Minnow Chum: Friend or Food
Sourced from KC Magazine
I think this picture mostly encapsulates the experience of being a newcomer to Steemit as well as the concept of cryptocurrency. Sure there is plenty of water (information) around you to help you survive, but a lot of times it is mixed with salt, and the sheer quantity can be difficult to sift through. There is some hope, as the light shining from the clouds indicates. Some ray of sunshine. There are also dark clouds that often times block the sun.
Now I am not trying to paint a picture of hopelessness. You have your Steem Power (the life preservesr ring) and the portfolio of ideas, but now both your hands are full, and you still have to swim. My number one piece of advice, being only two weeks in, is be careful to remain calm and do not struggle. There are people out there who will help you out. I have gotten a lot more help and kindness than I expected. People who want to see me grow into a dolphin or a whale from my minnow state.
However, if you thrash too much, there are also sharks in the water. Deals that are set to sound really beneficial to you, when they really just take bites out of you. Trolls, Steem phishing bots, "killer" whales... They can be daunting. You can also get lost in the schools of minnows, but stick with them. They can help. Don't be too hasty to break away from them. Keep in mind that comes from someone who generally fights against tradition and social rituals.
Minnowsupport and West Coast Steemlancers Empire have been my schools. I've learned, forged allies, and wiggled a little bit of room out for myself with their help. I've also had some whales and dolphins guide me. They gave me a glimmer of hope to continue.
When I talked to one of my friends about Steemit, their response was "Well, are you rich yet?" Of course I'm not. I've not even been here a month yet. I am a hair under 100 followers, and have come close to drowning in frustration a few times. I have to remind myself to keep my head in the game and above water. That this is an investment, not a lottery.
So at the two week mark (it seems like it has been a lot longer than that), I think I am doing pretty damn good. To any minnows (newcomers) who may be reading this, don't become the bad chum. Don't let yourself give up and die. Find a school of people to adhere to, and work with them. This is networking after all.
Become the good chum. A dedicated friend who learns how to swim. Even when you feel like you are treading water, just keep swimming. You'll find what you're looking for eventually, if you put enough effort in.
I've felt those moments of drowning in frustration, mainly it's when the posts that I think are real gems fade away into the 7+ day category with barely a notice, and the little things that don't take much brainpower get more attention. But it's not consistent enough to say, "Well, just do the no-brainers", nor do I want to post like that.
I try to remain on the positive side: Steemit is forcing me to really think about things that are important to me and put them to words. It's forcing me to make videos and recordings whereas I'd probably not bother otherwise. And a lot of the content I write I can use elsewhere. So these are all good things that may not amount to STEEM, but they add value to my life. :)
I have had similar situations already, but I also intend to partially use this site as a sounding board of sorts. Writing down character concepts for books and dabbling in things. I would say don't disqualify the no brainer writings. Sometimes doing them can get a writer's block broken up and get the deep writing flowing again. :)
Ya, I'm continuing with several different kinds, and enjoying them all :)
Enjoyment is the important part. If you do not feel passion for something, that will translate into your writings.
That's very true!
Do you have a Youtube channel? I remember you saying something about videos.
Yes, but it's not something I maintain. I just use it to upload stuff for my site or for here. :) LoveMusicLearning is the name it's under.
Ah. A loading conduit. Not a bad choice. I think I should start doing the same. All I have is a smart phone to shoot video though.
Hang in there, you're in the right place to get a following. And it doesn't happen overnight. My fiirst 5 weeks were hard but since then it's better, nothing good comes easy.
Thanks, @tremendospercy, I think it's been about 5 weeks, but I started out doing very well, and now it's a trickle. Who knows? I'll keep on keepin on though. :)
Reap and sow comes in waves. Sounds cliche, but cliches have some truth to them.
Very similar to how businesses are: feast or famine. Or perhaps a better Steem-themed analogy is better: Ebbs and Flows. :)
My brain goes towards a steampunk analogy, but I can't think of an "either or" for it...
I am big on the 80/20 rule. Sadly I am also lazy lol.
@morodiene, I can't find better words. Following you right away. This was a lovely one you put out there, Atom. It's helped me.
I am glad it helped, my friend. You are doing good things in Nigeria from what I hear. Keep it up!
Thank @misterakpan! Following you as well :)
Singsong voice Being the world together one post at a time...
LOL!
Yay!! My first meme comment. Boo Spongebob lol.
I just heard you saying it a Spongebob voice LOL. Don't hate on the Spongebob!
He dethroned my favorite cartoon (The Rugrats) as the most popular Nickelodeon cartoon. There's bad blood there lol.
bwhahahaha!! Spongebob is love.
You are absolutely right. Just keep swimming bruvva! <3
I'm a gon' try to! :P That was painful to type lol.
Have a 100% vote dude. I remember feeling like shit a few months ago working hard on a post and getting 5c for my efforts. Msp made the difference. Stick with it buddy, you're gonna do ok. The get rich quick merchants who don't want to work hard fall away eventually. As they say 'the cream comes to the top'
Good post buddy.
Thank you for your kind donation and words of encouragement. Cream can rise to the top, but so can the "dross." Good and bad exist in all walks of life.
Keep it coming! Patience will pay off. I'm approaching 500 followers and started in June. See you in MSP.
500 since June? I need to step my game up lol.
lol you can do it, too!
That would be nice. School starts up for me again soon, so we'll see.
Ahh I remember those say! Craziness!
One more year until my associates. I started way too late I think.
I got my bachelor's in 2011. I was 49. You can do it
Fair enough. :) I also secretly hope that this takes off and I don't have to work lol. I'm a dreamer I guess.
Would you like to see my bunghole?
In this story, however, the life preserver grows and joins w/ others to form some kind of Steem-powered Voltron.
Patience and timing, my friend, but stay awesome!
I like the vision of that, but I picture some sort of "Waterworld" looking freighter Voltron. All rusty and diesel powered and...kinda sexy lol.
I've been sitting on a two weeks in post now for about a week, it'll end up being a month in post soon, haha. I'm having a similar struggle and also finding a specific direction. I came to Steemit to do a particular thing but since have found that I have a lot of things that I'd like to do here. But the original thing has a specific audience and the other things appeal to a wider array of people. I feel like as with many things that you and I have talked about, It's difficult to stay in just one "box", and feel it's not fair for my readers of the one thing to have to put up with the subject matter of the other interests I'd like to share on this platform. So do I not share? Or start a second account? It's so hard to just do one blog though two would swamp me completely. just keep swimming just keep swimming....
I figure that in the beginning it is better to have more than one fishing line out (many different posts, not multiple accounts) until you can find what gets nibbles. Never know what might get latched on to. I would still say do what you love though. So find a few avenues that work, and then do those along with what your passions are. Gotta have fun sometimes right?
True words, although honestly I'm here to vent my voice rather than cater to other peoples wants or needs. Probably not the best path to success. But I do love the journey and meeting cool and interesting people has been a real pleasant surprise. Thanks as always mate ~Mr Dingo
We each define success and our path to it in different ways. Sometimes the paths cross, and great ideas can be exchanged. :) I plan on using this as a partial "drawing board" of sorts as well.
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Thanks Mecha-minnow.
Lovely read. Thanks for looking out for your fellow minnows 😀😉. Upvoted. Resteemed.
Thank you good sir. I look out for the minnows who believe in themselves and have quality content. Like the article said, don't be bad chum. Keep swimming.