Life Lesson From A Grab Driver

It was 5.15 a.m., and I got into a clean Grab taxi to take me to the Airport for an early morning flight to Jakarta. The young Grab driver, David, a cheerful fellow in his mid-20s, welcomed me with a warm and friendly greeting that immediately caught my attention. Something in the young fellow’s demeanor told me that he was more than just a cab driver. So, naturally curious, I struck up a conversation with him. “Do you do Grab full-time or part-time?” 

Unsurprisingly, he revealed that driving a Grab Taxi was a part-time gig. During the day, he worked for an advertising company. His daily routine was quite something. He told me he wakes up at 4 a.m. every morning to drive for Grab until around 9:30 a.m. Afterward, he goes to office, working until 6 p.m. He then heads home, has dinner, and is in bed by 9 p.m., only to wake up at 4 a.m. for the same routine the next day.

I couldn’t help but inquire about the grueling schedule. What was motivating him to work so hard? His response was inspiring. “I have a basic degree. I have a dream to grow in the advertising domain. I want to pursue a Master’s Program in Visual Media without relying on my parents for support. So I do this morning gig to supplement my income by working part-time on driving a Grab taxi.“

By the time we reached the Airport, I was on a high, inspired by the chat with David. What an incredible attitude he had. He did not see his background, job, or lack of qualifications as a limitation for pursuing his dream. He had a superpower- an open, willing, and receptive frame of mind that would take him far in life.