Continuing to blog on all the fascinating aspects of my experience on our Steem blockchain, here is my tenth monthly update.
Since posting my introduction on 14 May 2019, these updates represent my "log" of sorts, giving my readers a monthly window into my "journey" through the Steemisphere - a new "virtual world" based on the creation of our Steem blockchain.
So ... "What are you doing 'in there' @roleerob and how is it going?"
In response, off we go then into the "April Fool's" edition of my monthly update! 😉
Status or "Executive Summary"
To begin, here is a brief overview to answer the "how is it going" question we should probably be "checking in" with ourselves and answering, from time to time.
Statistics
There is an old saying, "numbers don't lie." Yes, well, there is also an old joke about the executive asking the accountant, "what do the numbers say about how we're doing?" to which the accountant replied, "what do you want them to say?" ... 😉
Required to issue a monthly report for most of my career, with numbers to quantify progress, here are a few:
To date on my Steem "journey," these numbers are the most important. The first three quantify our influence on adding value to the Steem blockchain. And the second two, the actual work we are putting in to add value ourselves. Given all of our rich diversity, I trust we all have one focused objective in common - adding value to the Steem blockchain.
We want the value to go up!
How is that working for us? Well, you see here the market numbers, i.e. the "bottom line" of how our investment is doing. Basically, SBD is holding steady around $1.000 USD, as intended by design, and STEEM is up nicely. A long way to go, to make my investment "in here" profitable, but at least now it appears to be heading in right direction!
Glass Half Full? Or Half Empty
This old phrase is commonly referenced, at least here in America, in describing whether one is optimistic or pessimistic. Positive and upbeat or negative and complaining.
To the first, my typical response is I am a "realistic optimist." I do not think being foolish about what is obvious leads to positive outcomes in life, no matter how upbeat we may wish to be. On the second, I don't view it as that simple. As an engineer, both by temperament and training, I am naturally inclined to look at what is outright wrong or at least restricted / limited and focus on making improvements. It can "come out" as being too focused on what is "wrong" and not enough on what is "right."
As an older man, I have learned to do better at striking a balance. But, it is a conscious effort and, on any given day, I can "snap back" to my normal inclinations. Every day then is a "new adventure" as to how I do ... 😉
So ... In this post, I will be touching on some aspects of being actively involved on the Steem blockchain which are "glass half full" perspectives. But, I refuse to turn a "blind eye" to those which are "glass half empty." We all then have to come to our own conclusions about whether we chose to continue to actively engage "in here."
Engagement "Formula"
A steady work-in-progress, is attempting to maintain the following "rhythm" in the investment of my time:
- Engaging "down" with all of the many great Steemians steadily adding value and working hard, who have a smaller stake and doing what I can to encourage them.
- Engaging "up" and adding value, as much as I can manage, to the posts of those who may chose to ... uhhh ... increase my "influence" ... 😉 ... to help those in #1 ...
- Adding value by writing my own posts, so #1 and #2 have some idea of why they would want to hopefully "engage" with me ...
I don't have my stopwatch out or anything. I just try to be mindful of switching from one to the other. Part of the "flow," as I have written about elsewhere, is naturally regulated by your decline in voting power.
Awards and Accomplishments
In this section of my monthly update, I highlight anything which stood out to me in the way of an award or accomplishment. As much as anything, it's for my reference, when I look back over time and ask myself,
"Are you really accomplishing anything meaningful 'in there' @roleerob?" So ... Let's see about this past month ...
"Automated" API Call for Latest "Digital Asset" Pricing
Only indirectly related to the Steem blockchain, I solved a major problem covered somewhat by my latest post.
Specifically, I mentioned my worksheets built to send and receive API calls to and from CoinMarketCap (CMC) for the latest pricing, as needed, were suddenly displaying the following:
Illustration: CoinMarketCap API Call "Deprecated" ... 😧
Sadly, all my hard work a while back was soon to be "deprecated," i.e. replaced. 😞
The details of what followed are too technical for this post, but at the end of a major investment of time, I have a database now capturing the latest "digital asset" pricing. At the click of a button, stored in a table which, in turn, updates pricing in 3 separate spreadsheets I use for accounting for my "digital asset" investments.
With that complete, I am now working on P & L calculations for all "digital asset" transactions, for the filing of my 2018 taxes, before the April 15th deadline.
There are some very challenging aspects of our participation on the Steem blockchain, when it comes to even thinking about accounting for tax consequences. I will likely write more about this in my next monthly update, when I am on the other side of what I am faced with now ...
Publishing my Steemisphere Posts
Until further notice, these posts are what I consider to be my greatest accomplishment in contributing to the Steem blockchain. Why?
Here is what I said in my introductory comments:
”You are reading what I would like to have been quickly introduced to, when I was where you are right now.”
I wanted to help others avoid what I had been through, as much as possible.
Designed to be complimentary to each other, here are the two posts created:
- Welcome to the Steemisphere! Getting Off to a "Flying Start," Version 1.0 – Covers the full spectrum of what a new Steemian needs to know to get off to a “flying start.”
- User's Guide to the Steemisphere, Version 1.0 – Covers the recommended apps and tools a new Steemian needs as they begin to engage with our Steem blockchain.
Those are the highlights of my main contributions to adding value to the Steem blockchain over this last month.
What about the contributions of others? I cover that next ...
Monthly Highlights
Beginning with my first monthly update post, in this section I was inspired to try to capture "the good, the bad, and the ugly" every month. Specifically focused on my interactions with others on this "social network."
So ... What do we have this month:
👍 👍 Two Thumbs Up 👍 👍
Working with ”systems,” as well as managing the work of others, for much of my career, I have always emphasized ”people” over ”process” believing that is the right priority. From a lot of experience, I know the best systems are greatly diminished, if not ”manned” by competent, engaged people. A great team will always solve the problem of less-than-ideal systems. I have never experienced the reverse to be true ...
This section, then, will always be about the people I “meet” in our Community. Specifically, those who have had the greatest impact on my "journey."
Later tonight, the Pay It Forward Community (@pifc) will post its 🎂 one year anniversary 🎂 weekly contest! That is a long time for its creator, @thedarkhorse, to keep "fighting the good fight." Many of the most important associations I have developed on my Steem "journey" have been through this community.
Hopefully, this community will continue on its mission into a second year!
The Ten Thousand Minnow (@tenkminnows) initiative, originated conceived by @steevc in this post(I think ...), is a major project intended to significantly increase the ranks of the "middle class" here on the Steem blockchain - those with VP between 500 and 5000.
Working with @paulag in setting an initial target of 250 new minnows in a month, here is their latest post on having achieved that objective!
Putting "my money where my mouth is," in a tangible expression of appreciation for what they mean to me, I have sent SBI shares out to these accounts.
👍 One Thumb Up 👍
The Steem Alliance (Accounts: @steemalliance and Discord) has progressed its efforts to the point of asking Steemians to "register to vote." Here is their latest post - 6 Days Left! Have You Registered To VOTE?. It contains both links to getting registered to vote. And the proposals on which those interested will be asked to vote.
It remains to be seen how successful this initiative will be. I want to be optimistic. On a "decentralized blockchain" how much are people going to invest, both of their time and "treasure," into something like this? Will they specifically invest the time to make well-informed decisions? Will they even know about it, in the first place?
Time will tell! I hope the efforts of those involved to even make this attempt will be well supported.
All those who are interested have until Apr. 4th to get registered. I do not currently know what has been proposed, for registering beyond that, e.g. if you weren't even a participant on the Steem blockchain at this time ...
👎 One Thumb Down 👎
Not an expert, but as far as I can tell, @hendrikdegrote has completed his powerdown that I wrote about last month. So far, he has yet to move the resulting 1.3M STEEM out of his account.
Perhaps long-term it will come to light there is a positive aspect of this activity for our Steem blockchain. Perhaps ... But, for now, the upvotes of one of the biggest supporters of the awesome Curie curation team have considerably less impact than they once did.
There are other accounts I have made a note of which are powering down. Significant accounts. Well-known accounts. Why? I don't know, but you will be hard pressed to find anything written anywhere on the Steem blockchain with a favorable view of powering down ...
👎 👎 Two Thumbs Down 👎 👎
A neutral party to the pathetic flag wars written about previously, I can now be counted among the "silent casualties." I have been "cut off" from support of one of the "enemy combatants," due to my support of another "neutral party," about a completely different topic. Within much too close a time frame (think bots programmed to search for and then respond ...) to be a coincidence ...
I won't bore you with the details. The loss of votes is not a big deal to me. The principle absolutely is. Activity of this kind has nothing to do with curating "quality content," but instead everything to do with intimidation. Pathetic. And, as stated before, the Steem blockchain has no effective remedy ...
It is incomprehensible to me that a major investor in our Steem blockchain, being anywhere near this type of activity, let alone directly impacted by it, would remain an investor. Full stop. Period.
This crap weighs heavily on my mind, as I am routinely asking myself, "what the heck" am I doing "in here?" At least for now, the positive impact of efforts like those reported on in my 👍👍 section keep me going.
For now ...
Closing
So, is the "glass half full?" Or "half empty?" As with many things in life, it depends on one's perspective and upon what one places the most value. Overall then a somewhat quiet month for @roleerob on the Steem blockchain. With a lot for me to reflect on, when it comes to continuing to active participate on it. Given all the time I have invested up to now, it is not an easy decision to reach. More to come ...
Thank you for reading my monthly update. I trust you have found something of value in it.
Until "next time," all the best to you for a better tomorrow, as we all work together to build our Steem Community! 👍 😊
Respectfully,
Steemian @ roleerob
Posted using SteemPeak and “immutably enshrined in the blockchain” on Monday, 1 April 2019!
Interested to read more of my monthly updates on my Steem "journey"? Great!
- Update, Month 1: Engaged with a 4-Figure Stake in the Future
- Update, Month 2: Still Engaged with an Increased Stake and "Growing" ...
- Update, Month 3: Still (Somewhat) Engaged with an Increased Stake and "Recalibrating" ...
- Update, Month 5: Still Engaged with an Increased Stake and "Doubling Down" ... - Won @trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!
- Update, Month 6: "Fully" Engaged with Increased Stake and "Resolute" ... - Won @trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!
- Update, Month7: 🐬 Starting 2019 as a Dolphin! 🐬
- Update, Month 9: Safely Home and "Working" on the "Next Chapter"
