As a regular business traveler, I have become a regular user of Uber, where I've noticed that the back seat of someone else's car can a good place to reflect on fundamental business development lessons. Here are a few that you might find helpful:
1. When an Uber customer orders a ride, the first driver to respond gets the business. (Lesson: Oftentimes the best defense against the competition is responsiveness.)
2. Uber drivers have a general revenue goal for the day. They drive until they achieve it, at which point they usually complete their shift and go home. (Lesson: Set a specific business development goal so you know when it's time to push harder or kick back and relax.)
3. Drivers never know where their customers will take them. In a given day, an Uber driver might see parts of town she's never visited or find herself on the same street three times in an afternoon. She isn't invested in whether her route is circuitous. All she cares about is serving her customers because that's how she makes her money. (Lesson: Once you set your goal, don't get fixated on how it plays out in the short run. Chances are your growth trajectory won't be a neat, efficient, straight line. Be prepared to go with the flow.)
4. When your ride is over, the Uber app automatically charges your fare to your credit card. This convenience is one of the reasons Uber has captured so much of the market share previously monopolized by taxi companies. (Lesson: Providing an excellent client experience can meaningfully improve your foothold in the marketplace.)
Keep these 4 lessons in mind as you continue your business development journey. And don't forget to enjoy the ride.
Authored by David Ackert
