*You have to learn more “adult-isms”, such as how to file a 1099 vs a W2, how to look for insurance, how to manage money, your time, etc. You're on your own!
*You’re your own boss. There is no manager down your throat telling you about your shortcomings. However, in order to make money, you have to drive (especially during surge hours aka rush hour and drunk people o’clock).
*You have to use your own car. Unless you have a plan and your own car and are in a situation where you desperately need something and have no other viable options, don’t quit your job to drive for Uber. It works for now and is definitely a good side gig for those who already have a job!
*The GPS enjoys having an attitude of its own and likes to take you down alleys or in circles. Make sure you have a backup GPS if yours likes to have spaz attacks in the super downtown area where GPS signal is scarce!
*You have to deal with city rush hour traffic (stop and go, moving 2 feet in 10 minutes, etc.). Patience is definitely a virtue.
*You may have to venture to the suburbs, over 3 hours away, or even to unsafe areas in the South Side of Chicago at midnight or later. Stay safe everyone!
*There are lots of overhead fees associated with being a "contractor"; there's an extra employment tax you have to cover yourself and tips are seldom, but better than being super depressed due to fearing getting fired from the job you have already. Be careful about your ratings, though. If you drop below a 4, your driver account could get closed. If your rating is below a 4.5, people could even think you’re a “dirty foreigner”.
*You are also responsible for all repairs on your car! The time and money spent fixing *your* car is time when you’re not making money!
*Beware of the drunk people. These lovely fellows can range from acting like my high school bullies, to being fun social butterflies and telling me stories, to falling asleep, to sometimes failing at finding me while super drunk and proceeding to be rude to me over the phone.
*Beware of the people who have crossed the line of drunk and act sloppy, to a point of almost puking in my car. None of my other friends I know who drive for ridesharing have had someone almost puke in their car; my guess is it’s a lot more rare than one would think. I am however asked that question quite frequently.
*Driving on St. Patrick’s Day or any big “drinking fest” holiday can enable you to rake in some major cash if you don’t feel like going out to party. I drove about 20-25 hours during St. Patrick’s Day weekend and made a little over $500 dollars. Not too shabby!
*You can make a living from being a ridesharing driver. You just have to actually get out there and drive. You definitely learn a lot about life, especially when talking to other passengers and hearing their stories. It gives me a ton of stories to share, which are all posted on the "Your Friendly Neighborhood Uber Driver" (rebsuberdriver.blogspot.com) blog.
*Even though the money fairy from my corporate job has flown away, as long as you can pay your bills, find yourself, be happy, be motivated, and make time to have fun, that’s all that matters in the end! If you are still able to sustain yourself independently, you’re doing the right thing!
Here's me sharing how I feel about being a ridesharing driver at an Open Mic Nite (at the Heartland Cafe's In One Ear Open Mic series)!
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