Continuing to blog on all the fascinating aspects of my experience on our Steem blockchain, here is my seventh monthly update.

Since posting my introduction on 14 May 2018, these updates represent my "log" of sorts, giving my readers a monthly window into my "journey" through the Steemisphere - a new "virtual world" based on the creation of our Steem blockchain.

So ... "What are you doing 'in there' @roleerob and how is it going?"

Status or "Executive Summary"

To begin, here is a brief overview to answer the "how is it going" question we should probably be "checking in" with ourselves and answering, from time to time.

Statistics

There is an old saying, "numbers don't lie." Yes, well, there is also an old joke about the executive asking the accountant, "what do the numbers say about how we're doing?" to which the accountant replied, "what do you want them to say?" ... 😉

Required to issue a monthly report for most of my career, with numbers to quantify progress, here are a few:

To date on my Steem "journey," these numbers are the most important. The first three quantify our influence on adding value to the Steem blockchain. And the second two, the actual work we are putting in to adding value ourselves. Given all of our rich diversity, I trust we all have one focused objective in common - adding value to the Steem blockchain.

We want the value to go up!

How is that working for us? Well, you see here the market numbers, i.e. the "bottom line" of how our investment is doing. A nice uptick from last month!

Starting 2019 as a Dolphin!

Definitely my highlight of the month, getting to this level prior to the close of 2018! I've written more on this in the "Awards and Accomplishments" section below.

Engagement "Formula"

A steady work-in-progress, is attempting to maintain the following "rhythm" in the investment of my time:

1. Engaging "down" with all of the many great Steemians steadily adding value and working hard, who have a smaller stake and doing what I can to encourage them.
   
   
2. Engaging "up" and adding value, as much as I can manage, to the posts of those who may chose to ... uhhh ... increase my "influence" ... 😉 ... to help those in #1 ...
   
   
3. Adding value by writing my own posts, so #1 and #2 have some idea of why they would want to hopefully "engage" with me ...
   
   

I don't have my stopwatch out or anything. I just try to be mindful of switching from one to the other. Part of the "flow," as I have written about elsewhere, is naturally regulated by your decline in voting power.

Awards and Accomplishments

🐬 Starting 2019 as a Dolphin! 🐬

Achieving one of my two main goals on the Steem blockchain, before the end of 2018, I became a dolphin! I wrote about the details in my post here, including a transaction history detailing the steady investments I have been making to reach this goal.

Officially Retired! Or am I? 😉

"Out there" in the real world, on Thursday, 17 January 2019, I worked my last day at my employer of the last several years. I wrote about the details in my post here, including some details on why it might not quite be over ...

Early tomorrow morning, I will be heading "out on the road," as detailed in my Reflections: My "Road to Recovery" Trip post. It would be hard to overstate how much I have been looking forward to this trip!

Publishing my Steemisphere Posts

Until further notice, these posts are what I consider to be my greatest accomplishment in contributing to the Steem blockchain. Why?

Here is what I said in my introductory comments:

”You are reading what I would like to have been quickly introduced to, when I was where you are right now.”

I wanted to help others avoid what I had been through, as much as possible.

Here are the two complimentary posts created:

1. Welcome to the Steemisphere! Getting Off to a "Flying Start," Version 1.0 – Covers the full spectrum of what a new Steemian needs to know to get off to a “flying start.”
2. User's Guide to the Steemisphere, Version 1.0 – Covers the recommended apps and tools a new Steemian needs as they begin to engage with our Steem blockchain.

Monthly Highlights

Unlike the first two monthly update posts, I will only have two sections this time. So ... ”Ranking” what stands out to me in Month 3, we have …

👍 👍 Two Thumbs Up 👍 👍

Working with ”systems,” as well as managing the work of others, for much of my career, I have always emphasized ”people” over ”process” believing that is the right priority. From a lot of experience, I know the best systems are greatly diminished, if not ”manned” by competent, engaged people. A great team will always solve the problem of less-than-ideal systems. I have never experienced the reverse to be true ...

This section, then, will always be about the people I “meet” in our Community. Specifically, those who have had the greatest impact on my "journey."

As much time as I was away from the Steem blockchain over the last few weeks, I am sorry to say I did not as much time to engage as I would have liked. But I still had some great experiences.

My biggest highlight was my awe at the time and effort put in by a young couple in Venezuela - @blessed-girl and her husband, @theonlyway - to put together a thank you card for their newfound friends in the Steemisphere. I was honored to be one of the ones they put in their presentation.

I first encountered @blessed-girl while trying to find selections for my first entry into the weekly @pifc community contest. I was impressed from the very first with her steady contributions of value to our Steem blockchain and very pleased with how well they are doing.

The one entry I was able to make in the last few weeks to the weekly @pifc community contest led to my "meeting" @nurseanne84, from southeast Asia. While I haven't had the opportunity to get to know her as well, she seems like she has a wonderful attitude.

Both of these people are just great examples of what I really have enjoyed more than anything else on the Steem blockchain - "meeting" really good people from all over the world!

👍 One Thumb Up 👍

This month, in this section, I like to give a "shout out" to @costanza and his @upvoteshares initiative. He has been very steady, from the outset, and his original calculations seem to be working out very well.

It is designed with levels which open up for the purchase of a limited number of shares for interested participants. Once closed, then you have to wait for the next level.

As a bonus, with each share you purchase, then you are able to select a fellow Steemian to receive a share in the associated @minnowshares account. Great way to support others. Once a Steemian collects a sufficient number of @minnowshares, then they are redeemed for one full share of @upvoteshares.

Overall, what I have appreciated the most is the steady, consistent and transparent effort put in by @costanza. I really respect that. And another Steemian I respect, @abh12345, gives him a two thumbs up endorsement.

So ... You may want to check into it!

_{Source: Steem Artwork contributed by talented Steemian @dandesign86!}

👎 One Thumb Down 👎

In contrast with the @upvoteshares initiative above, there was a lot of "buzz" a few weeks ago, with the launch of the @dstors initiative. Within a very short time, they had managed to obtain delegations of hundreds of thousands of SP.

Seemingly almost just as quickly, it all unraveled. First, with the announcement of a "defection" of a key developer. Followed up with charges of theft by one of the major supporters of the initiative.

Ugly stuff. Really ugly ... Now over with this short post that DStors is moving off of the Steem blockchain.

Bye ...

👎 👎 Two Thumbs Down 👎 👎

Hands down, this month's entry goes to the all of the "rumblings" which are loud and growing louder surrounding the decision of @Ned and Steemit Inc to remove ~34M SP from their wallet and move it to the Bittrex exchange!?

For "safety!" That is not a typo ...

At the crux of the current crisis, is the threat of modifying the Steem blockchain to remove the stake of Steemians who "we" don't like ... I have written about this in my Human Nature and "Adventures" in the Steemisphere post. What a mess!

At its core, in spite of all of its potential, blockchain technology is still software. Written by people. Who may or may not have your best interest at heart. Never lose sight of this fundamental truth.

We will all find out how this "plays out." As I have stated in my post, there are a number of very bright people on the Steem blockchain. However, intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing.

For the sake of us all, I hope calmer and wiser "heads" will ultimately prevail, in steering out us of this mess.

Note: If this has caught your attention, you can follow most of the latest on the #stopthepowerdown channel.

Closing

So, a little late this month, but ... Better late than never. Overall a quiet month for @roleerob, given all involved in working through the final weeks of my employment.

Thank you for reading my monthly update. I trust you have found something of value in it and hopefully even some encouragement. I’d love to hear any feedback you may be inspired to provide.

Until "next time," all the best to you for a better tomorrow, as we all work together (hopefully) to build our Steem Community! 👍 😊

Respectfully,
Steemian @ roleerob

Posted using SteemPeak and “immutably enshrined in the blockchain” on Sunday, 20 January 2019!

Interested to read more of my “log” posts on my Steem "journey"? Great! Here you go:

• Update, Month 1: Engaged with a 4-Figure Stake in the Future
• Update, Month 2: Still Engaged with an Increased Stake and "Growing" ...
• Update, Month 3: Still (Somewhat) Engaged with an Increased Stake and "Recalibrating" ...
• Update, Month 5: Still Engaged with an Increased Stake and "Doubling Down" ... - Won @trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!
• Update, Month 6: "Fully" Engaged with Increased Stake and "Resolute" ... - Won @trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!
  
  

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