This Driver’s Plan B is a B&B in Brazil!

We talk a lot about making sure to have a Plan B and life after rideshare, but what does that look like for individual drivers? Is it more driving, like becoming a truck driver? Or is it leading a more relaxed, while still profitable, retirement? Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur covers how this driver took his dream of ‘life after rideshare’ to Brazil to open his very own Airbnb.

Last year, I met an Uber driver named Fernando who is absolutely crushing his Plan B. While I was waiting in line for my regular Starbucks, a man walked up to me, introduced himself as Fernando and mentioned he watched my YouTube videos on The Rideshare Guy YouTube channel.

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Jay’s Yeti mug

After chatting with him a bit, I realized he was crushing his goals, making it as an Uber driver and, most importantly, putting his Plan B into action. I hosted him on The Rideshare Dojo podcast, but below I want to cover just how Fernando is making Uber work for him.

Key takeaways from Fernando and his Plan B:

  • Create a Plan B and timeline to achieve your goal (like opening an Airbnb!)
  • Pursue your goal tenaciously, no matter what it takes
  • Every time you accomplish part of your Plan B, move forward with your next steps
  • Follow The Rideshare Guy on YouTube for inspiration!

A Background In Hospitality

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Brazil is a kite surfing mecca.

Fernando has a background in the hospitality industry. He was employed for a while by a company that managed Bed and Breakfasts in Bar Harbor, Maine. This is where the idea for his own Airbnb in Brazil was hatched.

After the B & B work in Maine, Fernando attended culinary school and became a chef.  Fernando realized that if he was going to pursue his dream Plan B, he would need to find something more flexible and lucrative.  That is when Fernando discovered The Rideshare Guy and planned his move from Florida to San Francisco.

Upon arriving in San Francisco, he applied to both Uber and Lyft. Uber took a long time, but Lyft approved him in three days. Fernando was also smart about his car choice, choosing one of our top recommended best cars for rideshare drivers, the economical Toyota Prius.

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Fernando’s trusty Prius

A Shaky Rideshare Driving Start

However, Fernando told me his start as an Uber driver was difficult. English is not Fernando’s first language, as he grew up speaking Portuguese. Therefore, he was not very confident about picking up English speaking passengers in a fast-paced market such as San Francisco.

Fernando told me that when he got his first ping, a Lyft ping, he could not accept it. He was too nervous and had a bit of a panic attack. Eventually, Fernando began accepting rides and before he knew it, he had earned over $100 by the end of the day.

Over time, his English got better and his confidence grew. For the past three years, Fernando has been driving for Uber, Lyft and even Zum. He has watched all the “how-to” videos and now knows his way around so that he can maximize his time and revenue. Needless to say, Fernando is an avid consumer of all the Rideshare Guy articles, videos, and podcasts.

An Auspicious Plan B – An Airbnb On The Coast Of Brazil

Fernando’s initial plan was to build an Airbnb right on the beach. With Airbnb now so widely accepted, getting customers has become much easier for service providers such as Fernando.

Additionally, his location is ideal. The name of the town is Parajuru. It is located around 70 miles south of Fortaleza, State of Ceara.

His first unit has 6 suites. It will have a restaurant, a lobby and also space for RVs. RV’s are starting to become very popular in Brazil. Furthermore, Parajuru is one of the best places for kite surfing on the northeast coast of Brazil, making it a popular destination for international tourists.

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The structure is up.  Still more work to be done.

Biggest Plan B Challenges

Like any entrepreneur, Fernando has faced many challenges. Fernando says his biggest challenge is managing all the different aspects of his life. Not only does he have rideshare driving and his Airbnb project, but Fernando is also a father.

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Fernando’s son, the soon to be doctor.

His son still needs support while he is studying for his MCAT (medical school test) so that he can apply to medical schools in the upcoming year. This is something we share, as my daughter is also preparing to apply to medical schools.

What’s Next

Fernando has three important goals to keep his dream and Plan B alive:

  1. Keep driving for Uber and Lyft.
  2. Keep supporting his son.
  3. Keep his Airbnb project on track.

Fernando expects he can open for business in Brazil in about six months. That is not too far away! The only other thing that is important to Fernando is that he and I eat at a Brazilian steak house in the next month or two. I love virtually all meats and the Brazilians really know how to do meat well.

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Fernando enjoying Brazilian fruit

Key Takeaways

You can’t stop someone who has a dream, a plan, and a strong work ethic.  You simply cannot stop them. Fernando learned from every job he had in the past. Each job helped him to craft his Plan B, which will bring him joy and satisfaction on a daily basis.

Not knowing English did not stop Fernando. Being in Florida did not stop him. Supporting a child who will be going to medical school did not stop him. And working on a project that is an entire continent away has not stopped him.

I think you can agree that Fernando is going to finish his project and live a good life in Brazil.  I am inspired and I hope you are too. Have a great day and be safe out there.

Do you have a Plan B or life after rideshare plan? How is rideshare driving helping you meet your goals?

-Jay @ RSG