on the way to pick up.
- So you can say you did it. Check it off the bucket list, why not! Friends and family are always pleasantly confused and intrigued when they hear that I drive for Uber and Lyft. Be an early adopter and lead the way among an unexpected demographic.
- Never pay for gas again. Oh yeah I almost forgot, you’ll make some money, how about that? Read more here.
