Baby you can drive my car: The Beatles breakdown the sharing economy

Building on of the popularity of an earlier post outlining the parallel perfection of Taylor Swift and Uber, and another looking at how various Pop Princesses stack up against other Sharing Economy companies, this time around I thought I would give Britain’s Fab Four the opportunity to explain the space Uber has done so much to popularize. So what do John, Paul, George, and Ringo have to say about the sharing mania sweeping the globe?

Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can

“Imagine”

Perhaps it is ironic to begin a discussion on a communal idea by taking lyrics from a solo effort, but how better to articulate the entire concept? The premise of the sharing economy is not the “sharing” component, after all vast numbers of dollars change hands each day. Rather, the space is built around access to rather than ownership of assets. You don’t need possessions, you need results. Most people don’t really want a power drill, they want a hole in the wall. So imagine it — less clutter, less hassle, fewer things. Truly a world with no possessions? Just imagine all the people, sharing all the world. Or look out your window and seeAirbnb and Uber doing it for real.

Out of college, money spent, see no future, pay no rent. All the money’s gone, nowhere to go.

“You Never Give Me Your Money”

So why do so many people love the sharing economy? Well, it both saves them money, and gives them the opportunity to make more of it. It isn’t an accident that the whole space took off right as the world was falling to pieces post-2008. All of a sudden Airbnb gave people a way to keep up with their mortgage payments by renting their spare room. Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar gave people a way to subsidize their income with a car they already had sitting around. AndTaskRabbit and Postmates let them do so without necessarily even needing a car. And for those who need rides, a place to stay, or an errand run? No longer are they priced out of these concierge-like services. The sharing economy makes all of this affordable even for those crushed by student debt.

I get by with a little help from my friends

“With a Little Help From My Friends”

But it is not just about the economics. There really is something people enjoy about the social and collaborative nature of the sharing economy. Rather than driving out to a big box retailer, or sitting in the back of a taxi where the driver ignores you (if you are lucky), you can now access those power tools sitting right in your neighborhood that spend most of the year underutilized. You can now hop in the front seat next to your Lyft driver and strike up a conversation with someone excited to meet you. Collaborative consumption creates all sorts of opportunities to strike up new friendships.

If I trust in you oh please don’t run and hide.

“If I Fell”

And it can be so social, and so collaborative, because the entire space is built on trust. You trust the driver will show up on time, get you to your destination safely, and not overcharge you. You trust that the photos you saw on Airbnb will match the apartment when you show up next week, and the host will be friendly and helpful. And you trust that the burrito you just ordered fromPostmates will show up warm and delicious in no time at all. But all of this trust is not blind. The companies brokering this trust, the Ubers, Airbnbs, and Postmatesof the world have deliberately put many layers and checks in place so that you can trust, but you can also verify. You can see how far away your ride is, how other passengers have reviewed the driver, and watch on the map as you proceed to your destination. You can see who else you know who might have stayed at thatAirbnb before, or who may even personally know your host. The trust is ever present, constantly checked, and always being reinforced.

And if you want some fun take ob-bla-di…bla-bla-car

“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”

Which brings us to the final point. It is just more fun. Because it is so social, because it is so collaborative, because there is so much trust, over and over again people say they enjoy their experiences in the sharing economy more than those in the traditional economy. It is not impossible that eventually the two will merge, or that the sharing economy will even overtake the traditional one. All of this to say, I hope some day you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.

Andrew McConnell is the CEO of rented.

Originally published at www.linkedin.com.