Two and a half years ago, by referral from a friend, I decided to download the driver application and try the game. The curious thing is that the idea of writing the book occurred on my first day of activity when I picked up a passenger who during the entire trip was wielding a pistol.. This was not a robbery attempt.. In a brief conversation I discovered that the subject was under oath of death and, despite the somewhat suspicious situation, the guy was always friendly. So that now, strange as it may seem, I never felt threatened. At the end of the trip, my passenger even apologized when he found out it was my first day as a driver. I made it clear that everything was fine and, jokingly, I said that it's not every day someone works with an escort.
I understand that in a situation like this, many would have given up the activity, even if it is an isolated case or an excessive luck beginner's, say so. But I thought, if the first day was like this, what else is to come? And I don't know if I was more excited about the possibility of writing a book or if my enthusiasm was for the glimpse of what was yet to come., probably both things.
It's not hard to be a driver. If you like driving and you like people, you are more than half way to success.. Of course, you have to have a certain amount of flexibility., because dealing with people can be very good or very bad. Obviously, there are quite inconvenient passengers, just as there are also disqualified drivers, as has been reported to me by many passengers. My consolation is that such individuals do not last long on the platform., because they end up excluded.
Surely, what fascinates me most about this activity are human relationships. Think carefully, are passengers of all tribes, regardless of social class, where the car becomes a true laboratory on four wheels and the driver does, sometimes, the role of priest, psychologist, confidant… Therefore, if you are open, receptive, you learn a lot, even to be more tolerant. It really depends on how you approach the activity., I would say that from a social point of view it can be a very edifying process. The relationship between driver and passenger is a true exchange, but of course not everyone wants to talk and that being the case i drive in silence.
economically speaking, I admit it used to be better, like everything in Brazil at the beginning is always better. Even so, I keep paying all my bills on time. Today I understand that the ideal is to see the activity as a supplementary income and not as a main income.. The advantage of the platform is being able to work on the day and time that is most convenient for me, I also don't need to meet goals or stipulated schedules. I have been working in this activity for two and a half years and account for almost 13 thousand trips. Today I drive a lot less than before, I returned to dedicate myself to other activities, but I don't intend to stop, I really like the experience. When I turn on the app it's always a new adventure, it excites me and a good conversation always invigorates me.
I'd say it's a paid way of socializing. Alias, I know of the case of a retiree who cured depression by exercising the activity, I imagine there are many other similar cases. Could, yet, quote the successful top executive who in his spare time transports passengers for pure pleasure and even gives entrepreneurial tips. or the lawyer, owner of a law firm who saw in the activity the opportunity to have contact with people outside the professional scope of law. Maybe it's a way to rescue something that got lost along the way.. Passengers come and go, but they are relationships that, although momentary, take place in a relaxed manner, truthfully and sincerely, without any ulterior motives, Unfortunately, have become so common in today's world of appearances and camouflaged interests. After all, nothing better than being yourself.
For these and others, I consider the activity a true phenomenon that, in an unpretentious way, brings people together in real contact, unlike social media, that promote virtual contacts in the universe of misleading selfies and comments of dubious veracity. a pleasant conversation, a handshake, an exchange of looks and a sincere smile are worth much more than a like on the internet waves. I think I can say that as a driver I was a father, brother son and friend.
In general I have a lot of fun, I laugh a lot with my passengers and I make sure that moments of pleasure and joy are predominant. I get emotional too, I already cried with passengers who needed to vent. I already fell in love, I took a default, I got angry, I felt scared and, believe if you want, I even received an invitation to be orange.
Now I intend to finally publish the book. Everything is ready: cover, revision, diagramming, copyright registration and the ISBN. Are 14 chapters distributed in 116 pages. To that end, I launched a campaign on Catarse, which is the most respected crowdfunding platform in the world. Brasil. It could be said that it would be a pre-sale of the book or an advance purchase. From R $ 20,00 the supporter receives the book at home, but it can also contribute with larger values and in this case, beyond the book, also earn other rewards. I was moved to receive R$ 1.000,00 from an anonymous supporter who doesn't want to receive any reward. Anyway, depends on the interest and generosity of those who want to support the project.
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The crowdfunding platform bridges the gap between the author of the proposal and the supporters and all the amount raised is stored. At the end, once the goal is reached, the platform makes the transfer so that the proponent finally executes the project as a whole and sends the books and rewards to the supporters. But you have to reach the goal, otherwise I don't get anything, the book does not happen and the platform returns all money to supporters.
The goal to be reached is R$ 15.000,00 to pay for the printing (R$ 10.620,00), the cost of sending the books and rewards (R$ 2.430,00) and the part that belongs to the platform (R$ 1.950,00). Once the project is completed, I will account, by email, to all campaign supporters.
IMPORTANT: The deadline to support the campaign ends on the day 26 November. If you want to support the campaign and purchase the book, visit the link below:
www.catarse.me/memorias_de_um_motorista_de_aplicativo_8093#about
Wilton Mitsuo Miwa is a photographer and cultural producer in the city of Londrina. Author of the book ¨Vidas Passageiras¨ and co-author of two other publications. Developed several photographic projects, with several awards in the segment. Is an app driver.