"I'm an Uber driver and I made £10k in a month - this is how I did it"
A taxi driver has managed the incredible feat of making £10K in just 30 days.
Shakur Jama, 26, set himself this challenge to show what can be accomplished when you dedicate yourself to a job.
Shakur began the challenge on June 21 and ended it on July 21, having earned exactly £10,216 in that time.
He took a total of three days off throughout the month and spent an average of 12 hours a day on the road.
He also adhered to a strategy which involved avoiding peak-traffic areas and times and took advantage of events like the Euros.
Shakur, from East London, said: "I wanted to do something which would inspire people, especially young people like me.
"Since I started, I've gotten a lot of messages from other people saying it's helped them realise what's possible."
Shakur began working as a delivery driver for Ocado and Hermes, now known as Evri.
And as soon as he had accumulated enough years on his driving license, he became Uber and Bolt driver at the age of 22.
He said: "While working as a delivery driver, I started having conversations with drivers and wondered how they were able to provide for their families.
"I realised I was able to apply for the license as I started driving at 17 so I went for it and started from there."
Shakur's strategy to achieve his £10k target wasn't too dissimilar to that of a regular drivers.
But to succeed, he had to work extensive hours and stuck to a strict plan.
Shakur said: "I would always try to get up very early, ideally starting my day at 6:30 am.
"I did trips all around London and sometimes a bit beyond the M25, but not often.
"In the early hours, I would try to get some trips to and from the airport in because they pay well and the journey is actually worth it time-wise with no traffic.
"However, when it got to rush hour time in the morning, I stuck to more local trips in the city.
"As soon as it died down again, I would take another trip out to the airport, knowing I will always have someone wanting to go back into the city once I get there."
On the busiest days, Shakur made close to £500 while his slower days saw figures closer to £200.
Certain events like the Euros or the weather also affected his strategy.
He said: "When the Euros were on, I would make sure to time my days around the games, especially the England ones.
"It would be about taking advantage of people going to the pubs for a drink and not being able to drive themselves home.
"On the day of the Euros final I made £445, which was one of my highest-earning days.
"Weather is also a factor as people are more likely to be out and about needing a cab on a nice, sunny day."
On average, Shakur makes an average of £5,000 per month, which is under half of what he managed with this challenge.
But to maximize his earning, Shakur always has both apps up and running simultaneously.
He said: "You can be online with both services at the same time, so I would just do that and pick whichever ride made the most sense at the time.
"Uber is definitely more profitable though as I made about 85% of my money through that service specifically.
"Uber also pays better but sometimes there's a surge charge on Bolt which makes those trips worthwhile."
Shakur Jama, 26, set himself this challenge to show what can be accomplished when you dedicate yourself to a job.
Shakur began the challenge on June 21 and ended it on July 21, having earned exactly £10,216 in that time.
He took a total of three days off throughout the month and spent an average of 12 hours a day on the road.
He also adhered to a strategy which involved avoiding peak-traffic areas and times and took advantage of events like the Euros.
Shakur, from East London, said: "I wanted to do something which would inspire people, especially young people like me.
"Since I started, I've gotten a lot of messages from other people saying it's helped them realise what's possible."
Shakur began working as a delivery driver for Ocado and Hermes, now known as Evri.
And as soon as he had accumulated enough years on his driving license, he became Uber and Bolt driver at the age of 22.
He said: "While working as a delivery driver, I started having conversations with drivers and wondered how they were able to provide for their families.
"I realised I was able to apply for the license as I started driving at 17 so I went for it and started from there."
Shakur's strategy to achieve his £10k target wasn't too dissimilar to that of a regular drivers.
But to succeed, he had to work extensive hours and stuck to a strict plan.
Shakur said: "I would always try to get up very early, ideally starting my day at 6:30 am.
"I did trips all around London and sometimes a bit beyond the M25, but not often.
"In the early hours, I would try to get some trips to and from the airport in because they pay well and the journey is actually worth it time-wise with no traffic.
"However, when it got to rush hour time in the morning, I stuck to more local trips in the city.
"As soon as it died down again, I would take another trip out to the airport, knowing I will always have someone wanting to go back into the city once I get there."
On the busiest days, Shakur made close to £500 while his slower days saw figures closer to £200.
Certain events like the Euros or the weather also affected his strategy.
He said: "When the Euros were on, I would make sure to time my days around the games, especially the England ones.
"It would be about taking advantage of people going to the pubs for a drink and not being able to drive themselves home.
"On the day of the Euros final I made £445, which was one of my highest-earning days.
"Weather is also a factor as people are more likely to be out and about needing a cab on a nice, sunny day."
On average, Shakur makes an average of £5,000 per month, which is under half of what he managed with this challenge.
But to maximize his earning, Shakur always has both apps up and running simultaneously.
He said: "You can be online with both services at the same time, so I would just do that and pick whichever ride made the most sense at the time.
"Uber is definitely more profitable though as I made about 85% of my money through that service specifically.
"Uber also pays better but sometimes there's a surge charge on Bolt which makes those trips worthwhile."