SLC-S29/W5-“Thinking and Ideas!| Ideas That Failed (and Why)!”

I thought i had Written a winning post. I Was Wrong.

I will not lie. Most of us who join the Learning Challenge hope to win. Isn’t it true? We invest our time, energy, and ideas because we believe there will be a reward at the end.

Describe an idea, plan, or decision (yours or someone else’s) that failed.

Sometimes I take hours to write. I think deeply. I try to be creative. I push myself to think outside the box. Yet, at the end of the day, the payout shows $0.3. No mention. No win. No special encouragement.

I know many people will say, “Votes are not guaranteed.” That is true. But honestly, it does not always feel good to give your best and see such little return. It can be discouraging.

This particular Learning Challenge was different for me. When I saw the topic, I felt confident. It was something I understood. I believed this was my opportunity.

What was the original intention behind it? Why do you think it failed?

My idea was simple: write a powerful post and win.

My plan was to focus entirely on writing quality. I researched carefully. I structured my thoughts. I revised my sentences. I wanted it to flow naturally and sound convincing.

My decision was to rely mostly on confidence. I believed that good writing alone would carry me to the top.

why it failed

After the winners were announced and my name was missing, I felt disappointed. I refreshed the page more than once, just to be sure.
(At that moment, frustration took over. I questioned myself. Was my effort not enough?)
Later, when I calmed down and reflected, I saw my mistakes clearly.

First, I underestimated the competition. Many participants are experienced writers who consistently produce excellent content. I assumed my effort alone would make me stand out.

Second, I ignored strategy. Timing matters on Steemit. Visibility matters. Engagement matters. Posting is not enough.

Third, I did not actively engage with the community. I submitted my entry and moved on. I did not interact much with other participants. I forgot that Steemit rewards connection, not isolation.

Finally, I allowed my expectation of winning to control my emotions. Instead of seeing it as a learning process, I saw it as a competition I must win. That mindset made the loss heavier.

What would you do differently if given another chance?

(After the emotions settled, I had to sit down and reflect. Complaining would not improve me. Thinking would.)

If given another opportunity, I would approach it differently.

• I would study previous winners to understand what makes their entries exceptional. Not to copy them, but to learn patterns of quality and presentation.

• I would plan my posting time more strategically to increase visibility.

• I would engage genuinely with other participants, not for votes, but to build relationships and contribute meaningfully.

Most importantly, I would change my mindset. Instead of joining mainly to win, I would join to grow, improve, and enjoy the process. Winning would then become a bonus, not the only goal.

Conclusion

This experience taught me something important: writing well is only one part of success on Steemit. Strategy, humility, patience, and community involvement are equally important.

Yes, it hurts when effort brings small payout. Yes, it can feel discouraging. But growth does not always come with immediate reward.

Losing that challenge did not reduce my ability. It revealed my weaknesses and gave me direction.

Next time, I will not just aim to compete. I will aim to improve consistently. And when success comes, it will not be because I hoped for it, it will be because I prepared for it.

My invitation goes to @saintkelvin17, @wilmer1988, @ihorgic and @josepha.

_{All image use on this post are mine and are edited on pixallap}

_{Posted using SteemX}