I started working as Food Delivery Guy with WOLT and here’s why!

Wolt delivery guy on a bike in Tallinn, Estonia

Written by Umair Ali

I am an avid bike-packer and a passionate educationist. I usually write on my travelling experience and topics of self development.

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March 20, 2019

I’ll admit, 2018 was a great year for me. I made a visible improvement in my educational career, made new friends, travelled and learnt to cook (Yes, cooking matters). However, I still had some low points in the last few months of the year. Adventurous activities lingered, lack of motivation and the challenge of making both ends meet, all while trying to settle in a new country. I’ll just say, I had a lot of lessons learned during 2018.

With that said, once 2019 came around, I really did some thinking and reflected on the past year (I know this sounds cliché as hell). However, I really did see a problem with how things were progressing, and in the wrong direction. The problem was that I really wasn’t working on or doing anything passionate for the past 5 months. Although I’m loving my current degree studies at Tallinn University, it is not the only thing I am passionate about. This was a huge red light for me that I should have caught 4 months ago. I ignored every Indicator that was smacking me in the face every day. Days were getting monotonous and motivation kept on declining. I was recalling my time in UET where I spent (or wasted) 4 years of engineering without any passionate adventure. I was doing the same.

I needed to make a change. I needed to find something, do something, or create something that put me back on the tracks of the passion train. Along with many other aspirations, I always had a wish to enjoy and document a trip around Europe. Having a European Visa and not being able to travel kept frustrating me. When it comes to travelling, I don’t fancy travelling by air and doing touristy stuff in the capitals. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the history, traditions, culture and heritage capital cities represent. I need more. I don’t want to see culture, I need to feel it. Destinations have never been my motivation, it’s the journey. Despite the challenges, which were quite a lot, I couldn’t convince myself any less than a solo bikepacking and camping tour around Baltic Sea (Tallinn – Riga – Vilinus – Augustaw – warsaw – Gdańsk – Nynäshamn – Stockholm – Tallinn). Cycling such a long and unfamiliar route needs money – an awful amount of money. That’s where Wolt – A food delivery system – comes in.

Wolt is an online food ordering and delivery service that takes orders via a mobile app. It was founded in 2014 in Helsinki and has since expanded to over 20 cities in more than 15 countries. Its founder, Miki Kuusi – a 29-year-old entrepreneur, has been on the Forbes list of #30under30 for two categories in 2016. Couriers can deliver food using car, scooter or a bike (Cycle). I choose the last option.On Feb 8, 2019, I delivered my first delivery. In the next 10 days, I was able to deliver 136 orders, pedalling 40-90 km daily. So far, I have done more than 350 deliveries and have managed to secure a major chunk of my trip budget. My prime reason to join Wolt was, of course, its financial aspects but there are certainly other benefits as well. It gives me the flexibility to work anytime or not work at all. It provides me with an opportunity to interact with people. To get to know the culture and people, one needs to go on a level of an ordinary member of society, as ordinary as a delivery guy. And most importantly, I am physically preparing for the long trip ahead which, I believe, is going to be the most challenging and adventurous of the trips I’ve had so far.

I remember a few years ago, I used to notice people who do jobs which we might consider ordinary like cobbler, blacksmith, people working in workshops, delivery guys – to name a few; and I used to think how they feel and how their feelings change over time. I also used to think about how I would do if I had to do any of these works. This temptation got so strong that I, out of curiosity, once begged on a busy road (Walton Road, Defense chowk Lahore) just to get in the shoes of such persons. I donated all the begged money to Edhi foundation but the emotions I experienced were beyond description. Fun fact: While I was begging, Police caught me and did a thorough investigation, the details of which demand a separate blog (that I’ll never write). This was also one of the reasons to join Wolt to experience life from a different perspective and the experience has been quite exciting and interesting so far. I must mention that I absolutely loved the attitude of Wolt support team with their couriers. We are treated with respect and appreciation and are often called Wolt Superhero. The energy and commitment everyone shares move Wolt from an ordinary food delivery system to a great restaurant management company. Having an interest in such startups, I am closely observing how Wolt is building relations with its customers and couriers and so far, I have found them doing a pretty awesome job.

How to contribute:
Just remember that no donations are small. To contribute, follow this link and donate on my goGetFunding Page. No account is needed. It’s easy and hassle-free. There’s a chance that sometime soon in the future, you’ll get back either the same amount of money or equally valuable gift. https://gogetfunding.com/help-me-cycle-through-europe/
Other ways to contribute: Spread the word by sharing the donation link on your Facebook timeline and asking your friends to do the same.- Find me a free/cheap accommodation along the route.- Refer me to companies for sponsored gear.- Send recommendations for route and places- If you have any partnership/sponsorship idea/demand, don’t hesitate to hit me up.

← Prev: Of Hopes and Dreams - My Journey to Tallinn University Next: Why You Should Never Bike in Estonia! →

8 Comments

Umair Sattar on June 28, 2019 at 12:05 pm

Umair you are always an exceptional guy in the room and one thing i learnt from you is tO dig DEEP for EVERY kind of act to achieve something big without the fear of limitless hardships.. only KEep THE dream in your mind (keera jgaa k rkho ?)
Allah swt helps you in your journey dear ?
Reply
Huraim Aslam on March 22, 2019 at 10:09 am

I am very happy to see you at this stage you are awsome bro from the age Of school LIfe
You are amazing i like you’re spirit
You are my motivation
I want to say you
Keep it up bro
May allah bless you all happiness ?
Reply
Ayesha on March 22, 2019 at 7:48 am

So proud of you Umair…..
Stay motivated ?
Reply
Maryam on March 22, 2019 at 1:04 am

This is so motivating❤
May allah swt bless you❤
Reply
Malik Sohail Ahmad on March 22, 2019 at 12:30 am

It’s phenomenal ❤️❤️❤️
And One thing I must say u are living a brilliant life. Experiencing every ounce of hardship and troubles.
First we think “Bro it’s madness but when U complete it , it give us Confidence”
I wish I can join you. But by reading your articles it seems we are doing so.

Stay Blessed always ??
Reply
Muhammad Ali on March 21, 2019 at 5:48 pm

Simply Superd
Reply
Haram safdar on March 21, 2019 at 4:33 pm

PROUD OF YOU BRO????
AND I DON’T MISS YOU …
AND I HATE YOU …
GIVE ME MY CHOCOLATES
Reply
Zshan on March 21, 2019 at 1:51 pm

o maire dil k chain ……
this is realy really nice to read ur article
لفظوں کے تیور بہت اچھے لگے
stay happy anr blessd
Reply