Rules of engagement?

Maybe this will help through some struggles. I see the Steemit community somewhat like a mixture of friends, colleagues, customers, patrons, and mentors.

Friends don't need explaining so, I see the people as colleagues because even though we have very diverse talents, interests and even planned goals, I see that we are all working towards something bigger than ourselves. I have talked about my plan for revolution and restructuring before (and will again).

I see readers as customers because I am trying to get them to buy something through my words. Not just an upvote, resteem or comment, I want them to consider purchasing the ideas themselves. I may never know if their consideration of some of my thoughts will turn into action but, the consideration is enough.

The patrons are the people that do upvote and resteem. This helps me keep going. In the past artists would have patrons finance their life in order for them to not have to 'have a real job'. For me, I do have a job that I love and the value I receive here helps me put my spare time to work also in a pursuit I enjoy and feel is important.

The most personally valuable group are the mentors. This includes everyone even if they do not know it as I can glean understanding from the most unlikely of sources at times and be inspired by what many may turn away from. Since starting here at Steemit, I have grown a lot due to the community.

One thing I do see is people trying to engage poorly. I wrote about it the other day here.

But there is something else as well, I see people who engage very well. I have quite a deep retail sales background from my younger days and both trained and managed sales teams at a couple of jobs. The death of a great salesperson? No follow up.

There are people that say all of the right words, all of the right syntax yet, their blogs are well, boring. It is not that they are necessarily bad but they are bland and run of the mill. Generic even. No substance behind the introduction.

I see the blog itself here as the personality of the person. I am not saying that it has to be an exciting blog but it has to be able to offer value for the customer, inspiration for the patrons, knowledge for the mentored and camaraderie for the colleagues.

Many are the type of blog that is like a salesperson running the spiel about what a great product they have yet, when it comes to product knowledge, they come up quite empty.

There is a reason perhaps for this and there is even advice given by the myriad people who sell Steemit advice here. Write what you know. The reason this is good advice is because generally, what you know, you know. You know?

But it seems in many cases these days, my worst fears seem to be coming true. People spend so much time curating their personal brand, learning to fashion themselves, position themselves, market themselves they have forgotten that it is largely useless without having something tangible and valuable to offer.

Something real. It seems that over the last couple decades, the consumer society we have developed has left a young community of resellers. They take the work of others and sell it on. The problem is, with all of the platforms, all of the availability, we have seen it all sold before. Where are the young, creative minds promised by the education systems?

The salespeople and marketers need to take a step back and have a look at the data streams. There is only so much market available before it gets saturated. Everyone is aiming for the largest market segments but, unless you are offering something both significantly diversified and with the potential for demand, the chance of success is very low.

Try for a niche instead in something you are interested in. This is why the advice works. Those that find you will appreciate your time and effort. They will support your work and offer helping hands. They will become your colleagues, customers, patrons and mentors.

This will have even larger benefits when the Steemit communities get going where you can become a voice, an authority if that is what you want, over your own fiefdom. Or you can become a sought after content creator, the go to person whenever people need information on whatever you have to offer.

If you haven't read any of my previous work here, there is plenty that will help build a deeper understanding of yourself. That is the most important thing you can do for your own success, now and in any foreseeable future.

To end though, the overall view minus detail is this. As humans, we are much more awesome and talented as individuals than we can ever be when following a group average. Find what is unique in you, burns inside you and drives your thought and action.

Do that, and you have a blog anyone would be crazy not to read.

Taraz
[ a Steemit original

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