Are you going to be the guy, who knows a guy who knows a guy...or maybe you want to be THE guy?
Hello everyone!
What you are about to read is a true story. I hope it will motivate a few doubters...
It was back in the early days of 2011. I was in my late 20s. Had finally finished my studies and I was free from my military obligations. And like every other kid, even at his late 20s (men are always kids, never forget that) I didn't actually know what I wanted to do with my life. Even though I had my degree for computer sciences, it seemed more like a "safety card", rather than what I really enjoyed doing.
What I really enjoyed doing was working at night clubs
Yeah... since I was 18. It started as a summer joke...just to earn enough money to buy my first bike. But it lasted a whole decade. And it suited me just fine...loud music, often surrounded by beautiful women, meeting new people almost every day, plus I was getting payed really really well. In fact so well that I managed to finish my studies without parental help, although the university was in another city. Which means...paying rent, bills, food, all by myself.
But who cares about money...right?
WRONG. As I said earlier I was getting payed really well and I thought that "this is it...no matter how much I spend, I can replace it tomorrow" and that attitude, became a habit. I was spending my money in the most ridiculous stuff and wasn't saving anything. As long as I was having fun, nothing else really mattered. But I was proud you know... It was my money. I was working hard for that.
And all of a sudden financial crisis stroke Greece
And it stroke like a hurricane. People were in panic. Many lost their jobs...I lost my job. All of a sudden I was left with no backup plan. The nightlife dream had just fallen apart...
So, after losing my job, I used to spend most of my time with my best friend who also lost his job. Endless hours of talking took place...I remember that we used to talk about anything. But the financial crisis was always in the agenda. We had to find a way to make our lives better again. And that's the point where my best friend mentions the name John.
Who the fuck is John?
Well, John was a guy who sometimes used to hang out with my best friend and he was what we call nerd. He was obsessed with technology and everything that had to do with the Internet. Never really met him in person because from my friend's descriptions, he sounded like the ultimate boring guy. Most of the times even my friend tried to avoid him, but he often felt pity for him. So every time I hanged out with my friend I was first making sure that John wasn't invited...
But there were times where my friend was unconsciously telling my stuff John used to tell him. John told me this, John told me that...I was never really paying attention when conversation was about John. Until the day he told me the epic: "John is about to invest 2.000 Euros on some sort of stocks on the internet. A new digital coin named Bitcoin. He is fuckin obsessed with this." John was coming from a wealthy family, but still....2K? I still remember my reaction: -"WTF? Is he completely retarded? It is probably a fraud."
Do I need to remind you what was BTC's price at the early stages of 2011?
I will. It was more or less around around 0.7$ - 0.8$ and that crazy guy just did it. He invested 20.000 Euros on something that he believed that would change his life once and for all. That was the first time I heard about BTC. And was also the last, until the day I decided to apply for Steemit. When you enter the crypto world Bitcoin is the first thing you probably learn. So when I became familiar with crypto currencies on January 2018 and saw BTC's price I just couldn't believe it. The first thing that came on my mind was John. -"Nah...he wouldn't"
So long story short, I make a phone call to my friend to tell him about this Steemit thing and also to see if they keep contact with John. -"It seems that we were the retarded. John is practically...a multimillionaire and he still owns a few hundreds BTC's" I just couldn't believe it. He told me the whole story, and I was literally in a shock. It sounded like a fairy tale...but it wasn't.
So I was the guy who knows a guy....who now was THE guy.
But since I can't travel back in time to invest in BTC, I think that over here I've found the next big thing to invest in. What's the next big thing? Steemit /steem of course. Even though we all know the benefits and the potential of steem and steem block chain, I know that there are hundreds of doubters out there who keep ranting.
Nobody said that if you become part of Steemit family the next thing that takes place is to become a millionaire. First and foremost you need to invest time. You need to work hard. You need to engage with others. You need to be devoted. You also need to invest money, otherwise you 'll probably have a lonely ride. I admit that there are a few people who have invested nothing, but have major help from whale accounts who push them forward. But this is the exception, not the rule. The rule is that nothing comes easy.
If you really think crypto currencies is the next big thing, if you think steem is the next big thing keep trying. Keep posting, keep upvoting, keep commenting, keep improving yourselves. You don't need to write novels. Steemit is not a university. Just be original...be present and don't let the bear market discourage you. And don't do the same mistake I did 7 years back. Because it is just a matter of time for steem to "deliver" according to its potential.
At the end of the story, do you prefer to be John? Or the guy who knows a guy...who knows John?
Stay awesome!
Cheers @mindtrap
κλαμα η υποθεση αδερφε...κλαμα....και εγω ηξερα καποιον σαν τον 'γιαννη' αλλα αυτος δεν επενδυσε τοτε.....τωρα κλαιει και αυτος μαζι μας καθε μερα
Στερνη μου γνωση να σ´ειχα πρωτα...
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Εξαιρετικό άρθρο !
Σ´ευχαριστω παρα πολυ. Οπως και για το resteem
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HaHa, of course, everyone wants to be THE guy : D. Great, that you have finished studies for computer science, even if you do not really enjoy it, you benefit, in which you can help yourself and know about this area top. I think, which male kid (men are always kids, i'll never forget that) would not enjoy working in nightclubs. Why did you lose your job at the nightclub? Nightclub, beautiful women, loud music is always in demand, I think. Respect Mindtrap, how did you manage to study, nightclub, where was the night's sleep? Is not there a nightclub in Athens where you can continue working?
Now you're upset because you spent your hard-earned money on the most ridiculous things and saved nothing, and most of all, that you did not invest in BTC. Believe me, that was certainly not ridiculous, at this point it was important to you. I am very sorry that you lost your job, that it happened with the financial crisis, that many people were in a panic and lost their job.
Then John .. the nerd, there are many nerds these days and I think these nerds are absolutely not boring. Today you and your friend are regret, that you have not invited John. But believe me, if you had worked in the nightclub at the time, you would have thought about the matter with John and would have invested in Bitcoin or you would have informed yourself. That is just always a pity, if the money is not available. But it's risky anyway. John has financial backing from his family and then everything is not that risky anymore. John was lucky. How should you know the future?
He is THAT guy, but you're THAT guy, too
I always enjoy reading your comments @suntree!
Yeah they are. But crisis started in Greece during 2008 and until 2011 were I lost my job it was escalating.
That’s why it took me a couple of extra years to finish school.
Just remember that I was working at night clubs from the age of 18 until late 20s which was back in 2011. Now, during my mid 30s I don’t even want to listen to, about nightclubs
You are absolutely right. And I definitely agree with you now. But you see back then I didn’t have that clarity and the knowledge I have now. I thought I was cool and he wasn’t. How stupid is that? Right now I have total respect to those who devote their lives to learn and expertise in any aspect of their lives.
John was informed not lucky. Well...maybe a little lucky. Now what’s done is done. Maybe...the next big thing is steem. Time will tell. Have a great Sunday @suntree
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To the question in your title, my Magic 8-Ball says:
Hi! I'm a bot, and this answer was posted automatically. Check this post out for more information.
I enjoy your contribution so much
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Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by mindtrap from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews, and netuoso. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows. Please find us at the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
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Today I don't feel like doing anything..