Not an ATM, at least atm

When I joined Steemit, there was a 'bit of a dip' in the price of Steem and perhaps luckily, I had no idea what that meant. In fact because I was so inexperienced and largely blind to the way Steemit worked (let alone the markets), I hardly read any of the cryptocurrency posts or how-to guides that could have helped me understand. Again, blessing and curse as during that time of unknowing, I didn't have to worry about prices, I just did my thing. The curse was that my thing was not overly great.

I didn't engage well, vote well, support well or do much well other than perhaps write okay. Luckily for me, my writing was able to attract some small amounts of support and while prices of Steem were low, I was able to collect more Steem Power from a 3 dollar article than for a 30 dollar article now. But, things started to change as I started to read more and understand what was going on.

I had been going 50/50 and had collected a little liquid to start trading. This opened me up to some new experiences and insights, namely, I had been behaving poorly at Steemit. I don't mean my actual community actions but I was just not understanding the potential here for me, or anyone else. I was treating Steemit as an ATM where I could get small amounts of value for immediate or future use instead of a place where I could build a nest egg. I started powering up 100%, started reading about various technologies and began working out how to be part of the community and help others.

The small amounts I had taken out of the platform to Poloniex, I started trading and trading and trading and my heart would flutter every time I bought and then the price dropped and a little rush when things went well. I am talking about single digit dollars here, if that. Then after a few months, I finally realised that I shouldn't be worrying about dollar values at all (I am slow on the uptake) as I am not going to be spending this any time soon (still haven't), I need to look at volumes of coins and potential future values instead. I felt like an idiot having missed something so fundamental.

So, it was back to the drawing board to relearn and experiment further. Experimentation has been a big part of my process and it has cost me a lot to do but, has also helped me come to personal terms and build my own process. It is far from perfect but there is some satisfaction in self-sufficiency for me.

At Steemit, I took the same philosophy and increased my posting schedule and vastly broadened my content. One thing I introduced was my thoughts on the platform and potential ways to improve it even though I had no real chance of affecting it. This meant that I had to investigate corners of Steemit and Steem and after posting, get perspectives from many others. It helped me learn fast, even when I got zero engagement as so often happened. Posts like this one help me consider what I haven't considered before.

The rule was though, my content had to reach a certain level of quality in my eyes but, I had to do it. I would force myself through articles and posts and spend massive amounts of times to create something that just passed the bar but, I would do it and do it and do it. It isn't accidental that I can write a fair amount now, it is a lot of practice and a huge amount of push. Yes, I am wordy and I could say things in much fewer words or in lists but, I have found it largely ineffective to do so for me, or the reader. Those that can't make it through likely won't act regardless, those that do make it through will think more deeply and consider and maybe adjust their thinking to create better behaviours.

Over the last year, I have done extraordinarily well in my opinion but it has all been guided by the idea that Steem Power is my goal and my future and for the platform to do well and more importantly, the community, others need Steem Power also if they want this place to support their future in some way. It is my nest egg and I must build it. I see too many treating Steem like an ATM and withdrawing all they can and the worst of it is that so many who could really do with it in the future, will miss out because of their short-term approach.

I see so many get payments come in and it all goes out to an exchange. This isn't going to affect my future too heavily here but, it is going to affect theirs as they are going to find that the ATM will reduce its output heavily and quickly over time and, their window to really be part of the community will be narrow. People will say that they need it and I understand this but, it cannot last that way. At some point, they will be left in the same position they started if they do not use their earnings to secure their position in the community.

Prices are low, engagement is hard, votes are not worth as much, there is uncertainty in the markets, people are struggling to cope with all of the pressures. This is the time to build the nest, the foundation for the future. It takes work and dedication and a lot of learning and trial and error to develop it but, it is this that will hold the egg and protect it until it can hatch and take flight.

If you want some stability and opportunity later, learn all you can and push yourself through the mud. The work must be done now and the better the work, the brighter your future even though each day may seem dark. It is not the time to treat this place as an ATM, at least at the moment.

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]