I spent some time reading my older articles.
It was fun, odd and a bit scary to tell you the truth. Not in a bad way though.
After reading 15-20 articles and all the comments, I noticed five different things.
- I've had some really awesome payouts.
- Many established Steemians, dolphins and whales have replied to my articles in the past.
- I've become a better writer. (In my honest opinion).
- Dan Larimer ( @dantheman ) supported me more than a handful of times.
- Most of the established Steemians, dolphins & whales who supported me in one way or another in the past, haven't done that for a very long time.
That's five different things I noticed. However, I also noticed that I spent less time and thoughts behind my articles compared to today. In my opinion, I shared less quality in the past and I've been sharing better, longer and more powerful articles since then.
So one question remains... - What Have I Done?
There's no secret formula or recipe for success. I can't go back in time to those days when I first joined Steemit. - It's literally impossible.
I also cannot change people's thoughts, beliefs or change their behaviour in terms of who they should follow, support or interact with. - These actions are for the users themselves to figure out and handle.
I have never been greedy. I have never been selfish. I have made a few mistakes here and there and I am definitely not an expert in the English language or an expert blogger by any means. - Yet, I've been spending tons of time multiple times since I joined Steemit trying to figure out how to become an Established Steemian.
I am not a chef. I am not a cryptocurrency expert and I have little knowledge about blockchains. I am also not a superb photographer or a splendid artist. - I am average.
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I am a random Swede trying to become someone I'm not.
I know who and how I am and even though I might hate or dislike certain things like my panic anxiety and depression, I love myself. I love being me. - Steemit on the other hand, have forced me to become someone I am not.
- Steemit forced me, without having the intention of changing me.
I have been manipulated by Steemit and Steemians. I have been a target without even knowing it. And without Steemit and Steemians knowing it. - I was subconsciously allowing myself to become a target.
I had to become a better person. I had to become a better author. I had to become some sort of expert in certain fields. I had to share personal stories and things from my personal life. I had to share awesome photos and I had to become a person others could appreciate and support. - I had to do all these things to get noticed. To build my reputation, my following and my credibility. - I had to change and become a different person to be rewarded and to get recognition...
- And I obviously failed.
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These things are mumbo-jumbo. I don't need to become someone else. My past speaks for itself. Even Dan Larimer gave me support one year ago. - He saw something of value. - If he could see it, why couldn't I?
@teamsteem is another awesome Steemian who've given me tons of support for a long period of time. I love his articles and I obviously vote for him as witness too. - You should definitely do the same.
- Why was I struggling for so long to become someone else?
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In this article, I will tell you the truth.
I joined Steemit and started out like any other Steemian out there. - A bit skeptical and amazed.
I joined as @hitmeasap, a random guy from Sweden who'd be working full time as a freelancer for several years. I never invested in Steem Power and I worked my way up from the gutter so to speak. I started out as the average person I am. I started out as me. - Along the way, I got rewarded for my contributions. I got knowledge and I gained experience. I analyzed tons of things. Anything from the time to publish my articles to voting patters of different whales and dolphins.
I did everything I could, to make more. To get more. To reap more benefits and to become a better Steemian. An established Steemian. During the process until today, I changed.
I thought I was trying to adapt which is what most others would do, but I never adapted. - I changed.
I got lucky and I had a handful of posts reaping hundreds of dollars in rewards. I got superb comments from authors we know today as some of Steemit's "best" or "most established" ones. - I've talked with hundreds of Steemians during my time here... And I've never been selfish or acted greedy.
I've always helped people around me and I've even considered myself to be a support pillar. - Even so, I did literally everything I could to make more. To get the most out of Steemit. - Not in terms of money itself, but in terms of everything Steemit has to offer.
With only one goal in mind, I failed.
I analyzed things, I tried to publish articles in certain niches I knew specific whales would be interested in. I tried to tweak my articles to sound more "professional" in some sense and I did many things in an attempt to "look good" and to be a good Steemian. - I did all these things, to become a known blogger on Steemit. To become a person others would love, like, appreciate and support. - In the end of it all, I did all these things, so I could be more than I am.
- And that doesn't work.
Never again will I allow myself to become a different person due to others.
None of you or no one in the entire world would be me better than me. I am the best version of me there is.
Never will I write 2000 word long articles because others tells me that longer articles is better. Never will I allow myself to be manipulated into publishing articles I don't want to publish. - Why should I?
Because someone told me that some of the wealthiest Steemit whales are interested in that specific subject? - Hell no!
Why should I write a 2000 word long article when I can publish a 500 word one with equal "meat" and quality? - That's just stupid.
Guidelines are awesome and I appreciate everything I've learned and the knowledge and experience I've gained. I am thankful for other Steemians contributions and I appreciate the time they've taken to share their insights and experiences too... - But I am not them.
My journey will be different compared to others. I decide my own future. - And so should you!
What I have done in the past works for me. What I have done these latest months have worked for me too, but I wasn't the same man I once where. - I need to go back to my own roots. I need to find myself again.
I still believe that everyone should take into consideration what others say. Longer articles for instance, are often generating higher rewards than shorter ones. - That's nothing but pure facts. However, you cannot change who you are just to fill the needs of others.
Be true to yourself. Be you, that's the best person you'll ever be.
Take it from me. A random, average Swede who've tried many different things... And failed.
My first point would be, why are you not here to respond to these nice comments you have?
And instead, letting a votebot sit at the top of your comments page for 2 hours?(and counting)
This is an in-depth and thought-provoking post, but maybe the obvious is being over-looked. Engagement?
Even though I understand exactly your point, I would have to disagree. At least this time. I published this article at around 04.30 AM. It's now 07.23 AM. - Even though I would love to be online and active 24/7, I can't.
I try to respond as much as possible and I do it when I have time to do it. - I even stated in some of my previous articles that I try to respond to each comment that I get, but that I will often miss or decide to not respond to certain comments. Especially if I've already given an answer to someone else.
That being said, I have actually neglected myself in my venture. Even though it was never my intention. I have focused on various things during my time on Steemit. Sharing different things, helping others and I've tried to support and motivate minnows and newcomers for instance. I have also spent way too much time in the different chats and helped and talked with other Steemians so I've been missing out on making comments on other authors articles. Well, I have written comments but not as many as I would've wanted too.. - And it all comes down to my way to handle my time. - I've been eager to spend as much time on Steemit as I could possibly do, but I've spent too much on certain things that doesn't help myself as much as it could've done.
I truly believe that I suffer a bit from that today, but once again, just like in real life, I put myself in second place. - Thank you for your comment though, I truly appreciate it. :)
Ok, well before we have our first coffee of the day, can I ask why you are publishing so late and at a time when you cant respond?
Streemian (making a presumption that you used it) is a decent tool, but I personally think the first 30 minutes in an articles' lifetime are the most important.
Get the decent replies to the top of your blog, reward them all in a 'scale' so that people visiting can see that the good replies are being rewarded - so they will in turn reply with something positive to add. The bots should be out of sight.
The new visitors (who are today's active users, not those voting you big last year) are your potential new followers. If they don't feel engaged, they will remain potential and be harder to persuade next time.
I hope you found my criticism not too harsh with some routes to look at.
Cheers
Asher
You are free to ask me whatever question you feel like. I might not answer all of them, but I'll do my best to answer everything! - Always.
Honestly speaking, I've been publishing articles on Steemit for a very long period of time. As I even wrote in this article, I even tried to come up with the best time for me to respond, the best time to catch a potential whale and all that stuff.
What I came to realize rather quickly, is that I should never post anything if I don't feel like it. I publish posts whenever I'm ready for it, no matter the time. - Once I've written it, I just go for that "post" button.
I do understand that this approach might not be the best or the most sustainable. Especially considering the things you mentioned, and truth to be told, I've never really thought about it like that. I do understand that comments and replies. The whole interaction thing, is an important factor that obviously plays a major role in certain aspects, but I've never thought about it in the way you laid it out above.
I've probably been overthinking, without thinking at all in some weird way.. I know, it doesn't sound logic at all, but that's the best guess I have... :D
I've just thought that as long as I respond, the users will see it. I've never thought about doing it at a specific time or anything like that at all. I've never considered the time frame to be of any importance at all in terms of replies. - Thanks for pointing that out. I appreciate it!
And I appreciate this discussion too, it's got my brain going early today.
I do remember reading some of your very extensive and well rewarded posts in the past, and as TS says below, it's easy to read the honesty in your work. I could learn some from you here, as I'd like to write with more freedom at times.
Good luck and Steem on :D
Like I said in TS previous post. Comments are a huge token of appreciation. And I definitely appreciate the time you spent writing this.
I am also thankful for the kindness and the warm words. I wish you a good day, I'm off to bed for a few short hours before I'll start my day filled with new ventures! :)
no worries man, thanks for the interaction and sleep well !
Thanks for writing this very open and honest post.
I think you are right, but also that you can, and will, be a better version of you in the future.
I will become a better version of myself. That's bound to happen and I do believe that it will happen everyone. Or at least that everyone will have a solid chance to improve themselves.
I love your way of thinking . A lot of people change with money but it doesn't seem like that from you . Keep striving , and let success make all the noise
Thank you, I appreciate it. Money do change people. Most of the people, in some way. - It would and could obviously change me too. Money have changed me and my approach on Steemit, in some sense. But I'd rather go back to being me and make some money than become someone else who's working hard to earn tons of money.
Wow. Thanks for being this honest and sharing your experiences. Now following to see you go for it with the right intentions. Your text made me recall these two:
Another article, short but very on point, by @bitdollar on being real https://steemit.com/life/@bitdollar/connect-with-each-others-humanness-this-is-how-we-can-connect-with-everybody-equally-and-completely#@jonasontheroof/re-bitdollar-connect-with-each-others-humanness-this-is-how-we-can-connect-with-everybody-equally-and-completely-20171008t141338982z
And this that I wrote to myself (be true to yourself) https://steemit.com/poetry/@jonasontheroof/advice-for-kids
Again, thanks for the trip :)9
Thank you very much. This is a perfect example of self promotion, the right way. - I look forward to share many more things with you in the near future. :)
Very honest post! Thank you my friend!
In one of the good books there is a quote: "I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."
Thank you for sharing this quote. It's very true. You should live your life for yourself and not for others.
You come up as very genuine in your posts. I enjoy reading you.
Thank you very much. This is what I've been striving for ever since I first joined Steemit. To be myself.
And while I'm being honest, I do believe that I was very lucky and fortunate in the beginning of my Steemit career. Upvotes by Dan and so forth. - However, I also believe that those things made me aim for goals higher than I should've aimed for. I truly believe that Dan's generosity paved the way for me in the beginning, but that was before I was finally ready for what Steemit is or stands for. Or at least before I figured out what Steemit means to me personally. - I also believe that's one of the reasons for me to have become someone I'm not. I tried to hard and I worked to hard to become better than I am. To get the most out of Steemit, when I should've just continued to be the man I am, as I am the best me there is.
Thank you for the comment! :)
I can see why Dan would have upvoted you. Your post are well presented and more interesting than most.
Wow, that's amazing to hear. Thank you very much, I'm honored. :)
Agreed. Lets get this man back on track with Steemit!
been who you are despite the many temptation to change is the most important thing in life, glad you have discovered that, now go and be you in all aspects of your life including your writings
I certainly will! - Thank you! :)
Buen post @hitmeasap, interesante descripcion y gracias por compartirla.
Saludos desde Ecuador :)
Thank you.
Steemit always has competition, that is why we always try and do not give up. Initially we are all immature in blogging, after a period of improving skills and production. Better articles .I do not matter the length of the article. Long posts are not necessarily valuable. Sometimes we need focus and distillation.. I always feel lucky and admire the whales and the reputable people who support me, to get my place like today .. How can we pay back? back to them?
The best way of paying back is to continue to contribute quality. At least that's what I believe. Thanks for stopping by :)
This post received a 4.15% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @hitmeasap! To learn more, check out @randowhale 101 - Everything You Need to Know!