This company is changing the world as we know it

I hadn't even heard of Uber until just a few months ago, when my friend told me he had signed up as a driver to supplement his income.

My wife and I finally used it during our vacation in Boston earlier this month. While we saw the vast majority of the sites and attractions on foot -- mind you, Boston is a very walkable city -- we opted to use the service to travel further distances, e.g., from Boston to Cambridge and back.

Let's just say I came away feeling as if Uber is the best thing since sliced bread.

In case you've never used it, all you have to do is use the Uber app on your phone to indicate where you are and where you want to go. You'll be assigned to the driver nearest you, who will likely arrive in less than 5 minutes. The fare is charged to the credit card you have on file, and you can later rate the driver as well as your overall experience.

Luckily, all our drivers were prompt and friendly, earning them high marks from us.

I'm amazed at how convenient this service really is. Not only do you get to your destination fairly quickly, but you're able to save on gas (despite some of that being offset by the fare). What's more, it's the ideal alternative for someone who isn't in the mood or right frame of mind to drive, especially after having one too many drinks.

Prices are reasonable (usually cheaper than getting a taxi), and you aren't required to tip. What's more, you can rest assured you won't get into the wrong person's car: you'll know the driver's name -- not to mention the make and model of the person's car along with the respective tag number -- in seconds.

I can only imagine the huge hit that taxis across the country have taken because of companies like Uber and Lyft, the latter being Uber's chief competitor with a very similar business model.

Earlier this week, I read that Uber is testing new self-driving cars in Pittsburgh. It's possible those cars will ultimately eliminate the need for human drivers.

That said, whenever I have no interest in driving somewhere -- especially a place that's far out and offers little to nothing in the way of parking, I will gladly pay Uber to do it for me.

Have you ever used Uber? If yes, what was your experience like? If no, would you open to trying it?

Comments

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put

Understand People

Search This Blog