ShopRNewson
Follow Mrs. Newson
  • Shop
  • Greetings from Rayn

authorRN's Corner

Here you will find book reviews, author rants, writing (and marketing) tips and so much more. 
Be sure to Like. Comment and Share.

That one time, for THREE years... I was a rideshare driver!

6/28/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
You read that right! For three solid years, I serve as a rideshare driver. 

Let me create the WHY for you. I've always believed in having what some call a "side hustle." In my opinion, it's resume and/or skill building! The added bonus is money, money, MONEY. 

Yes, I work a full-time job. Actually, in a field that getting overtime is very common. So, I am sure someone is sipping their tea... PONDERING why become a rideshare driver? Well, At my full-time, I am required to punch the clock already  for  8 hrs per day. For my own mental space, I refuse to overdue it! As a driver, I set my own hours! 


So, I brought the idea up to my husband. If you know my personality... you would chuckle when I reminisce on how the story went. It was something like... Baby, I would like to sign up to be a rideshare driver! During that season in MY professional life, I was not willing to commit to overtime. Therefore, I was like... either I can climb some poles or signup! LOL, clearly I was joking. Before anyone get any ideas. We laughed but he was not feeling it... either option of a gig for that matter. 

Two weeks later, I circled back! It was important for me to get his approval (yeah.. I said it) on the matter because that is apart of teamwork. And let's be honest, I am a woman talking about driving strangers around in my car. Agreement was, I signup.. give it two weeks of driving and we go from there. I thought, BET!! 

After getting approved by the companies to drive, that first week I drove daily after work for 2  hours and made BANK. HOT DOG!! 

Soon after, my husband learned that I was onto something. Before you knew it... I was not only a driver but referred others to signup... which after they met the requirements was money in the bank for me! Oh, one of my referrals was the Mista. 

Over those three years, I met such knowledgeable people! Of course, there were a few interesting characters. But I wasn't judging. 

Just a few memorable moments as a driver:
  • During the Clinton campaign, I was out driving. Picked up two lively ladies! Over a chat, on the way to their location one said YES we are going to see the First Lady.! I was uninformed at that moment that; Mrs. Hilary Clinton AND Mrs. Michelle Obama were in town. They explained further about and its free entry. You guessed it! I dropped the ladies off, told them I will see them in there. I parked my car and just minutes later, I was in the building!! 
  • Another rider was enroute to the Carolina Panthers game. Strange enough, my husband was attending that game. Through conversation, I mentioned that to my rider. Next thing you know, the rider had a extra ticket... left it on my dashboard and said go join your husband. Oh, what a nice gesture. However, I am not into Football but he still insisted on leaving the ticket. 
  • Early in my rideshare driving career, I took a gamble.!  Disclaimer: I read vibes well for the most part. I picked up this driver from a very prominent area. He was in town on business but wanted to treat himself to some grooming. He asked, could he pay me to serve as his personal driver for the night? If reading between the lines, he was suggesting, off the app. His reason, I am unsure. I can assume, he did not want his movements tracked. Or perhaps he was traveling via his work credit card. Nonetheless, I agreed. Of course, after getting my husband onboard on my whereabouts. Lets just say, I took him two places that night. Then circled back the following morning to drop him off at the airport. The pay was so decent, I did not drive for two days! 
  • Then the amount of riders that would confide in me was touching. One rider, we actually were going through a similar scenario in our personal life... JUST different roles. Of course, I did not mention that to him, I just drove as he utilized his therapy session. 
  • And the amount of authorRN readers I gained during this gig! My children's book, Wednesday Just Got Better, the day Leland dialed 9-1-1 made it to Asia on a missionary trip.
  • Ha, that morning... after the last Presidential election... each one of passengers, all races seemed to be very much in shock on the outcome. They voiced it! However, I agreed with many but remained silent on my personal views. What can I say, I try not to talk politics at work!  I might appear too "passionate" on my thoughts. 

These are just a few highlights to share. 

I never truly faced any major hiccups other than one female rider was upset because I refused to go against the rideshare/airport policy to pick her up outside the designated area. Or about the time I was driving a DRUNK couple on the late LATE night. Then they began to have a verbal dispute, the guy got out of the car... he was so over her! LOL. 

Many of the times I was driving, my husband was too! But it was easy money. During our driving tender, on New Years Eve... we would turn our apps off close into the new year. Then venture off to our meeting spot and bring the new year in together. After about 15 mins, we'd app back on and get that surge money!! 


As a rideshare driver (oh and I was a passenger as well,) those earnings paid many bills. And trips!! OMG, one time... we traveled to the mountains for a getaway. The entire journey and activities were funded by our earnings from that week! 

If it was working for your bag and networking efforts, why stop?
Well, that last year, my ability to rideshare drive was limited due to adjustments I was faced with. I lessened my drive time from about 5 days a week for 2 years straight. To about once a week, to keep my credentials.

My final drive was Jan. 19, 2020... that morning. Which was my birthday! I only drove for about 3 hours, which that was all it took to meet my financial goal for the day.

I had been saying, there was a shift on the rise. At that moment, I did not know exactly what that shift would entail.


Well, let's just say.... adulting #5001 took over in February. Then the world reset in March 2020, for lack of other words. Between the virus recklessness and the rioting, I can honestly say... I understood the vibe of a shift on the rise. 

Do I miss driving? Hands down, YES!! The earnings, no doubt. But the opportunity to service to those whom use rideshare as their only means of transportation. To those who've drunk the bar out but has the common sense to call for a ride vs getting behind the wheel. And the sights in the City I never knew exist til becoming a driver is simply unforgettable.

Would I update my credentials to drive again? That part, I'm uncertain. After every shift, I would sanitize my car. With COVID 19 on the loose, I refuse to put myself or others at risk in the event I did not take a moment to sanitize the vehicle after every ride. 

On the flip side, I left in good standings so all I would have to do is first re-install the apps, submit my updated documents and I should be good to go. I mean, we should never say NEVER, right? 

​





 


0 Comments

Let's Spotlight: Black Tea Hive!

6/16/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​I'm so rooting for this mother/daughter in business duo! Speaking of which, the mother and I grew up in the same community and we were schoolmates. This is just one more reason to sow into their business!  

Take a look at their site, we have options!! 
  • Black Confetti
  • Black Cacao Strawberry
  • Black Honey Bourbon
Immediately, Black Confetti spoke to me and landed right in my cart! My order was JUST placed and I'm already pulling out my teapot.

Are you a tea drinker? Let's sip some Black Tea Hive, distantly...  together!  
​
Shop: https://www.blkteahive.com/ 

Oh, click here to follow them on IG. 

Happy Sipping, 
Rayn
0 Comments
    Picture

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories


    All
    Abandonment
    Acts Of Kindness
    A Curse
    Adrienne Thompson
    Alpha Kappa Alpha Woman
    American History
    Arranged Marriage
    Authorgraph
    Beautiful
    Be Engaged
    Believe In People
    Bethune Cookman
    Birthday Girl
    Black Hollywood
    Black Man
    Black Woman
    Bloggers
    Bluebird Studio
    Book Review
    Brio Coastal Bar
    Buzz Session
    Candor
    Cater To You
    CDC
    Charlamagne The God
    CIAA
    College Bound
    College Experince
    College Grad
    Corona VIrus
    Courage
    Customer Service
    Danny's Closet
    Debt
    #DiaryofaYoungBlackGirl
    DR
    EDC Model
    Empower
    Family Affair
    Femininity
    Fictional
    Fishnet
    Freshmen Year
    Fresh Prince
    Gas Card
    Gem Launching
    Girl Power
    Going Under
    Grace And Respect
    Harris Teeter
    Hollywood
    Humble
    If (Wasif's Story)
    India Arie
    Intentions
    Jenifer Lewis
    Job Shadowing
    Junior Year
    Killer
    Like-minded
    Living Consciously
    Loc Journey
    Loose Change
    Massage
    Master's Degree
    Meet The Authors
    Me Time
    Me-Time
    Monkey Beat Down
    Mothers Day
    Mountain State University
    Music
    MUST See
    Natural Hair
    New York Minute
    Non Fiction
    OBW
    Ohio
    Ohio Business Week
    On The Blog
    Open
    Own Truth
    Pay It Forward
    Pcos
    Planner
    Poetry
    Postcards
    Pretty Girl ROCK
    Product And Service
    Public Speaking
    Purchase
    Revenge
    Review
    Saying NO
    Self-care
    Self-marketing
    Senior Year
    Silver Of Gold
    Small Business Saturday
    Social Distancing
    Sophmore Year
    Success
    Support
    Symptoms
    T.I
    Tips
    Tongue Pierced
    Tourist
    True Glory Publications
    Tupac
    Unprofessional
    Vacation Planning
    Vaginal Steam
    Waist Beads
    Wendy Williams
    Womens Month
    Wright State
    Yoni Steam
    YOUTUBE

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Shop
  • Greetings from Rayn