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The only notable difference between Steemit and a reddit clone is money. The are many angles to money here: how it is created, how it can be spent, what capabilities offers to the user and so on and so forth. But basically, it’s about money.

We can talk all day about decentralization and libertarianism, about blockchain versus web, but at the end of the day, the only meaningful difference between Steemit and other social media is this direct link to money.

That thing changes the rules of the game big time.

Because here, in Steemit, one’s relationship with money comes first before the relationship with other people. It infects (not necessarily in a bad way, more like it permeates) every activity here. If you express your opinion, you may earn money. If you comment, you may earn money. You can also be sent into oblivion if your comment is not appealing for a user with a bigger voting power who decides to downvote you. If you upvote a post or a comment, you may earn money. If you just sit with your account opened, you can earn money, because of interest.

This is a very different beast, I tell you.

Teaching Tango

It reminds me of a very funny situation, back from where I was making a living as tango teacher (long story, don’t ask). When you teach tango, you learn a lot of things about people.

In tango, the man is called “the leader” and he is the one transmitting the intention of movement. It does this in a very subtle, yet very clear way. He doesn't "move" the woman, nor he is grabbing her like a puppet. He just leads. And the women is called “the follower”, because she is the one receiving the intentions and following through. In tango there are just a handful of steps, like the vocabulary in a language, and a few rules, like a grammar. That’s all. How you apply these words over the grammar is entirely up to you. You literally create a different experience every time you dance. Hence, the connection. The magic. The thrill.

In order to get there, the man has to lead and the woman has to follow. As simple as that.

Alas, my job as a tango teacher was 90% energy related. What I was doing was teaching men how to get into their masculine, leading, role and women how to let themselves lead. You have no idea how many problems are out there. A lot of men, although they look mighty and powerful on the surface, have no clue how to lead. And a lot of women don’t want to be led. I observed this especially if the woman came from a strong corporate culture.

In tango, this is getting out, it's becoming obvious. You can’t avoid it and, if you want to dance, you have to deal with it.

What Steemit Has To Do With Tango Teaching, Again?

In Steemit, your relationship with money gets exposed. You can’t avoid it. If you have a good relationship with it, you’ll feel less pressure. If you don’t, then you’ll feel the pinch.

But what does “having a good relationship with money” means, after all?

Well, it means there’s no attachment to it. It’s absolutely ok to enjoy it when it comes, but clinging to it is toxic. It’s most of the time a sign of insecurity. Not that being insecure is inherently wrong, or something. It’s just that it’s sucks, at times.

So I take Steemit as a very valuable exercise in developing a healthy relationship with money.

Play it right, know that there is money to be made, but don’t get too attached to it, or it will change you in a bad way, no matter if you’re a whale who suddenly thinks he can flag anybody just because he has more SP, or if you’re a minnow begging for votes and complaining the world is not a right place.

Before being a blockchain-based social media app, Steemit is a fantastic exercise in humility.

If you don't have this type of humility, it will show up in your writing, in your attitude and, eventually, in your account.

Just like you could spot instantly, in tango, if a man can lead or if a woman can follow.

Steemit: the place where you hate to love money.

Or you love to hate money.

It can go either way.

image souce - Pixabay

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I'm a serial entrepreneur, blogger and ultrarunner. You can find me mainly on my blog at Dragos Roua where I write about productivity, business, relationships and running. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @dragosroua.

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You can also vote for me as a Steemit witness here:
https://steemit.com/~witnesses