Andrew Thomas is co-founder of SkyBell, a smart home security company that is making homes and neighborhoods safer with home automation products that users access and control from their smartphone. SkyBell raised $585,000 through Indiegogo, was named a 2014 CES Innovations Award Nominee and is sold at Amazon and Best Buy. Andrew specializes in strategy, product development and software development. Andrew speaks and writes on topics including home automation, crowdfunding and startups.
Uber and Lyft have made getting a ride more enjoyable, affordable and convenient. I'm a huge fan of them for those reasons, yet I didn't expect to gain something even more valuable with these services. There's so much humanity and connection in a shared economy, and it has made a huge impact on both my life and my business.
The value of these rides extends beyond getting from point A to point B. In many cases, these rides become an opportunity for a type of serendipitous conversation that is increasingly lacking in our society. It is through these conversations that a driver teaches me valuable lessons -- lessons that impact me as a person and as a founder.
Here are four things I've learned from Uber and Lyft drivers, how I've incorporated them into my life and into SkyBell, my tech startup founded in 2013, and how you can apply these lessons to your own business.
Remember Every End Is a New Beginning
There are many immigrants driving for Uber and Lyft. This means there are many drivers with a definitive beginning in the U.S. Whether a refugee, student or professional, their journey started halfway around the world and continues with driving me to my next destination.
Conversations with these drivers allow me to reflect on the big changes in my life and realize that the best outcomes came from notable changes. When facing a big decision, our perception of it is sometimes more painful than how we feel in our current situation -- no matter how undesirable it might be. Fear of the unknown can oftentimes be scarier than the fears we're experiencing in the present moment.
If you find yourself at a new beginning, take note of previous times you've started something new, no matter how insignificant it might feel in comparison. Realize that you're not alone and that you've gone through changes before. Write down what you're grateful for from the previous chapter of your life, and also jot down what's possible in your new beginning. Learn from it, and put that energy into creating in your new beginning.
Have Gratitude
A young man once drove me to the Salt Lake City airport and gave me a great lesson to reflect on during the flight home -- he told me a story about his four-year escape from a refugee camp in Kenya. He shared the fear that consumed him while he pondered his fate: would he make it to the U.S. or remain in Africa under dire circumstances? When I asked him for his thoughts on the States, he replied, "America is wonderful. I don't have to fear for my safety. I don't have to wonder where I'll sleep or if I'll eat. I just worry about my education."
It was great to feel a renewed sense of gratitude for a country I often take for granted. As entrepreneurs, we shouldn't forget that we have the freedom to focus on creating a startup because we don't have to worry about basic needs like water, food, shelter and safety. We are free to focus on what we want to create.
This story has reinforced my daily habits to be grateful. If you don't already, make a habit of writing down three things you're grateful for at the end of each day. Force yourself to document them until feeling grateful becomes part of your routine. Trust me, it really works. If you're feeling sorry for yourself and can't come up with three things, then write down the three things this driver is thankful for: food, safety and shelter.
Hustle and Sacrifice
One driver in San Francisco who immigrated from the Middle East told me about his master plan to drive, save up, move to Los Angeles and build a handmade artisan rug business. This guy had been in the U.S. for all of one year and was ready to start his first business - all by using savings he made from Uber.
This story, and many like it, scream "hustle." Hustle is sometimes the most important factor. Nothing great comes easy; it takes hustle and sacrifice. Hustle is inspiring, and it's contagious.
This conversation reminded me of all the sacrificing and hustling I've done to get to a position to start SkyBell. Take the time to remind yourself why you hustle and sacrifice. A great tool is to create a vision board on Pinterest: add images of what you want to achieve or images that represent the feeling you'll have when you accomplish your goals. If that's not for you, create a list and be as specific as possible. Instead of "travel," document where you want to go, how long you want to be there and what you'll see. Reinforcing your desires will help you to sustain that innate hustle.
Take Your Chances
Many of the drivers' stories have a common theme: taking a chance. Most are living their lives in the face of uncertainty, just as we entrepreneurs are when evaluating tough decisions. I once met a driver who was a Golden Gloves boxer from Eastern Europe -- he moved to the Bay Area to attend a prestigious college, yet decided to leave it all behind to pursue his dream of being a professional boxer in the U.S. Not only is he in a foreign country, he's giving up a "safe bet" at a great school to take a chance on his dream.
As founders, we take chances every day. Life happens outside of your comfort zone and sometimes the only way to get there is to take a chance. These stories remind me that taking a leap of faith is necessary for growth, and we can't always wait to make sure there is a safe landing before we jump. When faced with a difficult decision, ask yourself, "What's the worst thing that can happen?" Document the risks and assess whether or not they are things you can control or mitigate. Often times we perceive the risk to be far worse than it is. And if you can't decide, sometimes it's best to "just do it." I'm sure that other people have thought of a Wi-Fi video doorbell you can answer from a smartphone. The difference for us is that we did it, and sometimes, you just need to do it.
Inspiration can be found all around us if we only tap in to our surroundings. In a society where serendipitous conversation is increasingly rare, a ride with a Lyft or Uber driver can be just the inspiration or grounding lesson you may need at that time. Think about that when you're about to put headphones on during your next ride.