@intelliguy-- tell us about 2 years of STEEM, witnesses, key people, what is it all about?

Want to know the secret of people you see everyday on steem? I can tell you.

I was here during the birth of STEEM and STEEMIT... back in the days when someone doing a makeup introduceyourself post made $30,000 USD for a single post

https://steemit.com/beauty/@guerrint/the-first-steemit-makeup-turtorial-bringing-youtubers-to-steemit

The exact amount was around $31,543.06 USD

...for a single post.

Hard to believe... But it happened. Could it happen again? Sure...

My account was active at that point... I was there to witness it... I watched people introduce themselves and make $5,000 USD or $9,000 USD...

The money seemed too easy. It wasn't right.

I could have jumped on the same band wagon and easily made $3,000 or $9,000 with an @intelliguy introduceyourself post... but I didn't...

I watched it happen. I just refused to participate. The money reasons were obvious. I just knew something was wrong, and I didn't want to be part of something wrong..

My morals meant more to me than money...

...and then I watched.. the continuous posters. Who kept posting every day, multiple times a day. They'd earn $200-$300 USD a day just by posting non-stop every single day.

I decided not to do that... it wasn't right. Milking this beautiful platform for your own gain, just didn't seem right.

I loved the posts made by the primary people who posted a lot. As a curator, I just couldn't keep upvoting them non-stop when other new people were trying to show up and be part of the platform.

Check @intelliguy reputation level. I should be level 78. I am not. I am level 67 simply because of my own self-control

HERE IT COMES

@INTELLIGUY YOU THINK YOU ARE BETTER THAN THE REST OF US?

• NO, I don't. I decided to do things differently.. and that's all on me.

So I took my time on this chain. I cared. I didn't want to milk it... because I love this chain THAT much.

Many of the people I followed started asking for witness votes.. as the signature at the bottom of their posts...

...I stayed away from trying to be a witness, on purpose. I wanted to fully understand what a witness meant, and only go into that after I was absolutely sure I could do it right.

So I was late introducing myself. I was late being a witness. I didn't milk the system.

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY?

I got "schooled" by someone who milked the system. I got "schooled" by someone who became a witness early. I got "schooled" by someone who has steem riches....

From day one. I'm @intelliguy - I will continue to talk about who I am... not milk the system.. and be a part of the longevity of what this system is suppose to be...

Those early birds who got to 70+ reputation, made huge money witnessing... You can't hold a candle to me. So stop trying.

Ego is not me. Caring and self-sacrificing my own wealth for the greater good is me.

So go watch your superstars out there. Top 20 witnesses, 70+ reputation users. I had that I chance. I opted not to...

If you have questions, I'll answer them.

For now, @intelliwitness is ready for your witness vote. -- I am ready to do a good job to help all of us.