This post from @makerhacks (which seems to have been started by @snook and @whatsup) brought back so many nice memories. I decided to join in.
Basically it's a short self-interview about my blockchain / Hive journey.
1. How long have you been on the Blockchain?
If it's about blockchain, in general, I started to experiment in 2014, back when you could actually mine Bitcoin on your laptop. I didn't mine much, to be honest, it was just an experiment.
If it's about Hive, I joined in October 2016 and shortly after started to run my witness node. I still run one, more than 5 years later.
2. What was your background in cryptocurrency when you first came to the Blockchain?
Like I wrote above, I was in the field for at least two years prior to start posting here. I'm a geek, so my interest was always predominantly technical (and it still is).
3. What was your background in writing when you first came to the Blockchain?
I started my first blog in 2006, which I still keep. In 2021 I started a 365 days writing challenge on it, which is approaching its end. My blogging activity, in general, was very rewarding. I got to meet many interesting people (I still think @makerhacks has a guest post somewhere on my blog, probably form 2011?). I wrote and self-published a few books (some of them translated in other languages, like Hangul and Farsi). Once I joined this ecosystem, it also became a very streamlined way to monetize my writing.
4. How many people did you know when you first came to the Blockchain?
Zero. I was a complete stranger here.
5. How did you meet people when you first came to the Blockchain?
I just mingled. Having a few years behind me as a blogger helped in knowing how to make connections. But it's really a question of being real, interacting, contributing.
6. Who did you look up to when you first came to the Blockchain?
I was very interested in what @dan has to say. I commented a few times on his blog posts (maybe you don't know, but Dan Larimer used to blog extensively here in the first 1-2 years). I then had the chance to meet him in person and chat a bit at the London EOS Hackathon.
Other than that, I didn't try to look up to anyone, but rather look around and try to join my journey with like minded people. I think I started and maintained more than 6-7 30 days writing challenges here, I guess @acesontop still remembers a few of them.
7. How would you describe your first three months on the Blockchain?
Very, very exciting. It was the start of Steem, which, for a few days, was the number 3 crypto currency in terms of capitalization, just under Bitcoin and Ethereum. I think I joined just a couple of months after that, but the enthusiasm didn't fade off, on the contrary. There were countless discussions, many of them heated, a lot of controversy and sometimes verbal aggression (that I don't consider exciting, FWIW). It was difficult, but a tremendous learning experience.
8. Has being a part of the Blockchain changed you in any way for the good?
Again, if we talk about blockchain, in general, it changed me very deeply. It formed new perspectives, like "verify, don't trust", "be your own bank" and "self sovereignty". I learned cryptography (after a few years I enrolled in a Coursera Stanford-led two semester course on cryptography, for which I am forever grateful. I would have never got to learn these things, if it wasn't for the blockchain).
If we talk about Hive, in particular, it helped me reshape my social interaction for the good. The first years of Steem, filled with rage and frustration, taught me to control my behavior, to look beyond appearances and try to see who are really the good guys and who are just impersonating them.
9. What is your favorite memory from your time on the Blockchain?
If we talk about blockchain, in general, setting up my first Bitcoin node, years ago. That was something.
If we talk about Hive, there were quite a few, but all were related to in person meetings. I remember a meetup in London a few years ago, which was really nice.
10. If you could advise a new person signing up to Hive, what would it be?
I even wrote a blog post with 7 steps to your journey here, you can look it up in my older posts, if you want, but, in short: be patient, humble and learn. The results will come, and even if they'll probably come a bit later than you expect, they will be very, very, very consistent. They will be life changing.
Over to you!
What is your Hive story?
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
You were one of the first people who's name I began to recognize as I was getting started! Glad you are still here, and thanks for participating.
Thank you for sticking around too. Persistence pays off :)
Wow, now I feel really old ;)
I had to look it up, it was 2010 :o
We're not old, mate.
We're vintage. Big difference :)
This is my Homework on the 10 questions posed :
I entered Bitcoin around 2016 using it as remittance tool. Entered Steemit World around 2017. Left Steemit around 2018 when the trending line was heading to zero and the General Manager quited.
Prior to Steemit I did not had any idea about Blockchain. Steemit was my school
I had started learning blogging as early as 2004
One, my client and BTC Godfather. The day he send me a picture of cables and a mining rig. I thought he was crazy.
Being a Recruiter and Headhunter in those times my emphasis was on connecting with professionals. I remember bringing some on board
Several members as was my way of learning. I remember I stumbled a Steemit article doing some Google research.
Intense deep learning and awakening. I had been living in a cave
Blockchain changed my perception about money. It also helped me to answer and old question I had : What is money?
The day someone from Panama gave me a $10 like. That day I realized Steem was for real
Stake, stake, stake (Power up), and Network as much as possible
I came or discovered HIVE Blockchain after LinkedIn Jail me for 3 days. In that time I reflected on the problem and decided to come back to Steemit. Loaded some Steem and publish my my feelings about being in LinkedIn Jail. Then I searched for my old Steem Master and Witness, Mr @dragosroua to discover he left a note of his departure to HIVE.
Nice journey. Don't feel comfortable being called Master, tbh :)))
nice to hear your story man! Maybe I will have a go at this.
Its been such an inspiring journey...
By all means, go for it!
I sure remember the 30 days writing challenge. It's one of the hooks that kept me active on the blockchain.
Blasted to my 40,500 LinkedIn Audience. About 1% will receive the post via algorithm distribution
Your story was a lot of fun to read because you knew about crypto before you got here yet the underlying take is still getting to know the people, learning to be patient, and be yourself always.
Thank you for writing this. It was great getting to know you better.
Happy Sunday!
I’m just some months old on hive, would have tried this contest but don’t really have much to write on 🥺🥺
You still have a story to tell.......
tell it, the people that follow you will find it interesting.
You need something to post about anyway....
I will surely write about it thank you.
My favorite at the time of 2016 was steem and steemit, we spend more than years in steemit platform, but I found hive more interesting and safe in all situations.
Surely, I will invite my friends because in this platform quality contents are promoted and we have many more exploration in this plat form.