lyft drivers – THE CEO DRIVEHER

12-HOUR SHIFTS WITH RIDESHARE || YAY OR NAY

So I decided two weeks ago to do a small experiment on implementing shift work in the gig economy seeking to figure out the following. 1. Will it increase earnings. 2. Is it a better method in regards to granting an individual more time on the back end. 3. Can you be just as strategic. At the end of it all my conclusion actually surprised me in the oddest way.

So I began this experiment on a Thursday and it was in my opinion an utter fail from the start. Did I make a lot of money over the course of those 4 days, well yes of course, but I made the same amount just a little more than usual. In short my findings proved that working 12-hour shifts doing one solid platform be-it Uber, Lyft, of Door Dash is pointless unless in odd situations whereas the demand is an all time high, but that is rare. I will maintain my firm belief that strategy out weighs work hours in exchange for higher earned income.

First issue with working 12-hour shift, if there is dead time you’re stuck and left to just wait it out when in fact if you stay to strategic split shifts you in turn can make more of a profit, have more time to expend on what you want, and incorporate a nice mix of other gigs. Second issue with working 12-hour shifts, SLEEP deprived! This by far was exhausting and for someone like me that likes to be mobile and fluid in my day-to-day activity this limited me severely. Sitting in a vehicle just isn’t sustainable and extremely unhealthy. As a holistic wellness coach I notice I got more lazy, I started to swell up, and my eating was off big time. A big factor to consider with rideshare or any gig for that matter, for the most part the demands come in waves. Staying logged on in down-time is literally a waste of time, as a business owner you’re best investing that time in other endeavors and contributing more time to resting up. Third with 12-hour shifts, irritability and lack of mental clarity and sharpness. It seemed as if my days were running in to one big lump. I literally felt like a slave to the road, which defeats the point of doing this gig. I refuse to be an employee to it. I work on my rules, terms, and when I wanna.

The surprising overall effect! So after a day or two of recouping I noticed after a few days I was able to work longer hours effortlessly. Working the 12-hour shifts caused me to become adapted in a new way in regards to how I went about doing rideshare. I use to space out my time hoping off and on and not following through on time when logged in. I seen myself declining fewer rides and trusting the process. When logged in I was committed for the long haul. My work time went from averaging 4-5 hours a day to 7-8 hours a day. I was more targeted and strategic in my earnings. I made more money is less than the time I had when working those 12-hour shifts. In all the greatest thing taken from those twelves is I was able to push myself more seeing what I was capable of doing. Me being uncomfortable those few days was enough to quickly condition me to work more efficiently.

So in my humble opinion if your only option is rideshare and you don’t seek to do anything else and don’t mind long dead time then it just may work out for you, but I can guarantee it is not suitable for the long time. If you’re an entrepreneur like myself this is like dying a slow and painful death completely tormenting to the entrepreneurial soul because we seek to be profitable every waking moment. Wasted time is dollars, taking away from us committing time in other avenues.

UBER AIRPORT ALGORITHM

I have found that many people that get in the rideshare game may go through YouTube vlogs and see tons of videos on how to make the most money driving for Uber or LYFT; and one of the biggest tips is ” to do airport rides”. The problem is the airport has now become saturated with what I call airport bums seeking that unicorn trip that will pay big dollars. Well that rarely happens and some drivers may find themselves not generating the income they wish to had.

I have found the following issue with a lot of drivers waiting for rides at the airport the end up implementing bad habits such as: 1. Cherry Picking, calling the rider to see where they are going, or actually accepting the ride then cancelling it once destination is viewed. 2. If forced to take the ride and the distance is short they’re rude to the rider. 3. Have a gross expectation of receiving large tips from rider. 4. Complacency, they get real comfortable just doing airport trips. 5. They saturate the market and like hogs don’t grant opportunity to other drivers to benefit from the occasional airport run. 6. Create fraudulent surges, a disgusting practice. Regardless of your stance with either rideshare company this is criminal and you lack proper business ethics. 7. It sorta allows certain drivers to monopolize the system.

THE ALGORITHM! This is where the game will be changed. What is an algorithm | algorithm | noun: a process of set rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer. Basically it is a procedure using numbers to sorta create/identify an equation then solving the problem. The thing about artificial intelligence it often needs tons of data to compute information, identify patterns, and only then the solution is made. Drivers don’t realize that every click of the button in the app, text messages, photos taken, drive time, distances, etc. all contribute to the algorithm setting your own virtual genetic blueprint, displaying your habits. Afterwhile those habits are compared to the habits of others and other things are taken into consideration. These drivers bag habits will facilitate their demise! With these bad practices you are signing your own death warrant in rideshare!

The “digital fingerprinting” which is a calculation of your actions is very real. Just because you have yet to have been caught doesn’t mean you will not be. This is why I encourage those I coach in the gig economy to be creative, in this, you still must work hard and treat what you do like your own personal business. I loath some of the practices of these gig based companies, but you, me, we cannot engage in unethical practices to make a dollar, it just isn’t worth it. I believe Uber particularly due to certain rollouts recently will be revolutionizing the rideshare platform once again and by AI (artificial intelligence). To survive they must change the game and I believe they have the data to do so, it’s now just a waiting game. Look, rideshare is here to stay and though a lot of us may be kicking and screaming at it’s practices I believe it’s best we forged some continuity and together make a better platform. I believe drivers will begin to once again take home 60% – 70% of their earnings due to the fact Uber will be doing a cleansing of their drivers. These unethical ones that believe they are owed so much, yes the pay should be much higher, but unethical practices are not justified.

It is time for the playing field to be leveled and the bad drivers ousted on their caboose so that the drivers that are fair and just can make a good living and riders are no longer being screwed over. Some people actually like the platform and are willing to meet Uber or Lyft half-way, but they will need to give what drivers want most and that is fair earnings.

YOU ARE NOT THE MORAL POLICE… WE SERVE ALL

As rideshare drivers for Uber or Lyft we get to have closer encounter with the general public than most. We are in a weird construct because of how much we see on a daily basis. Whether in a highly populated metropolitan city or the burbs, we see questionable things; things that have us to question our responsibility in the matter. So many times it burden me as an officer of almost 15 years if I was help aiding in a crime or if a crime is actually being committed and now I am the get-away car. But for the most part I have had to go with the following notion, “I am not the police.”. What is that line whereas you’re to intervene? I say it’s when you can clearly articulate and see a crime is being committed, you have an obligation to informing the authorities. If you recognize questionable / conspicuous activity there are hotlines with the local police or with Uber / Lyft to inform them or even the non emergency number at the local police department. Remember these rideshare companies are very aware of criminals using these platforms as vessels to help aid in their crimes, any information is useful and helpful. From my understanding they have complete units dedicated to investigating such claims.

Now, with that stated and with all that we see, we may not understand it, we may not agree with the lifestyles, but we must ask ourselves; 1. Is a crime taking place? 2. Am I or the rider in danger? 3. Does this need immediate attention from the authorities?

Look people your safety means everything, don’t go intergeting yourself into a situation to soon not having all the details. I know we want to help, but safety is first. I had a subscriber to my YouTube channel ask me “what do you do in those situations, do you just kick the person out of your vehicle?” and the answer is absolutely not! That can make the situation more hostile, aggravating a matter when it can end peacefully. Assess the situation carefully, I assure you, you may have the same situation 10x over, but will most likely handle it 10x differently. Be smart, be wise, be safe, and in some cases stay alive!

Today I don’t want to go into the types of activities that are questionable, but rather touch on a subject matter that is concerning to me and that is drivers not wanting to pick up certain types of riders that are legitimately working. I know some people have questionable professions, and we can select who we choose to pickup, but let’s not always throw the baby out with the bathwater. When working late nights I have picked up gentlemen club dancers, female bartenders, strippers, escorts, and those within the trans community that are dancers/performers.

These individuals are preyed upon and often depend on our services especially late at night or early early mornings. I hear their complaints and distress, I let them vent and here’s why I am writing this blog. I encourage you to watch my YouTube vlog for more detailed information, but to sum up the matter, there are measures we can take to helping servicing them without judgement. Their jobs are not criminal, if you pull up to their establishment or they tell you what it is they do you, are to complete the ride and remain professional at all times

This blog will be followed up in a series to cover all basis in hopes to help drivers feel more secure in pickups and drops off while becoming more aware of their situation awareness so they can properly cipher what’s criminal and what’s not.