"Get to Know Me": A Glimpse Into My Working Life and a Few Thoughts

When I joined Steemit 11 months ago, I freely admit that I muddled my way along. I wrote my "Introduce Yourself Post" like you would for a Keynote speaker or like a small bio that you would find at the bottom of professional blogger's website. I thought I needed to be short, sweet and to the point (not realizing at the time how different Steemit actually was compared to other sites on the internet).

I also thought that I needed to protect my privacy. For some reason. I guess this was left over Facebook programming. You know the kind that warns against accepting strangers into your inner sanctuary...even if that inner sanctuary is or was digital.

As a result, I thought that I should only follow other people on Steemit whom I had developed a relationship with and knew a little bit about. I was advised (by others who had come to this platform before me) that if I wasn't selective in who I followed, my feed would become cluttered and I'd have a hard time finding the people's posts who I have the most in common with or share similar interests with.

I was also warned that it wasn't a good idea to randomly follow people...especially new people when they first decide to join because they might not stay and I might not have any shared interests with them and this might happen and that might happen and before I knew it, I found myself in a bit of a box.

Boxed in on a site that was supposed to be exceptionally liberal, uncensored and about changing the way we have always done things. The whole point was to reclaim your power back, create a new way to live and in the process live happier, more healthful and generally better than you did yesterday.

Well, I did just what I thought I was supposed to do (after heeding all the warnings that I received). 

I only followed people that I had worked on building a relationship with. I was responsible with my small voting power and I upvoted and commented almost everyday. My blogging became more consistent. I invested a small amount of money in the platform and I made a point to take most of my payouts in 100% Steem Power. 

I made the decision to hold my Steem in Steem Power because I personally want the platform to excel in every way. I am willing to work towards this common goal.

For everyone's benefit. 

I know that there are countless other Steemians (just like me) all working towards this same goal.

Since HardFork19 and the introduction of many new people to the platform, I have changed my operating strategy, somewhat. 

I am working on building my followers regardless of whether I know anything about them. I reasoned that if they have suddenly found themselves on Steemit, from seemingly out of nowhere and have decided to take a chance on it, and start a comment thread on one of my posts then, that (for me) was enough commonality between us and was a good enough reason as any, to follow them.

I consider them to be my Steemit brothers and sisters.  They might just not realize it yet.

I also know that they may not be in the top 25% of all Steemians who are allegedly suppose to love everything I create and show me with 100% of their upvoting power.

In my opinion, this is an elusive marketing statistic that suggests that only 25% of all potential customers will actual love everything you have to offer and support you no matter what. This same statistic goes on to imply that in business you "should only" focus your attention on finding out who those people are, communicate with them and then let them buy what you're selling.

When I think about this concept of selectively trying to find and follow a highly defined group of people it sounds very time consuming and like finding a needle in a haystack. Next to impossible.

If one of the goals is to grow the platform, then I think we need to embrace new people, support and help them, whenever we can. It seems to me that we all benefit when we stay motivated and taste a little bit of success. In my opinion, this can only be achieved if followers are built-up fairly quickly and personalized feedback is received in the form of comments and eventually, Steem.

I remember how excited I felt when I received my first few followers and comments. My world opened right up.

In an effort to help you get to know me a little bit better, I made a video of where @knarly327, @dianelyndon and I spend most of our week days:

I realized that the sauna segment is black. I promise, I will get better at this whole vlog thing. Plus, I'm happy to announce that I made my own Youtube channel because @knarly327 wanted his channel back. Can you imagine?

(I posted this video, July 14, 2017 on my rebeccaryanschannel Youtube channel.)

Thanks for taking a few minutes to get to know me a little better. I look forward to getting to know you better too.

I welcome your comments and I invite you to follow me on my journey.

~ Rebecca Ryan