Welcome to the 27th edition of the Hive Community Spotlight! In this series, we shine a light on some of the most active and engaging members of the Hive community. Today, we are excited to feature another interesting user, Hive account@zekepickleman.
Hive account@zekepickleman is a digital marketer and business consultant who discovered crypto and blockchain in 2017. Initially drawn to the potential financial gains, he quickly became captivated by the community aspects of the platform, starting with Steem and transitioning to Hive. Known for his unique username inspired by a stage name from bands he played in, Hive account@zekepickleman balances professional expertise with a passion for photography, beer brewing, and storytelling. His journey on Hive reflects a commitment to content creation and community engagement
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got involved with the Hive community?
Hive account@zekepickleman: I am a digital marketer and business consultant who discovered crypto and blockchain in 2017. Honestly, a few friends decided to learn as much as we could about the technology and currency for the potential financial gain and one of those opportunities was Steem. We were just going to post once per day for a year and see what the results were, aiming to stack up 1000 of each token to see which ones would moon. From there, I couldn't help but be drawn in by the community and make many friends across the globe.
What inspired your username, Zeke Pickleman?
Hive account@zekepickleman: That name is just a stage name from some of the bands I played in over the years. It seemed like the perfect brand for a blog and pen name to maintain a little anonymity.
What was your initial experience like when you joined Hive, and how has it evolved over time?
Hive account@zekepickleman: It was Steem back in the day and I felt like a minnow swimming in an ocean of unlimited big fish. I crawled the trending page to see how the successful people were doing it, searched for the ones who engaged and commented actively, got to know so many cool people through their blogs, and never quit. Hive was a fork in the road for me and it seemed that most people I followed walked from Steem to new yet familiar lands called Hive. Back to the original plan, I left 1000 tokens there and packed it all up to join what seemed like a consolidated group of active, constructive, and engaged people I wanted to be a part of.
Are there any specific projects or initiatives on Hive that you are particularly proud of?
Hive account@zekepickleman: There are so many innovative and exciting projects on Hive that it is hard to pick a couple and I believe we are still just getting started. I am really proud of Hive account@khaleelkazi and all that Hive account@inleo has become. He was one of those guys on Steem that seemed determined to innovate and build, lead by example and was all in. Seeing the progress made from blogger and investor to blockchain champion building a platform that constantly gets better just makes you feel good for the community and future. Besides that, I have a soft spot for Hive account@actifit as a rewarding way to transact with the blockchain, get active, and promote a healthy active lifestyle with people from every corner of the globe. The #beersaturday community with our friend Hive account@detlev is among the most fun and persistent groups of people and I love the #gardenhive community of growers.
What type of content do you enjoy creating the most, and why?
Hive account@zekepickleman: I was never a blogger before Hive and just wanted to post daily, not knowing what I would post about. So, I just took pictures and told stories till I found themes or subjects I enjoyed and felt I could present well enough not to get downvoted. Being a branding guy professionally, I guess my content brands would be Beer and Brewing, Canadian Lifestyle, outdoors, gardening, and thoughtful conversation sharing insight and learning from others in comments. A little aggrandizement with adventures of a boring white guy doesn't hurt and it is a lot of fun. ;)
Are there any Hivers who have particularly influenced or inspired you?
How has being a part of the Hive community impacted your personal or professional life?
Hive account@zekepickleman: Hive has helped me directly with my writing and given a purpose to my love of photography. Proper grammar is a good base but practice with social copywriting was something I never thought would be a benefit that serves me very well in marketing. Besides that, learning from people all around the world makes me feel more worldly and connected even in years where travel and big vacations are not in the budget.
If you could give one piece of advice to new Hivers, what would it be?
Hive account@zekepickleman: The abundance available for everyone willing to put in the work is such a virtue of Hive. Having earned every fraction of my stake on Hive through content creation and curation (never buying/selling Hive on exchanges), I am a good example of how you don't have to invest any money and can build a wonderful network and a residual income no matter who you are. My advice all along has been Content + Networking + Time = Success on Hive. Pretty simple and you can get in as deep as you want and enjoy beyond that.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Hive community?
Hive account@zekepickleman: I guess just to appreciate how powerful Hive is with the original purpose of taking all the middlemen out from between us. This alone is a superpower we each can leverage to improve our lives together no matter who we are. It is a gift and a responsibility we have to cherish as stewards of this global community. Choose your leaders carefully and connect with them directly to help propel Hive to the level it will become to distribute wealth to all who find a home with us.
Anyone else you suggest would be good for this interview?
Supporting and encouraging gardening enthusiasts to share their experiences and knowledge.
Thank you, Hive account@zekepickleman, for sharing your insights and experiences with the Hive community. It's an honor to have you in the spotlight and we've benefited a lot from your story and advice. We look forward to seeing more of your contributions and wish you continued success.
