Inspired by an Uber Driver

Contributed by Brad Wilson, USA Show Manager

"You aren't so special," I heard an angry person say to someone the other day. How sad for them. Don't they know everybody is special?

I was traveling down to Florida to perform for the 100th Anniversary of the Port of Palm Beach. Serious fun with some cool history thrown in, a chance to spend time with an awesome client, and to perform with The Three Waiters guys.

I decided to use Uber from the airport to my hotel and the instant I booked it I got a call from a very efficient sounding voice named Myron. He wanted to know exactly where I was standing and exactly what I was wearing and he pulled up about a minute later, popping the trunk as he slid to a stop.

"Want some water?" he asked, as he struggled to contort his body into a water passing position. Myron was no spring chicken. I'm not a good judge of age, but I'd say mid 70s. "Can you believe some people try to pay me for the water?"

He asked me about myself and I told him two or three of the big facts, and we settled into some small talk. I asked him how long he had been in Palm Beach and told me that and more.

I'm going to put this in bullet points for "Uber" impact:

• He's lived in Palm Beach for 10 years.
• His wife had a serious bout with cancer since moving down and has spent much of the last few years in chemo and radiation. "She's doing good, though, and she's thinking of getting back into bowling."
• He was born in Brooklyn, and spent his career running a Manhattan electrical contracting firm with nearly 100 employees.
• On September 11th, the first plane hit the North Tower precisely in the section and on the side where his lifelong best friend worked. The second Myron heard he called and called his number. He recited the number to me 3 times very quickly.
• Myron's son was walking away from the towers when the South Tower was hit, and landing gear impacted less than 100 feet from him.
• He spoke at his friend's memorial, in front of 2,000 people, and his goal was to keep everyone laughing. "It's not about how we feel, it's about honoring him. He was a great guy. He was a happy guy."
• Myron's business took a huge hit, like so many after September 11th. He pumped money in it, draining his savings, trying to keep it afloat. He finally had to close it. "I should have sold it when I had the chance."
• "I wish my daughter would get back into stand-up. She is really good!"

We pulled up to the hotel. He turned around and smiled and told me to "have a great day." I got out of the car, and found that I didn't want to leave. I wanted to talk to the guy who nearly lost his wife, lost his best friend, lost his business, lost his savings, and was spending his retirement years driving an Uber car. He was positive, friendly, and amazingly inspirational.

It's Tuesday, and we are all up to our elbows in proposals, visa issues, load-in times, sound checks, contracts, and invoices. Sometimes our world seems no bigger than our desk and our desk seems as big as the world. Take a moment to remember we are all in this together. Say a good word to someone. Ask them how they are. Prepare to be inspired.