And this was just the latest . . . let me tell you what I have gotten from Uber that has had nothing to do with pay - because the pay still sucks. Maybe, just maybe, this story will make it worth the hassle.
First, how I started driving for Uber wasn't seeing some ad promising big money. I have a friend who needed to get across town for a meeting last October. Her husband forgot to pick her up so she called a cab. The cab company said, "Well, we'll get there as soon as we can." Which didn't leave her feeling at all secure about making it to the meeting on time. So she decided to try Uber. "Edwardo will be there in 4 minutes," was the message on the app. We were both stunned. And Ed P (who I would meet several months later as it turns out) was there. And she got to her meeting on time.... and I was intrigued.
So I started looking into Uber and completed the application process. Read all sorts of blogs, watched videos, and tried to educate myself while waiting for the background check, - which made me a bit nervous, it was more than 10 business days. Yikes! I was wondering what I did in a previous life that took so long to find.
Background check completed, I apprehensively turned on the app and as luck would have it the first pax I got was a first time rider. It was a great way to start. And he gave me a $5 tip saying, "You're in the service industry, if you do a good job you should expect to get a tip."
And I was off... so, with over 1500 rides, here's what has happened as a result of driving for Uber:
- I met a pax who gave me a great recommendation for a mechanic. Which turned out to be spot on because when you drive a german car, you need a good mechanic that doesn't cost and arm and leg (especially driving for Uber). They also don't make me feel bad for driving for Uber, actually said, "if you're going to drive a car for Uber, this is one of the better ones to use."
- I met a wonderful dog groomer who groomed my dog even though he wasn't current on shots - I had been too embarrassed for the poor animal who didn't get regular grooming / vet care while my home had been destroyed by a pipe burst the year before. So at least he looked presentable at the vet.
- I met a guy who repairs car interiors who told me how to take care of the leather in my car inexpensively - here it is: dawn dish soap. Doesn't dry out the leather and cleans it very easily. So now you know too.
- I met a pax who works for an international company who, upon finding out what I used to do, asked me to interview for their company in the marketing department. While I didn't get THAT job, it opened my eyes to a career path I wasn't sure I wanted to follow. So I put out applications and got a job as a Marketing Director for a national manufacturing company.
- I learned to appreciate living in this country through the eyes of my foreign passengers who pointed out how wonderful it is here.
- I stepped up and started to pull my local Uber drivers together, with the help of a couple drivers who also wanted to have a cohesive group. And as part of that effort contacted a national company, Uzurv, and asked them to bring their app to our drivers. They didn't even have our city on the radar but within 2 days we had more than enough drivers signed up and ready so we were the 21st city to launch. Not possible without the local drivers coming together.
And occasionally, my favorite Brit will buy my coffee at Starbucks on the way to work... who can beat that?
Would any of this happened if I hadn't been driving for Uber?
Maybe, but it would have taken longer and more effort. Because I'm sort of an ambivert (part introvert, part extrovert) with ADD. I get into a shell and it's hard to come out, I can just as happily stay in my own little world but I can definitely say that I enjoy helping others far more. And driving I am able to help others, which in turn has helped me.
And it's all part of the bigger circle.
- I met a pax who needs a job because he refused to relocate away from his daughters for work. I set him up with a connection that led to an interview. Maybe he'll get a new job because he met me as a passengers.
- I have helped a fellow driver who got a very nasty bug by running to the store for him (and tried to do it without pay but he insisted on giving me money today - argh!).
- I've helped other new drivers learn the ropes and set up meetings with local authorities so all the drivers who needed to get the correct info had the resources.
This has been a great opportunity to pay it forward - and it has nothing to do with the pay. So if you see these opportunities, pay it forward. Help another person in need because as one of my blind pax said to me, "There are times I really don't need the help but I have noticed that when I let someone help me, it fills a need they have to be needed." So very true, it connects and heals our human spirits to be kind to others. This is what Uber has done for me.
PS - Special thanks to: Vern, Harold, Jeff G, Amjad, Adam C, Jared C, Martin T, Kate M to name a few. If I forgot you it was an accident, message me :)
Ahh, what a nice blog. You know, come to think about it, the honest to goodness real reason I Uber is for just the reasons you have posted. I like people. I like helping people. I really enjoy, meeting new people and, as you have previously stated, from all over the world. I have had the privilege of meeting all kinds of people, some good, some not so good.
ReplyDeleteFor example, I had just 6 rides this last week and I thought, I am going to get a 5 star rating this week...except for one PAX. I drove 3 miles to pick her up at a QT and I knew when she got in, this is not going to be good. For one thing, she had a set of ear buds stuck in her ears and I could hear the music. She, of course, was only going less than a mile and I was just returning her home. She even reminded me that she couldn't hear me because she was listening to her music. Oh, did I tell you, the destination was wrong and didn't even exist. So, I had to actually talk to her to find the correct location...oh, did I tell you, she had earbuds stuck in her ear and couldn't hear me. She also was just plan pissy and commented that she couldn't trust any Uber driver...especially men. I was very polite and dropped her off knowing that she would rate me down. Now knowing that I only had six rides this week and 5 of them were 5 Stars, guess what she rated me...a 3...total for the week...4.67!
Now, I mentioned this little story not to bring you down from your very positive post, but to let you know that despite people like the aforementioned PAX, I still love helping people. The lessons that I learn form people like the PAX I just mentioned is that not everyone sees us as we really are even though we have the greatest intentions. I still love people, and helping people. That one person was not going to change who I am...there is such a thing as Karma, you know.
So, I was sitting on the couch yesterday after your request to give you a ride and I got to thinking. Sure, I could give you a ride on Tuesday, just to help you out in a tough situation. But then I thought, wait a minute, I am sitting on the couch watching tv, really not doing anything, and you are trying to think of ways to pay for a stupid repair on a vehicle (Brit Carriage) that shouldn't cost that much anyway. I am not doing anything, and there is always Google, so I fired up my trusty Mac and low and behold, I found several posts that claimed this was something we could do.
Yup, a quick check at AutoZone, and this thing was doable. Not only would you not have to use Uber for a temporary shuttle back and forth to work and drop your "$800/mo." great child off at NW, but you wouldn't have to reschedule your scheduled weekly rides. I am telling you all of this because this is how I think. Shit like this goes through my head all of the time. It just makes me feel good. And that, is why I like helping people. It just spreads the love...you know, like paying for the person's Starbuck or MacDonald's in back of you when you go through the drive up...yes, I do that too. And you know what, I think there a lot of other people out there just like us...they are the quiet ones, the ones that never blow about their achievements or favors they pass out on a regular basis. You and I and millions like us will continue to do what we do, just for the love of doing it.
…and Teajay (my friend) that is my story. You are great people and it is a pleasure being your friend.
Oh wow. Thank you a million times over. So glad our paths crossed again, you are good people too!
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