I am a Steemit Minnow, with relatively small influence compared to many on the platform. At first it felt like an uphill battle spending hours creating posts that only a handful of people read. I was getting discouraged until something happened that some newer minnows might not know about.
The Power of Steemit
One post changed everything for me because it showed me that the Steemit community has a big heart. @darthnavahad wrote a post asking for help with his huge medical bills. Suddenly whales were jumping out of the water everywhere and rallying to help. His post raised over $17,000.00 to help him. This energy sent a ripple of hope into the minnow pond. We were no longer minnows or whales, or crypto-enthusiasts, but a Steemit platform of caring and sharing.
Here’s the post: https://steemit.com/blog/@darthnava/fellow-steemers-i-need-help-as-my-mri-results-are-not-encouraging
Cryptocurrency = Love
The post showed me the power of Steemit, and I stopped viewing myself as a struggler on Steemit and started viewing myself as someone who is building a foundation from which I can one day use to influence the life of another in a positive way. I was also gaining writing practice, and was meeting some caring, inspiring people, and you become like those you associate with.
I continue to participate on Steemit, because I am energized by it, and am excited to see where it is heading in the future. Here’s how I avoid becoming discouraged:
GIVING THANKS
for Steemit pulls me out of the darkness of negativity - being part of a great community that only a small percentage of people are aware of, yet has huge growth potential keeps me hopeful. I am grateful to @dan and @nate for creating this online social utopia!
SOCIALIZING
on Steemit pulls me away from my feelings of minnow isolation and disconnection. It lifts my mood. Making friends on Steemit has been the best! One of my friends is even hosting a contest to win a trip to Steemfest2 in LIsbon, Portugal. The Ultimate in Socializing! You may enter the contest by @stellabelle, by making a 3 min video to win a ticket! A life changing experience!
Not sure what Steemfest2 is? Here’s some info:
https://steemit.com/steemfest/@steemfest/steemfest-2-1-2-3-4-5-november-2017-lisbon-portugal )
Here’s how to enter the @stellabelle contest:
(https://steemit.com/steemfest/@stellabelle/win-a-trip-to-steemfest-submit-a-3-minute-video)
SELF CARE
makes me feel better - Once I am done curating and posting on Steemit, I get up from my chair (sitting is the new smoking), and eat some free range eggs with basil picked from my garden, and go out and walk my dog. I make sure to unplug from my computer each day to get eight hours sleep at night. The cool part is I can also write about walking my dog and growing my garden, and all I have to do is bring a camera with me, and I can share my experiences on my Steemit blog.
FUN HOBBIES
make me more fun, and take the focus off myself. You can contribute to others by making how-to videos about your hobbies, or your family member’s hobbies. This lifts your own mood, their mood, and you have fun. Recently I shared a video my son made about dj ing at a club, and his Youtube views went from 19 to 31. He was thrilled! One of the best ways to help yourself feel better is to help others feel better. It gives you a boost, because it is greater than yourself.
CHANGING MY THOUGHTS to positive
Instead of thinking I suck on Steemit, I change my thoughts to focus on what I am learning about writing and photography by curating posts of all the talented people here. Also, I am following interesting people, and sharing content. These positive actions improve my mood and behavior. Being critical of myself hurts my well-being and restructuring my thoughts makes me feel better and function better on Steemit.
I hope these points will encourage you to continue posting on Steemit too. By viewing it as a way to form relationships with inspiring people, in a community making positive changes for the members, where you keep growing and learning as a person while being rewarded financially, you will have no problem sticking around. Sharing your Steemit posts on Facebook and Twitter will encourage more people to join Steemit which will raise the tide for the entire community and make it stronger.
Shoot For The Stars Minnows and all Steemians!! We Raise The Tide Together!! Thanks for reading!
photos ~ Pixabay and Giphy
Very encouraging post for minnows...
Thanks for your kind words!
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STOPUpvoted to help all Steemit users! Thanks!
this is an awesome post Ann! I will upvote it tomorrow when my strength is back!
Thanks so much! Thanks for doing the contest, minnows are really excited!
Fantastic article on keeping at Steemit! ^
Persevere and don't get discouraged, those who want to be big on Steemit will be with time and dedication.
Thank you @annhoyblog for this inspiring piece.
I post regularly about Steemit, Bitcoin and other crypto related material, check out my Steemit page and follow and VOTE UP for the fastest active news you can run with!
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Jeffrey Anderson
Editor in Chief
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@cryptoNEWScoins on Twitter
Thanks so much! Good advice - time and dedication is right!
Motivated!!! Now Im gonna grow into a tunafish or some shit bruh
You gotta grow! That's good. Haha
Hurray!
Its amazing how this community swarms and buoys up certain causes. Its been a fun ride so far.
Yes, Steemit is a beacon of light in the darkness! Thanks
So many doors and hearts open up to give in the #steemit family circle. There is so much to love about this platform!
Thanks! So True! Love that ~ doors and hearts <3
Great post! Very inspiring.
Thanks a lot!
Ha! Love the gif. I am amazed when things like that happen. Part of the reason we got #thealliance started. I cured this because I know people need the hope and inspiration you just showed them! Great post hun.
Woah! I check out #thealliance, that's great! Thanks
Anytime. 🌸
Yea I'm loving this platform. Were part of a revolution in thought.
Oh Yeah, Revolution in thought - great phrase! Thanks, following you.
I understand about being discouraged but this puts things in perspective. I am enjoying being a part of the block chain.
Yes, it's pretty cool when you look at the potential long term. There is so much to learn! Thanks
<3
Aaaw what a cute kitty! Is it yours?
Thanks! Yes he is all mine. <3
adorable
Great post. I am glad to see the community here
Thanks. Glad you're here!
meep
Hahaha
meep
I love the sentiment here. You echo a lot of what I've been thinking. I'm quite minnow-esque myself. I get down a lot. But then something like this happens, and I see again what sort of community I'm a part of. And helping to make better. I'll be following your journey, too.
Thanks. It is a really cool thing that we are part of and it helps to remember that when you feel drained. Following you!
Just keep steem on, make communication among steemian. You will find new friend on steemit :)
Yes, having the faith really helps! Thanks for your comment.
I totally agree that the first few weeks were a real struggle and frustration to even get any eyeball on my posts. It was a constant heartache to see a post that I worked on for an hour or so to get only a pair of eyes. The struggle is real on a daily basis but once I got over that fact, I learned to enjoy the process of voicing out my thoughts and hopefully interact with other steemians. It's all good :) And yes, I agree most who are here are kind and helpful when one is sincere and persistent.
Eyeballs, that's good, I can visualize them now! Thanks for commenting. Following you!
Way to say it! I too have felt so much more positive here on Steemit the past 6 weeks. Except for last week from self-doubt but I had to just take a break I guess. I've written more in my 6 weeks here than I think in the past 5yrs, lol. Anyway happy u found this realization.
That's good to hear that your writing is flowing on Steemit! Thanks for your comment!
I'm glad I read this today. Had to resteem it myself! #Blessings
Thanks so much for resteeming. #Blessings to you also!
Upvoted Resteemed and following 🤙
Wow! Thanks a lot!
Hi Ann, I just found you thanks to Stellabelle sharing your post on Facebook.
I resonate with what you write. It can be easy to get discouraged by little rewards but at the same time I see Steemit as a little "capsule society" that we can make into what we want it to be. We can each contribute in our own unique ways and I we all bring good energy to it, we can make this into a "high frequency" place that everyone benefits from.
It's exciting to participate no matter the rewards, and watch what we are collectively creating here!
Anja
That's so cool. Yes, I agree even minnows can help create the Steemit world, and I love that "high frequency" vibe you are going for, it is what attracts everybody because it feels so good! Thanks for your kind words.
Indeed, to me, Steemit is the first friendly online platform I’ve come across.
Wow! I like that term "friendly", because it is, and you be friendly and others are friendly to you here, and even if they don't know who you are, they will help you! Thanks for commenting.
:-)
What an inspirational post. I like reading inspirational posts as i do not usually post inspiration, just humor and politics mostly. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Well humor and politics CAN be inspirational sometimes! I appreciate the encouragement.
congrats I hope I will reach something close to that status some day
Yes thanks, I think if we keep putting in the time and dedication it will work.
awesome article Ann! I know how easy and fast one can get discouraged. I have been (and still am) there... But at the same time I too, love this place and agree with all the points you mentioned!
Thanks so much for commenting. I am glad you can verify that you felt the way I was feeling too, but kept going!
Chirchill said, "If you go through hell, keep going!" )
Wow, that's great! Who wants to be stuck in a bad place! Thanks for that, loved Churchill
Great points!! I'm pretty new here & sometimes I do feel a little bit down when a post I've spent a while in hardly gets read. But, there is something that feels so good about getting the writing OUT of me, you know....on the page...It is so fuffilling to put it out there, even if it doesn't get read. :)
Yes, birthing the writing and delivering it feels good, and helps you. Good point! Thanks
Thank YOU! :)
Awesome and inspiring!
Thanks!