As those who follow me know, I've educated people about cryptocurrency since I first learned about it in 2013. Everyone from family, to friends, to acquaintances, to co-workers, to people I've had relational challenges with are contacting me asking cryptocurrency-related questions. I send them to http://understandingblockchainfreedom.com or posts like this which have plenty of links to other posts.
The more people I try to help, the more I realize text and video isn't enough. You can't read a book and expect to be a good athlete. Just learning about the blockchain won't help you fully understand how it works and why it's important.
It's something you have to feel and experience.
As of next month, I've been involved in cryptocurrency for 5 years. During that time, I've made a lot of silly mistakes, and I've had some really great wins. I've put in my time to learn when there weren't many people to learn from. Mostly, you had to read through bitcointalk.org for hours and hours and hours, trying to figure out what was meaningful and what was garbage. I literally read posts for days.
As I've been getting countless phone calls, texts, IMs, and lunch requests lately, I was reminded of how the people I look up to most in the cryptocurrency space are the types of people who just figure things out. They don't have a single source they go to with all their questions. The world is their source. If they have a question, they search for answers first and ask questions of many different individuals later.
On the surface, this may seem ineffecient. Why not just ask the person you know who probably has the answer?
Well, from my perspective, that approach can short-change your education and leave you somewhat crippled in your understanding. When you need to find an answer and you're sifting through site after site and post after post, you will spend a lot more time, but you'll also learn a bunch of other things you didn't even know were important.
The next time you have a question, you might remember, "Oh, I know about that. I skimmed a post the other day which talked about it as I was looking for a different answer." You'll have something no teacher can give you: personal experience.
The first time you send bitcoin to a paper wallet will increase your blood pressure to really uncomfortable levels.
The first time you import or sweep a paper wallet into Electrum, you'll think you did ten things wrong (though it may have only been five).
The first time you're asked to sign a message with your bitcoin private key, you'll think it's impossible.
The first time you use a Ledger Nano S with myetherwallet.com, you'll want to throw your computer across the room and curse at the damn technologists who make everything so hard.
These things start out feeling impossible. You'll be tempted to just ask your tech nerd friend to do it for you.
Don't.
Don't miss out on the experience and how that experience will benefit you in the future. Yes, at first, it'll be hard. Over time, it'll be just like riding a bike, and you'll wonder why everyone else is so confused.
When you get there, you'll be so glad you didn't take a shortcut but instead did the hard work to do your own research and understand from personal experience how things work.
How Will You Tell Your Cryptocurrency Story?
A time is coming when those who invested early in cryptocurrency will be in a much better financial place than those who didn't. For some, that time is already here. How will you explain to your family, your friends, and your neighbors how you got where you are? When they ask you, "Why didn't you tell me about this?!?", what will you say?
Learning about cryptocurrency may be one of the most important skills for someone's financial future, and if you're reading this post on Steemit, you may already know more than most.
Share that knowledge as best you can. Help people find their path to understanding and experience. I'm quite proud of the fact I've been talking about this stuff for a while now and everyone who knows me knows I wasn't accumulating cryptocurrency in secret. I won't have people asking me, "Why didn't you tell me about this?" but instead it'll be more like, "Now I understand why you wouldn't shut up about this."
In closing, my encouragement to you is two-fold:
Be an educator. When you visit your friends and family this holiday season, share what you've learned. Make sure they don't ask you years from now why you didn't let them in on what you've discovered.
Learn by experience and research. Don't just ask questions of people you know, but dig in deep and really try to understand. Don't be afraid of mistakes. They teach you like nothing else can.
For anyone and everyone who has ever asked me a question about cryptocurrency, please understand this isn't directed at you as a correction. I love answering your questions. I truly enjoy it and am honored and thankful every time someone looks to me for help. What I'm realizing more and more is that, in some cases, I'm doing people a disservice if I just give them the answers they want without teaching them how to find them. I want to give out fishing poles, not fish.
Remember, this movement isn't just about digital money. It's about a paradigm shift away from violence-backed, centralized authority to cryptographically-secure, global consensus via voluntary competing ledgers.
I hope my posts continue to be useful to you and help you on your journey.
On a personal note, the family and I are hopping on a plane tomorrow to head out to California to visit family for the holidays. The kids are pretty excited, and I'm looking forward to disconnecting from work and just being free to do whatever I feel like. I'm not sure how active I'll be on Steemit, so if you don't hear from me as much, that's why.
Great post, as always. Everyone who knows me thinks of me every time they see bitcoin on the news.
They tell me how dumb they feel for not buying at $50 like I suggested.
Funny thing is, I never told them to invest.
I've only ever told people to learn.
It's art performed in maths.
The feedback loops; the magnificent simplicity and complexity.
Personally benefitting seems almost crass. I feel like a kalahari bushman looking up at a cathedral.
Yes, it can shelter a lot of cows, but that's an afterthought.
Look how incredible it is.
Beautifully said. :)
It's the same with me. For a while people would email me or message me any time they would see a news article about bitcoin. I'd smile and thank them. Inside, I'd be thinking, "Have you learned anything more about it yet? Are you onboard with understanding?"
exactly. It takes < 1 hour to really dive in and start learning this stuff now since there's countless resources online, yet ppl just wanna learn about the price. I guess this is how bubbles are formed and I'm completely OK w/ that. Some ppl want to learn and grow, others want to get rich quick. The latter typically fails and the former is richer b/c of the new knowledge and perspective.
The knowledge is also largely transferable.
If you 'get' PoW, then it's simple to understand DPoS. Then you see the differences and possibilities, and understand the tech a little better.
When the next thing comes along, you chip away at it until you 'get' the differences.
Before too long, the guy who only knows what the bitcoin price is doing, thinks you're some kind of wizard.
YES!
Indeed this revolution is much more than a get rich Ponzi scheme like the fiat controllers operate. The block chain represents social contract through voluntary participation, which will give it infinitely more value than anything enforced with fear and threats of violence.
We are just beginning to see how much prosperity is available when we stop wasting our energy on violence, imaginary hierarchies of abuse via artificial scarcity, and incredulous middle men!
I talk about crypto with everyone possible. Imagine a decentralized consensus engine running on block chain...voter fraud would be impossible.
Thank you!
Well said!
You're a good man Luke. I feel lucky to be one of your followers and for those who don't know you yet they'll feel the same once they're on board. There's always great wisdom in your words and within your message. You are right Experience is key. One has to experience to learn. Whether it's the simplest task in the world or the most difficult the physical act of completing it builds the confidence to know and move forward. Enjoyed my friend! These are good days! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you for your kind words!
I appreciate your willingness to teach and our lunch a few months ago. 🍽️
Reading your experiences has helped me to navigate a lot of this space.
Dayne, you are a perfect example of someone who dove in headfirst and not only has been learning and researching non-stop, but you're also doing and teaching others. If everyone got it like you, the world would be full of cryptocurrency pros in no time.
"The first time you send bitcoin to a paper wallet will increase your blood pressure to really uncomfortable levels." hahaha I "KNOW" that feeling :D
To your point, I understand the importance of educating people as I personally am an educator in life, but financial literacy differs from people to people (same as religion, if you wish), so I would not go into war battle of defending crypto in "what is that new pyramid, or scheme" - an usual response form the ignorant. Or the feeling I get I am a dirty marketer trying to hook them up on something... "illegal". I talk crypto only with crypto-minded people. :) They understand. Of course when the hype hits and everything is going up people tend to be more "understanding" and willing to listen...
Really a great post but you will be shocked to listen that bitcoin has not been a legal currency in India till now. Indian govt are filing case against those who invest in bitcoin.
The violent authoritarians are struggling to keep their power over others.
Hi Luke👋🏻 Someone told me that I should follow you, and I am glad because you are pretty cool, judging only by this one post. I like the reminder about how hard it was to sign my first message with a btc Address. I actually had 4 heroes and a legendary all trying to explain the process and in semi broken English. I finally told them all I was not going to do it. I could not figure it out, and I sent a 1 minute video to the thread explaining to them that I am smart, and I know how to follow instructions, but signing the message was clearly an impossible task. They gave me a round of applause when finally, several days later I returned with a signed message. Miraculous! Then the leader of the pack says “ not this address -you didn’t stake it yet”. 🙀😌Then it was that hurdle. Lol . Now I Am a pro, but it isn’t the most useful skill. Not yet anyway. I may employ a secret system of notes someday.. for fun. Just to use that interesting blockchain feature.
Oh, by the way my name is Lori. 🤭
Thanks so much, Lori. Isn't it amazing how we can go from impossible to pro with some effort and experience? :)
Amazing. It’s truly an opportunity for the people who have been involved with Crypto in any way for a very short time (a year ? Six months ? ) to be the leaders of a new economy and a planet altering movement. Since isn’t even past its infancy yet, the cryptosphere is going to NEED us to take the steering wheel and share what knowledge we can offer. You are doing a spectacular job at this. Rock out with you stock out. Lol 🤩🤪
like always I love your post, the first time I nearly made my underwear dirty was when I put sbd over to steem... My eyes focused on what is going to happen, oh no where is it gone, with a other voice inside me, oh its only play money it does not cost you anything... On this moment i can hardly sleep, lol the day before yesterday i told my daughter, oh look, when i change over my estimated account it is worth 407 euro !! and now not even 48 hours after it is 695... ohmy... I would love to buy a little house in Crete, and if possible also in Hungary :-) and I do start believing my dream again :-) Just to dream is allready so much fun, i feel younger more actif just because of steem. :-) Luke i want to wish you a enormous nice holiday, with all the warmth to be happy, joy love and laughter. Wishing you and all your loved ones in the first place good health, without that there is nothing, thank you for all your input ! X
Thank you for such a warm comment. :)
I love hearing stories like this.
Love hearing yours! Itook some pictures during our Catan game, planning to make a blog about it, when i took the pictures I was thinking about you, lol how crazy! i do not know you of hair or feathers. :-)
My experience will no doubt be tied to steemit. I had only heard of a few coins and didn't understand the long term potential of any of this up until joining steemit. Steemit also gave me the opportunity to invest in crypto, despite having no real amount of fiat to my name. I'm still just starting, I made my first investment 2 weeks ago as that big jump as starting and have yet to do any real trading between currencies.
Looking to sign up to bittrex once they open back up. Just been using exodus, jaxx and blocktrades so far. Once I get familiar with bittrex and binance I'll look into a nano ledger
Very cool! Don't forget about BitShares, the decentralized exchange. Here's my referral link: https://wallet.bitshares.org/?r=luke-stokes
The link under the "posts like this" text has a lot more information as well. Good luck on your journey of knowledge and congratulations on what you've already accomplished. You have a lot to teach others already.
I agree, I always tell people you learn more by making mistakes, especially costly ones.
You will never get comfortable or good at something if you arent trying it.
I am a "read the instructions" guy and like to have as much knowledge as possible when doing things. There arent always instructions available for new things like Crypto. I remember when I first made a transfer feeling extremely uncomfortable and worried about why was taking so long.
Can you imagine if they were like, "Here's a pole. You read the manual, now go vault." That would have been bad. I too want to learn as much as I can, but as you said, that emotional response is a real one and that can only be dealt with through experience. Glad to have you here on this journey, Darryl. :)
Good point with the Pole Vault comparison. I will one up you with the high jump, if we only used the manual we would never have seen the Fosbury Flop! Only experience and trying things will advance you to the next level.
Hahah! Totallly!
Great post and I recognize a lot of the same things. I didn't start with crypto in 2013, but only less than a year ago. Before that, I had heard of Bitcoin through a friend who only used it (and still does...) to buy things with, not as an investment, read a lot about it, but never really got involved as I didn't know where to start. So I left it for a while, even forgot about it. Until I heard a friend talk about it, I asked her about it, and the only info she gave me was: get a wallet and start trading. Now I had something to work with and with that I started studying, researching, reading and more reading. I was amazed to see how well I was doing with only small investments (tiny...). These tiny investments brought me to Steemfest and are doing so much more. It's a great hobby that got out of hand lol. Now, I trade, spend a lot of time here on Steemit and write a few articles for darkwebnews. So pretty much everything outside of my family revolves around cryptocurrency. My kids each have their own accounts and invest their savings...and the rest of the time I get to spend with them. Life is great! My friends say the same, I never shut up about it! I call one of my best friends in Holland often enough, and when I do, we can easily talk for an hour or two. I'd say 75% of that is filled with crypto talk lol. Her husband is a programmer, so I told them they should definitely be in it...So I created a new addict now. :)
I like what you're doing. It's best to teach others how to fish instead of handing them the fish. Same with cryptos and the whole philosophy behind it and how it can be translated into our interactions with the blockchain (or something post-blockchain). Many relatively new players in the scene atm making it a business as a 3rd party handling funds and stuff for others, which I think defeats the purpose..
I completely agree. If we just end up with another third-party system of trust instead of individuals controlling their own stores of value in a fully decentralized manner, then what's the point?
Can’t agree with you enough here. Learning this stuff takes time, and actually, sacrifice. Sacrifice of sleep, family time (at times), etc. That said, for me, it’s not really “sacrifice,” because as vexing as it can feel sometimes, I love it, and it’s mine.
I’m sure I haven’t gotten as many calls as you, but the buzzes and beeps have definitely been increasing. Some of the friends take to the scene—confusion, elation, heartaches, wins, losses and all—like a duck to water.
Others just say: “I don’t have enough time to investigate. Too busy. Help me out.”
This makes me laugh, almost.
Anyway, thanks for the great post.
Yeah, many say they are "too busy" and I used to go out of my way to meet them at their work or their house and help them. Now, the value of cryptocurrency speaks for itself. I have multiple friends I helped by 10 or more BTC in 2013. Their ~$7k investment is now worth almost $200k. As people figure out what's going on, they will make time for it because we all get the same 24 hours in a day. We all get to choose how we spend our time.
Some of us don't mind missing out on some sleep now and again because it's worth it. :)
Thanks for commenting, Graham.
You had a lot more success than I.
I don't know of a single friend who bought a single bitcoin.
Happily, many of them are now diving in here, though, which is great to see.
Posting yang sangat bagus.. Senang melihatnya sebagai informasi tambahan untuk mencapai kesuksesan dengan cara yang benar. Semoga Sukses selalu untuk anda. Thanks.
What a wonderful post.. I started to know about cryptocurrency a few months ago and didn't pay much attention as it was so hard to understand.. and then I left behind and the FOM kicked out.. a month and ago and learnt so much.. now all I want to talk about is crypto and steem.. .. It's such an amazing opportunity!! I also just posted about starting out in crytocurrency , for me is to just do it.. :)
What a fun read man! I’m so amped about crypto and like you said ha I don’t shut up about it but I do plan on helping my parents retire as the biggest way I can give back to them after all their love and support my whole life. I try so hard to explain to people what kind of an endeavor this is and I’m constantly learning more. Some people listen and some choose to dislike it but all I can do is try to spread the knowledge I’m learning. I can’t wait till all of this really pays off for me and my loved ones...
Yes, experience is a good teacher as well as History. When considering getting experience and you are very nervous you will make a mistake then always try some small transactions 1st. Then you will be comfortable moving currencies around. So you won't be nervous, you will be excited.
Definitely. Always start with small risks before taking bigger ones.
2017 was a great successive year for crypto markets, there are lot of stories to tell. I am looking forward for 2018 another great year.
Remember, this movement isn't just about digital money. It's about a paradigm shift away from violence-backed, centralized authority to cryptographically-secure, global consensus via voluntary competing ledgers.
Thats the point!!!! :-)
Thanks for sharing and I am sorry that I cannot upvote in the moment. Power almost down... this article would deserve it.
I hope you and your family have nice holydays!
Also they said 1000$ Bitcoin was so expensive but all are willing to buy now at $20,000 lol.
I know, right! It's hilarious.
Merry Christmas @lukestokes and yes teach them how to HODL............
HODL indeed. :)
No Need to Trade in and out and create Taxable events.....I Like the ability that SALT will give us to Borrow against our Crypto's .....
Thank you so much for sharing this post.... Because I was in need to understand more about this topic and I get all the benefits thank you dear friend @lukestokes
Experience is the greatest teacher. My experiences with the internet bubble while I was in college and then the 2008 crash when I first started day trading full time have taught me valuable lessons that I have applied to the cryptocurrency market.
Those lessons I paid for then are generating more then their weight in compensation now. :-)
That's exactly how it goes. Sometimes what seems like our most expensive lessons actually turn out really cheap in the long run.
i start my crypto story from steemit and i have not any most experience in crypto but i tried to get more knowledge about crypto from internet and all experienced persons like u and others and i also get my knowledge from steemit i m still a small student first when my friend told me about crypto i dont believe on it but then she showing me some proofs i believed on it and now from last 5 months i still try to get better in crypto @lukestokes..in my small experience i realize that the steem is our bright future
may I ask you, why you keep your steem as steem? why do you not power up? Your wallet is not what I expected? You may think where does she butt in for? but I only want to learn. I do that also with peoples wallets to see if i do it the same as most, and with you I see a difference. If my question feels out of order please forgive me.
I think that's a good question, for what it's worth.
ohh no ur question is good
bcs i want to transfer my steem to poloniex and there is not showing sbd or steem deposit memo address from some days and my bittrex is not verified still
@lukestokes something like that is scary too ! on the moment you want to change it it looks not possible... Just wrote to my brother you have to come to steemit, this and that happened with me... and he said : can you first show me 100 euro... Me NO i first want to invest in my self. I will not take anything out until i am on 500 sp than the new steem can go in other cryptocurrencies en euros. Maybe by that time I understand more whet they say :-) thank you for your answer @shencoin ! I think when you not really need it put it in your sp , your rewards will be bigger, i hope, think, know :-)
Nice one here
You are a great person who gives us knowledge and knowledge and we learn from you because you are an example to us and it is an honor for me to follow you dearly @lukestokes
pemrogram, saksi STEEM, dan sukarelawan yang ingin membantu menciptakan dunia yang kita semua inginkan untuk tinggal masuk Kunjungi . follow me @tjunaidi
practices make a man perfect, and you give to spend long time about those.
Very Great all around advice @lukestokes ..... have a fun vacation :)
Thank you, we will.
Very captivating and enriching.
Thank you for this. What a nice treat. Hope you enjoy your weekend.
https://steemit.com/aceh/@tjunaidi/the-field-of-harapan-bangsa-aceh-muddy-stadium-it-s-a-panpel-defense-68237283ae469
Don't do this. Don't just drop links like this. You'll get flagged.
Great effort ! Really motivational and informative !! Learnt a lots from your post !! Thanks for sharing dear @lukestokes !
Thank you Luke for your willingness to educate. I have been on Steemit since last May and have learned so much from you and others here. I appreciate your advice to become an educator and continue to seek out experience. Sometimes we learn by digging in and getting our hands dirty.
Remember, this movement isn't just about digital money. It's about a paradigm shift away from violence-backed, centralized authority to cryptographically-secure, global consensus via voluntary competing ledgers.
A couple of years ago, I watched the Zeitgeist films, and it changed my life. My whole perspective shifted, and everything I thought I knew, I realized I needed to always be questioning. This part of your post made me think to that again :) Also, your post is spot on. I'm a huge fan of learning by experience, and that is how I have navigated the waters of cryptocurrency so far (in my short 6 months in the game). Reading and reading and watching videos and feeling confused and then less confused and again more confused, but I am finally reaching solid ground of understanding.
Experience is a priceless asset but there's a price to it and we have to pay that price in order to gain that. In most cases, that price is time, effort and endurance. In some cases, like mine, that price is money invested in wrong coins and with wrong perception. I have learned my lessons and am willing to learn more. I left crypto for a while to focus on Steemit and it has worked for me. I have now recovered everything I lost, thanks to the benevolence of Steemit.
I did just that this Sunday. I told my two uncles and two cousins about cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. One of them immediately made an account on Binance with my guidance and is willing to buy some Bitcoin and other good coins for longterm. More proudly, I am teaching my 13 year old cousin how to blog to get him ready for Steemit.
I also told all my cousins, friends and followers about Steemit. Hundreds have joined because of me and hundreds are joining through the people I invited.
Congratulations in advance for completing 5 years in cryptocurrency.
PS: Learning how to learn indeed is the most fundamental of all so I learned how to learn and it helps me.
Keep being awesome and Steem on!
Crypto is new to all of us, well you've been much more into it than I have, 5 years compared to few months :)
But that is so true, we all make mistakes, we hopefully learn from them, and even while those mistakes have us lose opportunities and money, yet they are the pleasure of the journey!
Oh and enjoy your trip :)
All these crypto stuffs still feels like d o new and strange to me but I am catching up. My friends that are into it call it blood money
Great read @lukestokes! I love that last tweet of yours, going to have to head over and RT it
A great post, and very relevant at this point.
A some who knows a little less than zero (but learning), I find your posts about this whole crypto world, a lot more engaging and clearer, than most.
I am getting close to a stage to transfer some crypto into an bank account for the first time. (well, try to it, anyway)
I was stressed when I opened my exodus wallet, before it worked.
( and I have lost 10 sbd last week , sending it to someone else entirely on steemit! oops! )
Putting into a bank ?- yup the stress is rising! lol
Happy Christmas !