Even the Best Intentions... Thinking About Great Plans and Getting Sidetracked
When I first found Steemit, I really had some great plans and intentions.
Whereas I was definitely interested in resuming personal blogging-- after a 12-year break-- I thought this would be a great place to build a base for my writings on personal development, enlightenment, psychology, building consciousness and mindfulness, and related topics.
Fall leaves with water droplets
That particular niche hasn't really ever had much of a "home" for me. Sure, I have written for various web sites and publications, but many of them have been somewhat short-lived.
Ironic, isn't it? An industry dedicated to enlightenment and personal development... where ventures typically fall apart because "Big Egos" clash.
Tsk, tsk....
Anyway, as I sit here some six months later-- long after those initial ruminations-- I guess I just didn't realize that I had almost 300 blog posts about "other stuff" waiting to get out of my system, before I could gain any sort of focus!
Funny how the best of intentions often get derailed by the reality of our lives.
Not that I'm complaining, mind you... don't get me wrong, I have thoroughly enjoyed the past six months here. Just amused by how easily I got distracted by "shiny objects."
Purple irises
Mrs. Denmarkguy (she writes as @cosmictriage here on Steemit, but doesn't use the account much) and I are somewhat of a "team" on the writing front.
She explores the more woo-woo end of things, while I tend to "take the woo OUT of the woo-woo" when it comes to things metaphysical and enlightening.
And I guess that's a substantial part of why many "places spiritual" didn't really want to be home to my writings as I tend to take the fancy dress off the "woo" and point out how the fancy words of "Gurus" are really just common sense served up with rainbow unicorn poop and faerie sparkles.
"Available NOW! The 12-DVD learning set for Enlightenment! Yours for just $299.99!"
Yeah... not so much.
Anyway, maybe it's time I started mixing some of my original intent in here, as well.
How about YOU? Did you have any early "goals" or "ambitions" when you joined Steemit? Have you followed through, or have they gone by the wayside? Is this your first time on this kind of blogging/content site, or do you have lots of experience from elsewhere? Leave a comment-- share your experiences and feedback-- be part of the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Published 20170811 15:17 PDT
My main goals joining Steemit was to increase my writing and reading skills. Most notability how fast I can write and how fast I can read things. Other things have improved a little bit as well in regards to this initial goal. Lots of other benefits have been creating from this as well such as reasoning skills, gaining knowledge and so on.
Second, was to gain some better communication skills when dealing with people. It’s a hit or misses some days but for the most part, it’s overwhelm been going good in that depart as well.
One goal I gained while being here is to work on weight loss. It’s been going great for the most part. I have the blockchain here to help me when I have a hard week as well. If nothing else I am more aware and pay closer attention to things that affect my overall health.
Overall, I seem to be on track for what I wanted to do while being here.
I have certainly enjoyed your well thought out and often extensive comments... somehow, you seem to have found a niche here as much as a curater and commenter as a blogger/content creator.
It does definitely take a white to build a following for original blog posts... and I haven't really found a "formula" for it, even after six months... some posts do really well, some do very little.
But I'm having fun with it... and it sounds like things are working out for you, as well.
Most definitely I am loving it here and having a fair bit of fun. Most importantly the kind of fun that uses the gray matter!
I have never actually blogged before. But I have always enjoyed writing. I enjoy writing about all sorts of content. In my 10 something weeks on here, I've been writing about all the things I have wanted to, whether that be exercise/ health related, nature, cats, metaphysical properties of stones (been a while since i did one on stones, i think rose quartz will be coming soon), social issues, psychology..... etc! I write about what's on my min d. I enjoy the color of the day stuff as well. I have a busy mind and it is awesome i can just talk about all sorts of things here. So no, i haven't derailed
Hi @chelsea88... thanks for sharing! Must confess it has been a while since I've "visited" you... which I will rectify next.
Anywaze, I relate to the "busy mind" thing and that was one of my primary reasons for being interested in resuming a "general" blog... or at least being open to it. Frankly, I expected myself to write far more consciousness and metaphysics stuff... but as I alluded to in my post, I evidently has a lot of other stuff waiting to come out!
How dare you not visit me? >_<
Just kidding.
Yep, I feel the possibilities are endless here on steemit. In terms of topics of discussion, community engagement, etc etc
I'm not out of the honeymoon phase yet. I have had several failed personal blogs and the main reason they failed is that I lacked the skill to find a community. Here on steemit, I've already found that community. I feel part of something bigger and I value the comments I get from others.
There is such a great sense of mutuality here (for the most part).
So far I'm hitting home with the topics I thought I would write about and the posts I've actually written.
De bedste hilsner fra en anden dansker :)
Et halvforsinket velkommen til Steemit @frugallady!
The funny thing about Steemit-- which I can say, as a "golden oldie-moldie"-- is that this is precisely what we used to do online, a generation (well, 15 years) ago. It was "social blogging." Then came MySpace, Facebook and twitter... and everything got shorter and shorter; meanwhile, the "community" vanished from blogging and content creation.
Soon, Steemit will be introducing the "communities" feature here. Guess what? That's merely a "re-load" of what we used to call "blog rings." Content organized by interest or hobby, in a broad sense... and then sub-organized into more detail.
The more things change... the more they stay the same.
Tak.
Yeah, I remember the days on MySpace, although I was very young back then. I guess it's only natural for things to 'evolve' in somewhat circular motions.
When I got on steemit I thought it would be a cool place to just allow myself to write and receive some recognition for it (not the money aspect because I honestly didn't have any faith in that, but the social aspect). I have learned that I like to be praised. So rather than scribbling in a hidden journal, steemit seemed like a safe place to try out my writing. Naturally my life revolves around the outdoors so I immediately knew that's what niche I should fill... Admittedly I don't post as frequently as I'd like, not even close, so as to the consistency, I've fallen off track. As for the topics I've pretty much stuck with all wildlife themed posts that have some story along with some informative aspect. I like to help educate because I think knowledge is powerful.. btw, thanks for this post and many of your others which always have good questions for steemians to respond too. I love the interaction!
Steemit is a great place for self-expression... and there are so many different interests and nationalities here that one can find a niche audience for almost anything!
Love your nature posts, by the way... you just got a new follower!
The thing about "engaging" content is that it reveals people who are willing to "engage" with the content... which is often a good way to find other engaging content creators to follow. So when you create posts that directly invite interaction... you will still get a few who just say "nice post" but you will also get others to "come out of their shells" and participate. And that's the beauty of "social blogging."
It's awesome to see such variety and I love that I can search various topics and read about scientific stuff one minute then search cultural stuff the next.
Thank you!
I do try to get involvement from others by asking questions through my posts instead of receiving simple "great post" comments. I agree, getting others to engage helps us find other good content producers to follow and it enhances our feed!
None whatsoever. I've been stumbling along for the past year, but so far so good :)
In the meantime, your comics brighten many a Steemian's life...
I'm still chasing the shiny
Oh look...SQUIRREL
When I started to publish my content here, I used the same "approach" that I used some years ago in my old blog (just in italian language). I needed to have a place where I could share my contents in English because more of customers are from Us and I needed a great motivation to improve my English. Steemit it's a good solution for me, more than I thought, because here I can share a bit of me and my art in English to stay connected with customers and others, meet new people and earn something ;)
Yes, Steemit seems like a very good place to share art and get some exposure as well. Your English is definitely quite good... hopefully it has worked out well for you as a way to share art.
First time at a site like this but I am here for the community aspects as well as the content. The ones that just post video without creating a flow in the words tend to leave me wanting so several I am enjoying keep me here. Thank You for being one of the writers!
That was definitely an attraction factor for me, as well... I was just plain tired of Farcebook's pervasive "popularity contest" atmosphere... where interacting is about collecting a pile of "thumbs up" and smileys... with 2 out of 200 people actually SAYING anything.
You are lucking if they say anything over there! I was bored to tears!
Curiosity brought me here, never had any plans or thoughts, but here I am 😊
And happy to be here! It's just interesting how many different motivations people have for being here.
I really like your post
I hope you can succeed here my friend
If you want to be friends with me follow me here @pattaraporn
Look at my first introductory post my friend..
Welcome to Steemit!
The best way to succeed here is to interact authentically with other people's posts and comments.
Don't spam people (no copy/paste comments) and don't beg for votes and follows.