I always encourage drivers to think beyond rideshare driving: whether it’s driving strategies to help you drive smarter, not harder, introducing you to rideshare drivers who now run their own successful YouTube channels, and more, I believe it’s important for drivers to consider “what happens?” after they’re done rideshare driving. Today, RSG contributor Jay Cradeur shares his strategies for thinking beyond rideshare driving.
In case you have not heard, after two years of superlative driving for Uber, I was deactivated on December 6, 2017. As of this post, now three weeks later, Uber can not tell me why I was deactivated. They have told me it has something to do with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Uber tells me their “hands are tied” until they get a response from the DMV.
The bottom line is this: no matter how well you drive, no matter how long you have been driving, no matter how high your rating, Uber and Lyft and any rideshare partner can deactivate you at any time.
Given that this is the harsh reality of our gig economy, it is imperative you have a back up plan, a Plan B, so that these unexpected events will not cause you a severe loss of revenue. This post will delve into some back up plans that you can incorporate now so that you will not get stuck in the future.
Strategy #1: Sign Up for Multiple Services
There are many rideshare services in the market. Most cities have at least both Uber and Lyft. If you are driving for just one, take heed and get signed up with the other. If you drive just for Uber, sign up for Lyft. If you drive just for Lyft, sign up for Uber.
Both companies offer significant sign up bonuses (or guarantees). There’s no reason not to have both services at your disposal. Had I not been signed up with Lyft when Uber deactivated me, my revenue would have suffered much more than it has.
Related: Guaranteed Earnings vs. Bonuses
In some markets, you have even more options:
- New York: sign up for Juno
- San Francisco has a service that provides rides for kids called Kango
- Southern California has See Jane Go
In addition to rideshare driving, you can also sign up to deliver items and food. Several options include:
Perhaps you like to help people with their medical needs. In that case, check out the service Veyo. You can drive for Eaze, which delivers marijuana throughout San Francisco. The options are there. Sign up so you are ready for any unforeseen circumstance.
Strategy #2: Start Your Own Business
Strategy #1 will keep you on the road. It will give you peace of mind. The strategy of starting your own business invites you to look ahead and create an opportunity for yourself so that you don’t need to drive for the foreseeable future.
Never in human history has it been easier and as affordable, with very low barriers to entry, to create a new business, get your message out to the masses, and earn a tidy profit doing it. The Internet has been the quintessential game changer.
However, it can be overwhelming. You may feel inadequate to the undertaking. This is normal. Anything worth doing will require the best of you. Let me break it down so that you can move forward with small digestible tasks.
Not sure what you could do? Check out Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau. In this book, you’ll learn how to launch a profitable side hustle in 27 days. At the least, it will get you started thinking about what kind of job you could run while or after you rideshare drive.
Step 1: Your Vision
The first thing you need to determine is what kind of life you want. In my case, I want a life of travel. Therefore, whatever I do must be virtual, something that I can do with my laptop and a wifi connection. Maybe you like to do work with your hands. Maybe you like to work with numbers. Maybe you like to work with animals. First decide what you want to do.
Harry with the Rideshare Guy is a perfect example of someone who determined what he wanted to do, and then went out and did it. Harry was fascinated by the gig economy and rideshare driving in particular. With this clarity of vision, Harry went out and created a blog, a podcast and a large list of interested drivers who want to stay abreast of all that is happening in the rideshare industry.
Harry does not work as an engineer any longer. Harry does not need to drive for Uber or Lyft. Harry has created the Rideshare Guy and it is his full time gig.
Related article: How Uber drivers are making hundreds of extra dollars per month
Step 2: Get Educated/Learn Your Competition
Once you get clear about what you want, the next step is to investigate the marketplace. Who else is doing what you want to do? How do they do it? What actions do they take?
I suggest signing up for any information you can get. If there is a blog, sign up. Learn everything you can so that as you create your plan, you have all the information you need.
In my case, my future business is working as an Internet marketing coach, helping people to set up their own online business. I have signed up for many blogs, and listened to many podcasts. I have even asked our own Harry many questions about how he set up his online business. Become an expert in your field.
Step #3: Make a Plan
Now that you know what you want to do, and you have done your reconnaissance work, you need to make a list of the specific actions you need to take. Plan your work and work your plan. Do you need a website? Do you need any special training? Do you need any equipment?
The most important part of your plan is the setting of deadlines. No plan will produce the results you want if you do not set deadlines for yourself. For example, I am currently writing a book. I have to submit it to Amazon by January 15. That is my deadline.
Over the past 2 months, I have had weekly deadlines based on writing 2 chapters per week. Without the deadlines, it is hard to get much done. Inertia is a powerful force, and the setting of deadlines will help you to keep your momentum moving forward.
Step 4: Take Action
This is the most difficult step because fear will jump in and snatch your dreams. You will need to develop myopia, single mindedness, and keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Massive action leads to massive results.
It is a good idea to get a coach, or mentor, who can be available to answer questions as you move through your business plan. Regardless, this is the place where most people stop and settle for what they are currently doing, letting their dreams and vision fall to the wayside. The more powerfully you can see your vision, your end result, the more likely you are to succeed.
This is a basic overview of Plan B options, and ideally you get the gist of it. If you are a driver, you need to have some rideshare back ups. Sign up for those now so that you can always be on the road.
Also, while you are driving, plan for your future if there is something you want to change in your present. This rideshare gig is a wonderful opportunity to drive, and in your free time, create something special for you and your family.
Readers, do you have a Plan B if you were suddenly unable to drive for Uber or Lyft? Are you in the process of creating your own business?
-Jay @ RSG
