I'm almost one year old...

I’m coming up to 12 months on steemit; June 2017 was when I joined after being introduced by two of my brothers who are also steemit users. One prefers to remain completely anonymous and the other is the indomitable @tarazkp a prolific and passionate contributor and platform advocate. I’m glad I joined the platform although in hindsight should have done so in January of 2017 when they first suggested it. As the older brother I know best right? Wrong. Anyway, six months later I arrived and was fortunate enough to gain some support from the users above and a few others also. Thank you all.

I have made 497 posts in the last 50 weeks, just under 10 per week on average over the 50 weeks I have been blogging, have made about 2940 comments and received some 16,450 votes. I am lucky enough to have a few followers who actually read and comment on my posts and have gathered a small group of people to follow who provide entertaining, thoughtful and interesting posts; You know who you are! Thank you for your efforts on the platform and for your engagement with me.

I’m critical of many things on the platform, idiotic challenges and things that are really nothing more than crap content. I know, someone’s going to comment that they’re good to promote minnows, guppy’s, krill, anchovies and sardines…Or whatever derogatory names are given to newer users, however in reality it’s just promoting shit content and setting a poor example for new users. I am also concerned about bots, shit-posters and pool-rapers; If no one actually blogs the bots won’t have anything to actually bot-vote on right? Shit breaks down then… Again, a poor example for new users.

So, what I enjoy about the platform is the great content (although it’s hard to actually find), the ability to write whatever I want to with impunity and the fact there is some return on investment in the form of an SBD or two here and there.

To date I have only brought two people to the platform; The first was a dud and the second…? Well, you’ll be the judge of that I guess. I haven’t wanted to recruit to the platform as it would generally mean exposing myself, and my own writing, to people I actually know, and since the first on-board I made was monumentally under-whelming, I was reluctant to waste my time again. Oh, I was also a little embarrassed about the platform in general and the issues it has. Anyway, fortunately for you I decided to try again.

Here’s a link to the introduction post from my friend @stuffing as posted just tonight. Click here for her introduction post She successfully completed the brutal and physically challenging Steemit Bootcamp, run by me, conducted last Saturday at a café over breakfast and coffee, and has entered the blockchain…OK, so the bootcamp wasn’t brutal at all however I wanted to give my friend a few pointers and tips to help her out. When I speak with @stuffing it always reminds me of sitting around a campfire chatting; Interesting, informative, philosophical and fun conversation. I think she'll bring that to steemit also.

One of my frustrations has been finding good content and it wasn’t until @mattclarke told me how to view another users feed that I started to get the hang of it. You simply go to that users blog and in the address bar in the browser insert /feed after their name. For example: https://steemit.com/@danielapetk/feed This takes you to their feed and you can peruse the users they follow. I have found some great users in this way. Anyway, I’m sure you all have your own ways of doing so.

As I approach the 1-year mark of being a steemit user I wonder where the platform may lead from here and what my involvement would be. As an anchovy, probably not much other than to feed those higher up the food chain I suppose. I’ll keep writing though and hope to offer some value. I feel good about bringing my friend @stuffing to the platform and hope you guys follow her blog and give her a chance to impress you.

To those people who are just starting out my advice is to write about what you are interested in and are passionate about. Learn to write better, there’s loads of online resources to help you do that, and to engage with other users. Comments like ”good post my dear” are worthless and annoying to users who put a lot of effort into their blogs so try commenting with validity. You’ll get a better result. Engage actively and you’ll start to gain greater traction. Oh, don’t ask for follows that’s a sure-fire way not to get one.

My [almost] one year on the platform has been interesting and I’ve learned a lot about myself. I have rediscovered the value of writing, the cathartic nature of it and the importance of writing with passion plus I have been able to share it with a few people who have chosen to follow and read my content. I look forward to the next 12 months and whilst I don’t know where they will lead me I believe I will find enjoyment and fulfilment.

[- The best way to increase your self esteem is to increase someone else’s -]