You Probably Won't Open This...

And that's okay! I didn't write this for you. I wrote it for me.

It's not that I don't appreciate the upvotes & comments, I do! I so appreciate them.

Let me explain...

I found Steemit after hearing an interview with @ned on @kadavy's Love Your Work Podcast. I signed up because I was curious about crypto and the rewards system. Like we all did. Author rewards and rewards at all here on Steemit are a wonderful and game changing incentive (obviously) but that's not why I've come to love Steemit.

I came across this comment from @ackza today..

First let me say, @ackza I absolutely love your enthusiasm! You're so pumped about crypto and Steemit and your want to do something amazing for your family! I love that you're sharing so much positive energy on Steemit.

However... I think that your energy and enthusiasm, while well intentioned, are somewhat misguided. At least in the comment you left.

This is just me speculating based on the comment you left, but you're really focused on "making it" on Steemit/Crypto. While that's really exciting I think it's eerily similar to the "wantrepreneur" style of thinking.

Focusing on the "digital nomad" lifestyle and the "easy and carefree" living that will, of course, follow once you've "made it" on Steemit. Focusing on the end reward and not so much on the work it takes to get there.

But that's not how it works.

@ackza I'm not saying this is you at all! I appreciate you commenting and interacting with me! That comment just got me thinking and sort of refocused my own goals here.

Successful entrepreneurs aren't successful because they wanted to be rich and famous. They're successful because they saw a need or a problem and provided a really valuable service/idea that people found useful. I can assure you, they aren't all living "easy & carefree" lives either. They work their asses off!

Same goes for Whales. @papa-pepper is a superstar because he shares kick ass content. And I'm sure he works really hard at making his content. I doubt he's counting his crypto and only planning to work hard on Steemit until he "makes it". Highly unlikely.

And that's because Steemit isn't about making money.

Making money IS something that happens here - yes.

BUT Steemit is really about sharing valuable content

If we keep this get rich quick mindset and focus solely on the money, you likely won't be making valuable content for others. And that's what this platform is really about.

I love Steemit because I can write without worrying.

I don't worry about what people will say when I'm on Steemit. This place is so positive and welcoming I feel like I can really say what I need to say and no one will bash me for it. And even if they did, I feel like this platform has made me a ton more confident about sharing and promoting my work. If a post of mine makes $0.00 that's perfectly fine with me, as long as it's work that I can be proud of.

That's why I titled this post "You probably won't open this". Because it's true. A huge number of people whose eyes saw this post probably didn't open it.

And that's really okay.

I'm writing for me. Scratching my own itch and sharing information that I'm passionate about, that's what Steemit is about for me.

Originally, this comment from @kus-knee really got me thinking about how focused I was on how much a post was making.

I was checking my wallet very often and monitoring upvotes like a hawk.

Why?

Did this make my work any better? No. My time is better spent focusing on my work. Improving my writing for my writing's sake, not so I can gain a bigger audience on Steemit. Getting to be a better photographer for my photography's sake, not for impressing a Whale or getting a big payout.

When the focus is on the work, the work improves. I think that's inevitable. And I believe that is the real value of Steemit. It gives us all an outlet to share our work to a positive community. A community that, I feel, really does want to see you improve.

So @ackza thanks for getting me thinking about this topic & I look forward to seein' ya around the blockchain!

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Feedback always welcome! Let me know what you're focused on sharing here.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

-Chrissy