DoorDash Diaries

I have some stupid ideas — this is probably one of them — but hear me out.

If I’m bored and have no other plans for the evening, sometimes I’ll check the “Dasher” app on my phone to see if “Dash Now” is available. If it is and I’m in the right mood, I’ll hit the big red button to start.

Last night was one of those nights. I earned a solid $14.50 for less than an hour’s work.

Do I need the extra money?
No.

Can I put it to good use?
Sure, but it’s not going to move the needle really.

It would take a long time for my Bolt to pay for itself at that rate (952 hours to be exact)

But there are a few reasons why I like to “Dash”

Entertainment. Have you ever played a video game with a “fetch quest”? That’s what DoorDash is essentially. Obtain item at one location and take it to another. Whatever mini adventures you get along the way are just a bonus.

Direct Customer Interaction. It might sound ridiculous to some, but I like the fact that I’m delivering to real flesh and blood customers. In my current line of work the “customer” is so abstracted it’s easy to forget they exist. With food delivery there’s an exchange of value that is clear to everyone involved.

Knowing my town better. Despite living in the same town my whole life there are places I don’t go and faces I don’t see. I have no reason to know they kids working at Taco Bell and it’s rare that I spend time in trailer parks. I get to know both a lot better by delivering. I get a feel for what sort of people are willing to pay for food delivery to their home and what they want to eat. It's frankly a bit eye opening.

I’m amazed that people are willing to pay money for someone to drive a few minutes to deliver some crappy tacos to their door. It’s proof that we live in a world full of unseen opportunity and abundance. You just have eyes to see it.

Until the next eye-opening revelation
- Daniel Otto Spencer Polehn