We are incredibly honored to have Gig Coach Jake join us on this week's episode of the Deliver On Your Business Podcast. Jake has been helping people in the gig economy to think like business owners for several years now, a message that resonates strongly with what is happening at the EntreCourier.
Below, we'll have a transcript, as well as I could do it anyway. I'm a little embarassed because I'm the one that it shows doing all the stuttering. I had a voice to text transcript done on this and went in and cleaned it up, I'm sure I've missed some things. This might be one where it's better to listen than to try to read it. In the meantime, go check out Gig Coach Jake at his Website (note – website has been taken down since this was posted), or his Youtube Channel. You can also check out his Patreon community that we talk about in the interview. Finally, be on the lookout at all the main podcast sites for the Be Your Own Boss: Gig Economy Strategies for Success podcast that will be on all the main podcast directories.
Entrecourier:
Okay, Courier nation. We have got a treat for this week's episode. Now if you've been listening much so far, it's all been me and that probably gets old after a while. So there are a lot of other people out there that also have some great experience and expertise and I'm excited to introduce one of them today. We have Gig Coach Jake as our first ever guest on the deliver on your business podcast. Now I've personally learned a lot from Jake from his youtube videos. I think Jake has some of the most, if not the most practical videos out there with a lot of specific examples on things about maximizing your profits, about things that you can do well. So Jake, I welcome you to the a podcast and it's exciting to have you on the show.
Gig Coach Jake
Ron, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure to be on and thank you for all the kind words and no.
Entrecourier:
Okay. You know, like I said, especially a lot of the stuff that I never knew about, especially Doordash and Postmates and some of those things, the tricks that you've helped, you've done have helped me a lot. So that's why I think it's good for people to know about resources that are out there. Jake, can you tell me a little bit about yourself, how you got into all of this, you know, that the Gig economy and how you got started providing advice to drivers, things like that?
Gig Coach Jake:
Yeah, I won't get into a lot of background detail about myself. What I will tell you I was how I really got into Gig work and how that transformed into Gig coaching slash consulting. Like many of you, about almost three years ago I got into this looking for extra source of income. I was working in the fitness industry working at a gym as a trainer coach, which also allowed me the experience that helped me transition it is and the natural passion to help people. So three years ago, almost three years, I got into it as a side Gig. I started as a Lyft driver. I want to make extra money and pursued my dream to open up a gym. Really saw the potential pretty quick when I can make with that and seeing that there was very little ceiling compared to working as an employee. I was actually an independent contractor in the fitness industry, but still you had some type of ceiling.
I love thatfreedom of flexibility to still work on things on the side and work as many hours as I needed so they hit whatever goals was daily, weekly, and it's allowed me the chance to break free from working from other people and then really pursue that dream you further. You know, life happens and it led me in a totally different direction, which I'm very thankful and grateful for.
About three months in or so, I really got a lot of people that were reaching out to me. There's the Facebook groups and I have just have a natural ability to to help and guide and give my information and shared things. That led into me naturally just helping a lot of local drivers. The numbers I was putting up, the things that we're doing, were not normal. That and what I was doing was not the normal and I was just kind of doing things differently than a lot of people basically because I was running the opposite of the masses
Entrecourier:
Kinda going against the grain a little bit.
Gig Coach Jake:
That's, that's kind of my natural people that know me really well. That's just my natural way of going about things. It's kind of, it's got me a lot of trouble at times, but that then led to people saying that I needed to charge for that service. Well, I didn't want to charge a lot, but the information I was sharing, you couldn't share with too many people because then it wouldn't be valuable. Right. Anyone that's done Rideshare knows that you're sharing certain secrets if you've shared, if I were to go on to youtube like I do now and share that with the masses in a local setting, I wouldn't have been able to make any money like I was. Alot of other people, I would have screwed them in this process as well.
What I did is I kind of found a way where it was a low barrier costs. The value that they got on the return on the investment was huge. They were able to make more money than they would have. Not only that day, that week, but as long as they stayed in the industry. That group grew fast and I had a group of over 40 drivers, a network group that had a monthly group and again things that were going to great detail and having my website, GigCoachJake.com, but it just blew up and it really, I was limited to local and I was really being attacked by a lot of the old school drivers because I was teaching new drivers how to make more money. Sharing tricks and tips that they've, you know, here's things that I actually learned on my own.
Some were shared with me, but the majority of things I learned on my own by trying, I like to test and try different theories and and collect data. Okay. That didn't work. That sucked and that was really good.
That then led into the rideshare school success, which eventually evolved into Gig Coach Jake consulting because I was blowing the whistle on Lyft and ride sharing what they were doing. We all know that rideshare went to crap pretty quick. I was exposing them with my data and proof all of her Facebook and as much as I could. They used to bring me in for help and then they retaliated. Essentially, they got me deactivated. I won't go into great detail on that and I moved on to food delivery. I then got into that and I applied the same principles and eventually it led to a youtube channel.
I was trying to figure out how I could branch out nationwide. I wanted to do this even before I was done with Lyft. The youtube channel's a perfect and again, it was a way for me to provide free content and a way to help people without really disrupting everything and really put out a lot of basic stuff that I learned. Again, basic principles I learned that I've talked to, taught my clients and then I basically teach people without telling what the principles are, but within that created a lot of success nationwide. I mean even globally to where people are actually thinking about what they're doing. They're working smarter and making better choices, which now is actually having a trickle effect on some of these companies that have been exploding drivers and Gig workers for years.
Entrecourier:
You know, and you talked about some of the people kind of giving you some pushback. And uh, that's something that I see in, in the communities out there. There's kind of that crab in a bucket mentality. If you've ever heard of this deal with when you got crabs in a bucket and one tries to get out and all the others reach up and try and pull it down. And I think that's kind of what happens a lot with, uh, with a lot of people out there. They just want to kind of be stuck in their ways. And if anybody wants to start giving good ideas on how to actually take control of your own career, they want to kind of reach up and drag you back down or something like that. But you've got, and so you've got a couple of, uh, uh, platforms that, uh, uh, and I'll put some, I'll put links in the show notes to your about me page so they can go into more detail about that. Uh, and you've got your youtube channel and your website and, uh, you want to tell any more about any of those and maybe about your community that you've launched as well?
Gig Coach Jake:
Yeah, I'd love to before, I'd really love to touch on what you just said about that crab bucket bucket, my perception from the beginning was just being attacked right in the deep defense mode. Why are these people, they're idiots. They just don't, you know, they don't understand it. Over time, even until recently, I realized it's just psychologic, right? We're all programmed. We're used to being an employee mindset. We're used to chasing certain numbers and being right, showing up on work on time, and doing a good job. So when you see other people that you feel like are worked for the same company, again, back to an employee mindset and like, Oh, you're doing a crappy job. You're rejecting, your acceptance rate is 10% but they don't understand is we're independent contractors, we're using our cars, we pay x more in taxes and I can go on that lead to those decisions.
So it's just that mindset and they haven't, and that's what I'm really trying to do is help shift that perception and open up people's minds to that. They just need to be thinking differently in this line of work. You're not an employee, you really can't succeed if you get out of that employee mindset. It was tough for me because I became very reactive because of it. Again, I was on the defense like I was being attacked. When I really think of, I realize it's like, no, they're just, it's psychologic. It's just the way we're programmed and wired and for years and now this gig economy thing is totally new and people get into and they're still, we're still in that employee mindset. And then with people like you and I, we can help shift that to where people now think about being a business owner, being their own boss. That will make a huge impact cause gig economy work is not going anywhere. It is here to stay. And when the market collapses – not a matter of if, but when, Gig work is going to be even more important and making better choices is going to separate those that succeed and fail and fall on their face.
Entrecourier:
Yeah, and I mean, what you're doing is absolutely necessary. You know, just the fact that, uh, you know, these companies, they sign everybody up as independent contractors. They make sure that everybody knows that they're independent contractors, but they don't go into detail about what that means. And I think there's a reason behind that because if they don't go into detail about what that means, then they can still get everybody to think like an employee. And, uh, they give you a lot of rights when they make your business owner that most people don't know about. So as people like you that, you know, when you're spreading that word, you're helping people understand that kind of thing.
You've got a, uh, a new platform that you're getting ready to launch. If you want to tell me a little bit about that.
Gig Coach Jake:
I just started a Patreon on group. I got off of Facebook and get back to getting away from all the negative pulling back and getting ready to launch my podcast in addition to the Youtube Channel
Entrecourier:
Yeah, Tell us about that.
Gig Coach Jake:
The podcast is going to be titled, “Be your own boss.” That's gonna be the premise. Just like the things that you're teaching and why we're talking today is we align everything that we're doing, our visions and our why they align with each other. That podcast is going to be focused on Gig economy at work and strategies on how to succeed and continuing to tell people what there's, it's always changing, right? Gig economy is constantly changing. You're always changing the rules of the game so they can keep leverage on us. Well, I'm constantly keeping people aware of what those changes are, why they're doing it, potentially why, and in sharing all the data and evidence that I've collected and given advice and strategies on what people can do and different choices and options, and then let them go from there.
Entrecourier:
Okay. Sounds good. You know what, I don't think I let you get that much yet into your Patreon community, which is kind of a way that you can kind of tie in, you know, between your podcasts, some of the things that you're doing, but that you can go a little bit deeper with people as well. So maybe tell us a little bit about what you're doing with that.
Gig Coach Jake:
Yes. One of my favorite things about what I do and why I got into the fitness industry and why that let me up buyers is the relationship. Building the connections with people and the impact that I'm able to make. I'm able to do that. It was funny how I was able to fill that void when I got into Gig work full time was working night and day, you know, doing Lyft, driving, essentially just helping people and coaching them and helping them be successful. And I got away from fitness, kind of sucked the community aspect was, is something very close to my heart and build up the community. Like I said, I'm over 40 drivers locally that we're networking together, that the things that they did with each other aside from the group, the opportunities it provided, people went and got different jobs and I always preached and talked about what is your exit plan?
What is this should be temporary, what are you doing? Why are you using, you know, this shouldn't be a full time. Because at that point rideshare was on the down slope and the writing was on the sand. Now look it was 60 cents a mile and even just what a few days ago Lyft announced that another pay cut. It's crazy and this is almost two years ago I was telling these people, what is your exit plan? You can see what's going on, this is you and you need to make better choices. And then we started looking at like food delivery. What are some other things? Cause I always talked about profitability and it's like if you're making less than a certain dollar per mile, we need to start making some different choices and looking at other avenues. While that community essentially got crushed. When I stopped driving for Lyft and I stopped coaching and consulting people because I wasn't collecting data, I wasn't really immersed in it and that was tough for me.
What was really good about all this because I was so immersed and so involved in what we were doing and sharing with that with everyone, I wanted to be able to provide that community nationwide. Like what I did there, I was able to do that. Branched off on my youtube channel into Facebook. There's all these Facebook groups out there and they've been great tools and resources for a lot of us. There's a lot of bad information in there, but there's a lot of great information. Yeah, I've met a lot of amazing people on there like yourself for example, but Facebook comes its problems and toxicity and the problem with social media is it exposes us for who we really are. We want to blame social media, but now it's social media basically exposes us humans for who we are. It sucks. I got, I'm getting away from Facebook and I got away from it.
I created that group and there's some of the drama ensued and I can, I can ignore the trolls. And all that bothers me is when it's affecting my community and the people that have trusted in me in a space, they come in here for a positive community help and this stuff goes on. But it was a huge time sucker and it was taken away from me being able to put out more content for the masses. So here you have these people that are on Facebook, social media, which is, I dunno what percentage of my youtube following up over 6,000 I'll say maybe 75% and that's even, you know, generous and high. So what about the other 25% that really sucks when they're not getting all that content. I always used to post like, okay, this is such a time sucker. I have to get away from it.
And then the negativity part, I was looking at other avenues. Unfortunately I had to go to where there is a charge. It's, it's the patrons with $5 a month. And then when you first signed up, $5 instant access, if it's, it's charged on the month, first of the month, and that's people's way of getting in there and getting access to ad free content. All my content that's on youtube and it bonus content is in that group as well as a discourse community. That's a place where we come together, we share ideas, we collaborate, we talk on different topics. Just like you went on Facebook without all the drama and the negativity and the crap that like you're talking about, the craps pulling each other down. Really getting away with that. My goal was always the positive part. Yes, we're surrounded by negativity and there's a lot of bad things going on. That's why you need to be aware of it. And I'm always making people aware, but we need to figure out what is our solution, what are we doing to move? Like it makes no sense to dwell on all the negative and all that crap that surrounds us. Be Aware, find solutions and to start acting on them. And that's what I provide with my channel and then with this podcast.
Entrecourier:
Yeah. And I think, you know, that's like a cup of coffee or something like that for, for that kind of a resource. It's something to really think about. And Courier Nation, I'm going to have a link also in the show notes for the community. And that's something I really encourage you to check that out as well.
You know, I remember my first interaction with you, I, you know, I don't remember what the topic was. I think we'd both commented on somebody's comment on a Facebook group in a Facebook group. And I think we had some kind of disagreement going for a little bit and we were back and forth. But then it was kinda like after a bit it was, I certainly realize that, oh hey, you know what? This guy is one of the good guys because you can tell that you were passionate about just people taking control and not being employees and, and being their own boss in this economy. And that's where I think really it kind of started to realize that, oh, you know what we've got, we've got some pretty common approaches to things.
You know, at the end of each of my episodes, I'm always wrapping up by telling people, be the boss. And uh, so I know that this is something that you're passionate about and uh, you know, where you're even calling your podcast, be your own boss. And so, you know, it's one thing for me to say that at the end of the episode to say be the boss, but because of your approach, you know, let me just ask you, how does one go about being their own boss? Give me, give us some ideas. Give us kind of an idea of some of this stuff that you'll be talking about.
Gig Coach Jake:
The beauty of it is anybody can be their own boss. You have to have the drive and the motivation to do it. You don't have a boss telling you to get up. You don't have those driving factors that being an employee, what being your own boss is very rewarding. It's incredibly freeing. It's amazing the people that have gotten into the Gig work and had done really well. I mean, you don't have, don't have to put their kids in childcare. I, I can go on and on of the opportunities it provides.
But with that comes a cost. Like you said, these companies, they don't really tell you of all your rights and keep you aware and they use the psychology of things to manipulate. And that's where people like you and I and other creators and other people out there come into play to inform this huge number of revolving door people that are coming into this industry for whatever reasons.
Entrecourier:
Yeah. I think there are some fantastic opportunities, but you know, that uh, people don't realize, I think the opportunities that they're leaving behind when they take that employee mentality. Give us maybe some ideas, some different things that, uh, cause you've had some suggestions on some of the different platforms or something like that. Maybe some examples of ways that people can take a little bit more control over what they're doing.
Gig Coach Jake:
Yeah, so let me use some examples with the different Gig apps and platforms, especially for those that may have never gotten into Gig work. You get a new site up. Most people think that, okay. Right. Sure. I'm just gonna log in. I'm going to drive and wherever the rides take me, what happens in you end up on the other side of town an hour away at the end of your shift and you have to drive all the way back now. When is that time that you, you aren't really accounting for it, but it's mileage mileage that you're racking up on your car day in and day out. That adds up. Think about a year's time of doing that. People don't think about that. They don't really track those things. That's the other part. There's a lot of things as a business owner that you do need to track and be aware of it.
People just don't as an employees and that they, I mean it's, they're a year into it and it comes tax time. You're like, oh, I gotta file my own Zack. Oh. And they get hit with a huge tactical that they actually could have really minimized and paid very little on how they'd been tracking, you know, mileage expenses and, and things that people are unaware of. The other one is the choices that we make. For example, any one of the food delivery platforms, they have different setups and when the offer comes through the contract, some give a lot informations, come give very little information and they give different information. You then have to decode and decipher and figure out is this contract that I'm about to agree to? Is this, is this going to be profitable? Does this make sense for me? And back to the food delivery, you really want to have a peak time of lunch, say 10:30 to 1:30 at best three hours at dinner time, we'll say 4:30 to 8:30 at best. That's seven hours in two to seven spots that you need to maximize your time and there's a lot of things that could really trip you up and screw you over where you're making seven, $8 an hours time and if that happens enough using your own vehicle, that really adds up and it crushes people to at leads to a lot of failure and that actually is the most common thing that's going on. That's why you see a lot of people trashing gig work is because they're working with an employee mindset, not like independent contractors.
Entrecourier:
Right. You know, I'm amazed how many people are surprised they've ah, run the wheels off their car and it's like, Oh, my car wore out. It's like, who knew? You know, and uh, so yeah, you know, when you're having people think about all of those factors and uh, and, and considering all of that because how many, how many times you get this great looking offer and they're driving so many miles that they're losing money at it?
Gig Coach Jake:
Yeah, absolutely. There's so many little nuances and things that people really don't think about. And that's where on my youtube channel, I get to put out so much content and I'll let just me talking, but me showing and sharing screenshots of pictures, screen shares, and really getting into great detail on how to go about making these decisions. Because again, there's, there's a lot of nuances and there isn't just any right way. Everything is situational and back to all of our situations. Why you're doing it, why I'm doing it, how much money you need to make or how much money I didn't make? What market you're in Denver market on Phoenix. Completely different. There's so many factors that go into that. It's amazing.
And then back to what you're talking about, the expense, let's just talk about a common one. Tires. What does it cost for four new tires, right? We'll just say what 600 bucks?
Entrecourier:
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Gig Coach Jake:
How many people I'm going to Gig workers have $600 sitting in the bank where they can go replace their tires when it's time, after a minute. And then we talk about a bigger expense, right.
Entrecourier:
Like a timing belt.
Gig Coach Jake:
There's this, I mean the list, how many things we bring up did this. Think about it. You have a really big, and if you're putting any, you know to shed a little light on it my first year doing gig work as a Lyft driver, I put 75,000 miles on a brand new car. SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND in one year.
Entrecourier:
And what does that do to the value of that car?
Gig Coach Jake:
Man It's way down, but me being such a numbers guy. Before I even got that car, I was making money making enough that it made sense. When I got, I was like, okay, this makes sense for me to get into this car. And that's the other thing, right? I'm able to help and coach and consult people. Is the decision making on where what they should do? Should you rent a car? Should you own a car? Should you can get a meter there. Again, there's so many decisions being your own boss that do make it tough. You, anyone can be their own boss. But there's a lot that comes with that and that's where people like you and I again come into play and helping people make better decisions.
Entrecourier:
Yeah. Yup. It's all about making good business decisions. Cause Courier Nation, you're business owners, you know, and sometimes you maybe didn't plan to be and sometimes I've called it the accidental business owner, but uh, guys, it's a, it's so important that you think like a business owner.
Um, Jake, I wanted to ask, what are you planning on launching your podcast? Can you tell us about that? I'm not sure if you told us that or I just missed it?
Gig Coach Jake:
No, I didn't get a chance. That will be Thursday, August 29th. I will be putting them out weekly barring any unforeseen circumstance or anything, but I'm going to put out weekly and different topics and at some points I'll have people like yourself on the podcast.
Entrecourier:
Yeah, I appreciate the opportunity to come and talk to your audience as well. Uh, so folks, I'll have on the EntreCourier.com website. I will have a link once everything is up and running for that as well. And uh, just remember you want to look for the “Be Your Own Boss podcast and I believe you're going to have that all on iTunes and Spotify and all those major podcast sites.
Gig Coach Jake:
Yeah, I'm on all the majors and then my youtube channel as well. And you know, Patreon group, that will be in there. They'll actually get first access that will be uploaded there and everything on there is ad-free. Do want to touch on that. What is the Patreon Group has no obligation. That is just another avenue for people that really want to connect more with myself outside of youtube and my email as well as other like-minded independent contractors and Gig workers. And you know, it's an amazing community. Again, it's no obligation, it's just another resource for people. I have tons of free content on youtube and my email is always open to anyone and everyone.
Entrecourier:
Yeah. So folks look for Gig Coach Jake on Youtube and he'll have you know, announcements to as he's ready to go live. And uh, you know, so you'll be able to kind of follow him there and no one, the podcast is going and go check out his videos. He's, he's got some great information that, uh, they're just incredibly invaluable.
Jake, I wanna thank you for joining us today and appreciate you being on the podcast and, and wish you the best of luck with the, with your new podcast and with your community and everything else and thank you for the way that you're helping our community out.
Gig Coach Jake:
Ron, thank you so much. I appreciate it. And things like this only helped me be able to reach out and help more people thank you.
Entrecourier:
Yeah, that's what we want to do, which is you know, we want to spread the word, help you guys take control of your lives, run your own business, but mostly just you know, so that y'all can be in control and, and Jake is a great resource for doing that. Thanks again Jay.
Gig Coach Jake:
Thanks Ron.
