Inspired by my friendly Uber driver

Inspired by my friendly Uber driver

Yesterday I took an Uber early in the morning from my house to the airport for a business trip. My Uber driver was extremely friendly and in a great mood. He had great energy. We got talking, and he shared with me his very personal and impressive story. 8 months ago he was homeless .... and had been for almost one year.

He is 62 years old today, and had worked for Hostess in the production for 29 years and 7 months. Grew up in Mississippi and left home at the age of 18 to find work......November 2012 they went bankrupt, and he was let go together with 325 people. He had no idea what to do next. 56 years old, and had never turned on a computer. Unemployment lasted 6 months. His savings helped him enroll in a local college...to try and learn something new .... despite several interviews, fact of the matter was he was still 56 years old and had never used those skills - so who would hire him? ...... he got a job cleaning offices .... he got a job as a laborer on a roofing team ... he help a friend delivered news papers ......the next few years, he was lost and bounced around from job to job making minimum wage. His marriage failed. At the end he could not afford his rent, and had to leave his apartment. He stayed with various friends and in a few shelters when friends could not help. 8 months ago he came across "Uber" ... he has a clean criminal record and driving record. Had not had a ticket in over 20 years. Uber leased him a car - very nice Nissan Altima - and he got to work .... today he is back on his feet, has his own apartment and he is almost above water again. Has not been all smooth sailing ... 3 days after getting the car from Uber, another car side swiped him ... car was in the shop for 2 days (lost earning potential) and his insurance rate went up, 2 weeks ago a passenger reported they smelled marijuana in his car and thought he might be intoxicated, so his privileges were suspended by Uber. He drove immediately down to the Uber office and demanded they give him a drug test - which they did - and he passed. Nevertheless he lost almost 2 days of earning potential. Despite all this ... he has great energy, he is thankful, and excited about the future. No negativity, no blaming anybody for his struggles ... etc... Well we arrived at the airport. I thanked him for his service and let him know how I admired his strength, and how he had truly inspired me. He looked a little surprised, but shook my hand and with a big smile said - well.... if you fall ... just get up ... no reason to stay down right? .....

Vanessa Rodriguez

Air Export Gateway Coordinator @ Kuehne+Nagel | International Logistics

5y

Thank you Rasmus Nielsen for this post. Its really easy to get lost in a world where your cookie is crumbling and never easy trying to put it back together. That uber driver is very inspirational. We all need to keep trying no matter where life takes us.

Susan Schnurrenberger

Technology Trainer | Global Logistics | Supply Chain Management | Facilitation | Multilingual | CargoWise One Certified Professional (CCP)

5y

Wow great inspiring story indeed,  Rasmus. Thank you for sharing.  When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Robin Ng

Drayage Procurement and Business Development Manager

6y

Great story! I hope there was a nice tip for that man.

Kathy Spencer

Branch Manager / Head of Sales at Global Fairways, Inc

6y

Thank you Rasmus for this post. Many of us need to remember this kind of inspiration a little bit more often. When things look like "it's all falling apart", it's up to yourself to get back up.

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