Become a More Successful Driver - Entrepreneur
Starting your own business can be a dream come true, but it also comes with a fair share of risk. A big challenge is that most entrepreneurial efforts don’t pay off right away. Finding customers and getting money in the door takes time.
Driving rideshare is an easy way to minimize the risks because you’ll have a dependable income source, while still having the flexibility you need to focus on building your business.
In this three-minute lesson from Animo Coach, we’ll provide some suggestions for how you can use your rideshare job to make your entrepreneurial efforts more successful.
Turn Flexibility into Productivity
When you drive Animo with Uber or Lyft, you decide when and how you’ll work. Take advantage of that freedom! You have the opportunity to design a lifestyle that’s focused on building your business. Be purposeful about your schedule and set aside time to get to know your industry, network, and put your nose to the grindstone to get it done.
Here are a few ideas for maximizing your productivity:
Take advantage of your flexibility to meet with a potential client over lunch or do an informational interview over coffee in the morning.
Schedule blocks of work time when rideshare demand is slower. Use this time to do work that requires deep focus - write your business plan, reach out to potential business partners or finally launch that website.
Maximize your dead-head time by listening to audiobooks or podcasts related to your industry while you’re on your way home or driving to pick up passengers.
Take breaks and dive into some industry reading. Scan the headlines of trade publications, or read a few chapters of a business book (we like the Lean Startup and the $100 Startup).
Pro tip from Animo Coach: Mix up your routine and experiment with the hours and shifts you drive until you feel like you’re maximizing your earnings.
Networking from the Driver’s Seat
As an Uber or Lyft driver, you have the benefit of interacting with people from all walks of life. You never know, your next major customer could be sitting in your back seat tomorrow! Not to mention, talking about your business efforts can be a great conversation starter with passengers.
Here are a few ideas for how to network with passengers and take advantage of their wisdom and feedback:
Consider your vehicle a mini focus group on wheels. Trying to choose a name for your business? Poll your passengers. Or ask for feedback on a service offering you’d like to create. Or advice on how you’re positioning the company. Ultimately, these decisions are yours to make, but you’ll be amazed at how suggestions from passengers can make you think about your business in new and different ways.
Test your elevator pitch. Create a brief summary of your business idea, product, or service offering and practice explaining it to passengers. This is a great way to judge how people react. You’ll be amazed how quickly trends will emerge that will help you refine your story. What questions do people ask? What don’t they understand? All of this is valuable information that can be used to make your business stronger.
Make a connection. Create a business card with your contact information or website to make it easy for passengers to learn more about your business or keep in touch.
Animo Coach Pro Tip: Remember, people don’t like feeling like they’re being sold to, so plan to ask a few ice-breaker questions to build a strong rapport before you launch into your pitch or focus group questions. Don’t push if the passenger doesn’t seem engaged or interested.
As a rideshare driver you have a unique opportunity to take advantage of your flexible schedule and make connections with all sorts of people who could help you on your entrepreneurial journey. Who knows, you may even discover an idea that will spark your next business success!
Now, we want to hear from you! Are you an entrepreneur? How does driving rideshare help fuel your efforts? What advice do you have for other aspiring entrepreneurs? Email us at tips@driveanimo.com.
