I talk to A LOT of Steemians.
For a whole range of reasons from talking about personal things to getting information together for @humansofsteemit and brainstorming on how to make this place even better.
And there is one thing I've REALLY noticed.
Quite a few of you are 'upset' with the dolphins, orcas and whales on this platform.
You feel like you DESERVE those precious upvotes.
And are annoyed that you are not being noticed by them.
But are they really the problem?
Or are you the problem?
Drink your own cup of Steemit tea!
By @salas
who'll get a slice of the SBD from this post!
Look, I get it.
You put in energy, time and effort into a post and it's not getting the $$$ that you think it deserves.
Yeah pretty frustrating!
So what is the easy to express your frustration?
Emotionally shitting on the bigger fish who dwell in the Steemit sea.
But this is not a very loving and positive way of handling the situation is it?
If you think about it energy-wise, all you are doing is throwing negative energy their way, and that is not exactly very productive towards getting positive energy back.
And frankly, all you are doing is working yourself up and giving yourself a negative time when the Steemiverse dolphins,orcas and whales are not even wasting one minute thinking about whether or not they should upvote you.
I know this isn't very nice to hear but really it is the truth
How can you channel this energy into moving into space that is productive for you and your Steemit journey?
The answer is pretty simple.
Just focus on you!
And in those four words, lays a world of deeper meaning.
The trick is actually that there is no trick.
You've got to be yourself on here.
FULL STOP.
(Or atleast that's what I think)
Instead of writing your posts and logging off straight away, get INTERACTIVE! Get a-talking with people, join Discord servers and make an actual effort to get to know people (and not because they have a high upvote but because you actually want to get to know them)
Get to know this place inside out.
Where you can find what community and who's a part of that.
Make an effort to put yourself out there time and time and time again!
Put most important of all, is just to really do you and be yourself.
And organically, you will find your Steemit tribe.
Which automatically means you get those upvotes you've been looking for.
Literally there is NO point in getting angry at the bigger fish in the Steemit sea.
Most of them have been where you are and how do you think they managed to get where they are?
Due to being real, being consistent and putting themselves out there time and time again!
So leave them be and focus on you.
You'll be thanking yourself in a year's time.
So now all you gotta do is
JUST DO IT!
I leave you with my fave inspo speech by the incredible Shia Labeouf!
BIG love,
Ashley
My LoveProject is @humansofsteemit! Featuring the humans behind the Steemit usernames!
How many times have I heard this from planktons and minnows who would spout flowery words of thanks to Dolphins and Whales whenever they get an upvote that they start expecting it even if they post crappy content or those endless challenges and when the patronage is removed they start bad mouthing the person.
They should have been grateful for the time of the upvotes and made sure to have created good quality content, created connections outside of their starting circles and forged relationships and a presence.
I have seen far many people rest in their laurels and be happy to be fed by whale and just be content in their circle of fellow minnows and get angry when people leave.
At our little Ohana at @steemitfamilyph we try to nurture them to be self reliant and stand on their own merit and talent. We encourage them to be themselves and write about things they want. Be authentic humans who connect and create for themselves not because it is trending, or because it will be upvoted by a whale.
So many are obsessed with getting votes and getting paid that it starts to put pressure on them to go to what will be voted. They lose their individuality and that for me is sad.
I see that the most successful people are those that engage people well. That write unique stuff and generally like what they are doing. They are authentic and without pretense.
P.S. The Shia killed me there haha because Yes Do It!!!!
<3 <3 <3
Hear, hear! thank you so much for the reminder :>)
and thanks for putting into words what I have been thinking all along and am trying to put into action more and more...
Knuffel,
Vincent
:)
Fijn!!
Wonderfull post! This is so true ! I think a lot of people are just here to make quick money , they see that it doesn't work like that and they get frustrated. It's all about growing as a community and interacting with other people. There is a lot of help for minnows like @minnowsupport, they have a discord channel with an upvote bot and different kind of channels where you can interact with other people. I've written a guide on how to join here: https://steemit.com/steemit/@murkie/the-wonderful-community-of-steemit-and-minnowsupport
Don't give up! And keep on growing, steeming and interacting!
Hi,
I am not really doing things the minnowsupport way cos I am doing it my own way.
But good on you for helping out the community by writing the post!
:)
I'm still pretty new here but the long term potential of Steemit is amazing. So many people get frustrated when they don't get rich quick, and go back to facebook where they don't get rich at all lol
Yea
In a sense, I don't really mind when they leave.
Personally, I only want good quality stuff on here! hehe :)
I hope the people that most need to read the posts like these will actually read and understand this XD
Yesss
I hope so too!! :)
Is that a Steemit deer??? :)
I suppose t could be a deer because I made the tail quite big, oops XD It's an upgoat :)
Ooohhhhh
now I see it! hehe
Interesting article, I am new to Steemit and following inspirational authors. I have shared my thoughts on a similar topic, do give it a read and let me know if any feedback :)
https://steemit.com/motivation/@reflections/don-t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover
I am going to give you one tip.
Do not push your posts in comments.
It doesn't work like that.
I immediately do not want to visit your post now...
Excellent advice. I think some users even target empty content created by whale accounts in hopes of a return. I'm sure the whales could care less about my ten cent upvote. And upvoting garbage hoping for a return misses the point anyway.
You give the best advise possible. Just do you. Be yourself and find like minded individuals. Grow together. Eventually, your dimes and their dimes equal dollars. And, more importantly, you have made some friends.
Yup.
E.X.A.C.T.L.Y!
:)
I don't get why people target the empty whale accounts.
Makes NO sense to me whatsoever!
I got my biggest payout ever by... get this... posting about something I loved, that mattered to me, that I'm really good at, that I do every day. Imagine that. All my "artsy fartsy" posts, generic writing posts, never went anywhere. So I tried a motorcycle related post instead. BINGO!!
whoop whoop!!!
This is an excellent and useful reminder. I try and live by this exact philosophy here, but it's really good to see it stated like this.
:)
Thanks for being here!
You could not say it better, it's the best post and advice I've seen. Here there is no greater strategy than that, that is the key to success in steemit and thank you for sharing your point of view with us.
yessssss
That is the second time that I have heard a reference to a "Steemit tribe". Tribe members always support each other. Hey, little minnow when did your rep get to 60! That is fantastic! Steem on!
You've been here from the beginning!!!!!
Great advice. And it works always. Stop fussing. direct all energy on their actions. Write, create, communicate. Get pleasure from it! And let the money will be a bonus to that fun. On Facebook you do no pay. But you still sometimes talk in there? Everything will come to you at the time. Do not cease to create.
You get it Anna!
Yeah you are right. We should be more focused on who we are rather than chasing big whales. I found Steemit as great platform to know interesting people and to gain knowledge from them.
Thanks for the inspiration.. I really appreciate it...Keep up the good work.
Have a nice day.!!!
:)
Many complaining have been here not more than 1 month. If they think that they can earn 1000$ in just their 1st month then they are completely wrong.
But on the other hand their are genuine complains. Some whales have their every vote for sale. When every vote is for sale then how a hard working blogger is supposed to get paid.
Given all these, the only way to see what happens is to live it on fate.
I get you but know that there also whales that don't sell their votes.
There is a whole community working hard to keep this place humane!
UGH, I hate this mentality. Blogging is a long hard grind and so many people want some random whale to upvote them every time. They are all off doing their own thing and many do not have time to be floating around the minnow pool looking for the good post.
Great post as always Ashley, it is nice to see other people making content to support and encourage new steemians to work hard. The more we teach the masses that this is not a get rich quick scheme but a marathon to the top the better off steem will be. I need to message you about a project I am starting up and I think you will be a great addition to the team.
<3 J. R.
YES!
The grind is where the real stuff is learnt!!
OOOh I am excited!!!
Good point! I see it like this: if someone reads my posts, I know they are really reading it. They are not just reading it because it’s popular, because it’s not really popular at the moment. So then I know it’s a real interest.
EXACTLY!
Thanks for being so real. Probably the most honest and inspirational post I have heard in a long time.
well that's nice to hear!
AMEN!!! Oh my you've put into words what I've thought so many times. When we don't get what we want in this world so many of us just want to blame and to resent everyone else. You said it all so well dear friend!
Also something to note is that those of us whales, dolphins etc... who joined early had some very very significant challenges that current adopters don't. Plus those who are whales actually invested money into the platform which is one of the reasons we can all get any rewards. It always seems like the grass is greener on the other side but usually it's just a different kind of mud ;-)
"It always seems like the grass is greener on the other side but usually it's just a different kind of mud ;-)"
If Hunter S Thompson were still alive and not drunk out of his mind he would've said that too. Without the smile. And he wouldn't have used 'mud' either.
But he can't say anything. He blew his brains out
<3
yupppp
hello @ashleykalila, so nice to meet you here and on steemsugars!! I totally resonate with your advice, realness and authenticity is the way forward, that's how we build a genuine community based on truth and beauty, the beauty of who we truly are! I'm following you and looking forward to connecting more xxx
<3
Could not agree more. I started in steemit alittle over two weeks ago. At first all I wanted was to make money but now that I have seen how amazing the community is on here. I have stopped really caring about the money. I know it will come. I have just been enjoying the ride. So many wonderful people with so much to learn and share
YES.
This is the perfect attitude!
Great advice, @ashleykalila! You are right. The problem doesn't lie with the orcas, whales or dolphins. Just work harder and stop complaining!
yip. shut up and do the grind
(I assume) All the big fish started out as little fish anyway, and earned their way up, so why people are in a hurry to bypass the steps seems silly and quite frankly greedy.
Stop and appreciate the experience here - and for everyone it will be a little different. Just like IRL.
Earning something in the end feels a heck of a lot better than it simply being handed to you. Satisfaction and pride in a job well done, and all that. :)
EXACTLY!
I agree with your "Get real with yourself" advice! It works for every aspect if life. Not just Steemit!
:) YES!
Ashley thank you for this. I will admit, I have been frustrated - but not for the reasons you state. I'm so new I wouldn't know a whale from a ... I have no idea. And the money thing is not what drew me here. Some may not understand that, but it's the truth. My issue has been I'll post something real and no one sees it. That is the part that is frustrating. I follow. Try to comment on posts that interest me. And engage. But honestly, not all of us have time to search through Steemit and get to know it inside out.
I stopped Steemit for a week and decided to come back on today to give it another go. But there is a piece of me that says why bother? I looked at my previous post - no one had looked at it. However, I have found a couple of people who post interesting content. I am following them. Hopefully, I will get to know them and things will grow from there.
Look at it this way, it's like being the new kid in school and everyone ignores you. You wave. Say hi my name is ... and people turn around and walk the other way. It isn't fun. That said ... I'll be back tomorrow, posting. Commenting. Trying to stay persistent. And maybe just maybe someone will let me play with them at recess.
I get it.
I really do.
But honestly based on the sheer realness of this comment I can tell you can be fine.
I had a little look at your blog and came up with a few avenues you could discover.
There is a huge music community and seen as you are in Canada, there are quite a few Canadians on here.
:)
Just as a start.
Big love to you lady!
What a sweetheart. Thanks. @ashleykalila.
Nice ash, especialy the Shia Labeouf bit <3
He is so great!
As are you!
yes are right just focus on our better job. :) just like a bee. this is my drawing. thank you.
Cute lil bee!!!
sometimes truth hurts, lol. I've been very fortunate in that I was brought on steemit by a whale who has been very supportive but as you say finding your tribe is key which takes some time. My efforts are beginning to bear fruit by finding like-minded and passionate about what they write others. The key seems to be patience, being consistent, genuinely supporting posts you like instead of just following and upvoting posts because you think it will get you somewhere and finding your tribe. This is what I've found so far here on steemit...
Yup.
You'll be fine cos you've got the gist of it!!!
Hey Ashley, looks like we are both worrying for similar issues on steemit. I think I should take a closer look on what you are doing for the community. I trust @bristena94 - she wouldn't re-steem something that 's not worth following.
So, back to the subject of you post. The way like expressing it today is: stop imitating the whales, clear your mind and find your own voice. I wrote about it earlier today.
I'm following @humansofsteemit. Will try supporting the cause as much as I can.
Cool, thank you for mentioning her. I haven't met her (digitally) yet!
Yeaaaa I like the way you explain it!
Thank you for supporting HoS. :)
Means a lot!
Heya ash ! Wanted to ask if OCD was still looking for curators ? Someone had told me before months but I wasnt free then , looking to take part now and wanted to know if there were some open spots. Asked Acidyo on steem.chat but he rarely goes on there.
Hey,
Not at the moment but keep your eye on @acidyo he will put up a post asking for curators when the time comes :)
Just wait for the post and react on it! That is the only way you'll get in hehe
I just upvoted for your lovely post.
Please read my recent post n upvote
https://steemit.com/@reflections
agreed.
I agree with what you said. I’m just a few days old here. Sometimes it gets a bit sad when the posts are not being upvoted. However, I enjoy reading the blogs here and interacting with people. 😀