Why I drive an Uber
#14
Why do you drive an Uber?
What else do you do for a living?
Is this your only job?
Do you make good money?
I bet 1 out of 3 passengers asks me why I'm an Uber driver. It's like politely asking me if I'm okay, do I have enough money, or what I did to deserve this job. They're curious about my life assuming something tragic happened, and now I'm stuck driving people around in my car.
It doesn't help when they hear my back story like I have graduate degrees. It's a little odd to hear that I quit my executive job to drive an Uber.
First, driving an Uber is a good living. I don't think I'll get rich, but I make enough to pay the bills. Specifically, I estimate that I can earn around $60-$70K a year after all my expenses and taxes. I'd have to drive 50-60 hours a week to make that kind of money, but I can do that.
I use Uber as my primary source of income. Technically, I make more per hour as a content marketer. Uber money is what I use to cover my day-to-day living expenses, like home, car, and food. The good news is that I don't have a large mortgage, nor do I go out to eat at fancy restaurants.
Another money part of Ubering is that I get the money right away. If I want to earn money for groceries, I go out and drive for a few hours, cash out my earnings as soon as I'm done, the use that debit card for food. I can collect my payments from Uber 5 times a day, and it's immediately in my bank account, unlike an employer that wants to pay me twice a month.
I like earning tips. I enjoy chasing the surge fares and other gamification aspects of Uber. It's stupid the things I'll do for $1 while Ubering. It's addicting.
That's the money side to Uber.
The freedom of my time is by far the most valuable aspect of Ubering. I drive when I want to drive. While there are better and worse times to drive, I'm not required to do anything. I can go for 12 hours a day for as long as I want, like infinite straight days. Or I can take months off, never touch the app, and turn it on like nothing changed.
Some jobs pay more; some even argue you can make more working a minimum wage job. Maybe. I don't know. But no employer or other person who assigns me work gives me the freedom of my time, even in my marketing jobs. With more money comes more requirements.
Uber driving has given me perspective on the value of my time.
Meeting people is the bonus that I didn't realize I would yearn for. I get excited with each ride. One passenger said it sounded like the best part of a blind date. Neither the passenger nor I know each other; we can barely see each other. And for 5-10 minutes, we get a chance to say hi.
What's unexpected is how authentic and genuine the conversations get. It must be the anonymity of the situation. Some people equate it to talking to a bartender or even a priest. But neither of those situations are quite the same.
For example, the passenger and I are not face-to-face, we don't know each other's last names, and most likely, we'll never see each other ever again. One meaningful question leads to a fantastic conversation.
And that's kind of why I think people ask me about Uber. They want to know me.
It's a balancing act trying to drive in traffic, pay attention to the Uber app, and have a conversation with someone behind you wearing a mask. We occasionally make eye contact through the mirror. Still, our conversation lacks the entire communication spectrum of body language and facial expressions. Masks have always been a requirement since I've been driving.
Because of these communication difficulties, it's hard to tell what level of answer they want. Is asking me about Uber or my life just small talk? Or are they genuinely interested? I believe it's the latter. Humans yearn for that real connection. We may hide behind our phones, masks, and small talk, but we ultimately want to connect.
Here's a quick list of other things I like about Uber.
Data: I love tracking all the miles earnings and trying to figure out their algorithm.
Gamification: Uber has made their app like a game. They send us on quests, have hot spots, and earn points to get free rewards.
My Car: It's satiating using my vehicle. Kind of like data, I want to set up my workspace to benefit me and the rider.
Podcasts: When passengers are in the car, I listen to jazz. But half of my online time, I'm in my car alone. I love listening to podcasts, audiobooks, sports, and the news.
Gig Workers: I love my community of gig workers. We nod to each other on the road, talk at the gas station, and connect on social media.
My Story: I like saying I'm an Uber driver, especially coming from my background in business. When I'm out with my client, they also ask, "why do you Uber?"
So yeah, that's why I Uber. I make some money, own my time, and make many friends.