Lessons Learned from my Lyft Driver


During a recent trip back home, I struck up a conversation with the gentleman driving the car, Gopalreddy. After talking about his time in America and his home in India, we discussed everything from farming to computers. When I began to explain my passion about mentorship and teaching people the importance of it, he immediately brought up advice he’d received from his first mentor when he started driving. His examples were applicable to all of us and it’s amazing the lessons we can each teach each other.


1.       Be patient in all situations. Gopalreddy stated once a passenger was running late. He jumped in the car and started barking for him to go faster. He said, if I drive faster then I might get a ticket. If I get a ticket then you may be 30 minutes late, and not five. Plus, then I’ll have to pay the fine for speeding. Please, do not push your failing to plan onto me.


2.       Be polite. It does not take a lot to show kindness to each person who steps into my car. If I act pleasant and begin with a kind remark, most people return that feeling too. It’s much easier to invite someone into your space with a smile and kind word. Then they can decide if they want to have a conversation with me or not. Gopalreddy said he was always ready to talk to people because that was the best part of his job.


3.       Don’t rub your mistakes on other people. Going back to the first point, the late rider. Let’s say he leaves no tip and his anger was just present throughout the whole ride. Gopalreddy said he must be ready to think of each new person in a new light. He asked me to imagine if he’d carried on the feeling that customer gave him to his next client and so on, and so forth. For the whole day he might let that one bad rider ruin an opportunity with the rest of his riders.


4.       You are the driver. Despite what happens to you in the car, you can impact how each person gets safely to their destination. In life, Gopalreddy was assuredly convicted that he was the driver of his car, his future, and his destiny. His control of the situation, in his car, made a difference as he drove people around Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.


What great advice. The best part about all of this advice gathered by a 20-year-old Indian driver is that he said his mentor gave it to him when he started driving. A 40-year-old African American woman, taught this mentee these lessons and he’d held onto them for several years. This demonstrable impact palpably shone through this young man as he navigated through rough DC traffic. It made me think about the context I’d place his same advice into as I advise you, my mentee.


1.       Be patient in all situations. As you demonstrate patience with other people in life, do the same for yourself. You’re learning and it takes time. Show patience to yourself and to others you are training too. It will help you keep your head about you.


2.       Be polite. The easiest way to sniff out an inauthentic person is how they treat the janitor, receptionist, or the waitstaff. Simply demonstrating politeness to all of those around you and it will be returned in kind.


3.       Don’t rub your mistakes on other people. The saying shit rolls downhill, immediately came to mind here. Sometimes when you’re at the bottom, it seems to all pile up on you. As a mentee or mentor recognize that your actions have an impact. Showing up angry at the first meeting of the day could set a tone for others. Take each new opportunity to start fresh.


4.       You are the driver. What great advice for life. You really are the driver and control your destiny. With that in mind, drive the path to find your greatness.
Location: Washington, DC, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Veterans Day 2020

Image
Veterans Day is an American national holiday celebrated on Nov. 11 that honors those who have served in the U.S. military. Originally, the holiday was known as Armistice Day, as it originated in 1919 on the first anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. The day became an official national holiday in the United States in 1938. Congress amended the act that had made Armistice Day a holiday in 1954, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans” to honor those who served in all U.S. wars. From 1971 to 1975, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October after the 1968 passage of the Uniform Holidays Bill. The date changed back to Nov. 11 in 1975 under President Gerald Ford due to the date’s historical significance. The U.S. is not the only country that commemorates its veterans. In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. The United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand al...
Read more

You Suck as a Leader

Colonel Candid here in one of my most candid writings. Sometimes as much as I want to build you up, I’m also going to need you to self-reflect and find those areas where you are weakest. Let’s apply some serious elbow grease and get rid of these bad habits before they make you the leader who sucks. The reason you’re ineffective at leading could be one of several issues stemming from communication, trust, integrity, or planning. The impacts of these failures ripple across your team or organization. 1.        You talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. Please, we appreciate your lofty attempts at coaching, speeches, and the numerous vision statements you’ve posted around. Unfortunately, your inaction is evident every single day. The paper-thin goals you’ve put up aren’t working because you don’t provide us with the intent. Clear communication is key and we want to understand what you want of us. 2.        You could care less...
Read more

What do you stand for?

Recently, while perusing social media I saw a post by a classmate from many years back. In this he stated that he appreciated customers of his business but he did not want to profit from people who harassed his female employees, either verbally on the phone or on-line. The company, Ranger Up , demonstrates here a perfect example of how great leaders take a stand against repugnant behaviors. As you look for companies that not only talk-the-talk look for evidence, like this, that they walk-the-walk. Here are a couple of tips from Colonel Candid on what to look for in a healthy workplace that supports women and proves what they stand for. Because we all want to work for a company where women are equitably valued and respected, participation by women is encouraged. When you’re looking at working somewhere look at how employees are seen and treated. Do you sense that recruitment of excellent talent is gender-blind? If not, then the culture is askew from the starting line. The true p...
Read more