I would like to say that right now I am the eager beaver, get up and go, efficient as humanly possible gig worker. But that is just not the case.

In the beginning I strived to get up every morning, hit the shower, down my coffee and then hit the day.

Typically, that meant getting on the computer and taking care of my consulting work and check my email, call clients, knock out any work that needed to be done and then hit the Uber app and drive until about 7 p.m. before shutting down and coming home.

This allowed a good mix of income between consulting work and driving.

Daytime rideshare driving in Dallas is based upon airport runs to and from the local airports to area hotels or businesses. I was not interested in working late nights and working the bar scenes because I don’t suffer drunks very well. I admire those riders that are responsible and know they have no business behind the wheels and are taking a rideshare to their destination, but I have no desire to have them in my car. I’ve heard too many stories of cleaning up after intoxicated riders and I have no desire for that hassle.

Now driving for Uber was enjoyable. Beyond what some people in my past life might say, I am a people person and I enjoy conversations and can typically talk about anything with anybody. I am a diamond level driver and strive to maintain a high rating.

However, when Covid-19 hit, the convention and conferences in Dallas stopped. This limited the number of passengers to and from the airports and hotels. In addition, those dinner meetings stopped and activity after 6 p.m. plummeted. Then “shelter at home” and “essential workers only” became the mantra of the day and ridership fell again to basically non-existent. In addition, since rideshare was deemed essential, more of those that lost their jobs entered the driver market and the number of drivers far outweighed possible passengers.

The last two days of driving I didn’t make enough money to cover my gas for the day. At that time, I decided that continuing to drive rideshare was not a cost-efficient method of maintaining an income.

 I began concentrating on my consulting business and trying to get that going again. I have been working on those steps and since I wasn’t leaving the house I wasn’t as faithful to my morning routine.

I have a journal that I maintained for the past few years that detailed my work and personal life and even began to let that slip to the point of not opening it since March.

Part of my journaling included a daily scripture verse and listing three things I was thankful on that day. I also used this as an opportunity to work on my cursive. My handwriting has always been atrocious, and I figured this was an opportunity to possibly correct that flaw.

But starting to today I have decided that journaling will once again be a part of my morning routine. I will get up and get ready, just as if I was leaving the house to go to work. This will put me in the right frame of mind to be efficient and successfully.

Two items of advice I would like to leave you with today.

The first is the same advice I have given to those just entering the job market for years. Find something you enjoy doing and figure out how to monetize it. I have lived my career life by saying that once it is no longer fun, it is time to find something else to do. Your career needs to be enjoyable in order to make it worthwhile. When it is no longer fun it becomes a drain on your existence. Life is to short not to enjoy what you are doing.

Secondly, always work to improve your personal brand. I have talked with numerous professionals, friends and mentors since I started moving toward full-time consulting and the same thing has come up in almost every conversation. You must continue to develop your brand, your talents and your abilities. Look for certifications in your chosen field. This can be paramount as you continue your job search or look to make a change.

Now if I can just convince myself that the afternoon nap is non-essential.