Continuing to blog on all the fascinating aspects of my experience on our Steem blockchain, here is my twelfth monthly one year 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' 
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.
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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?" ... ๐
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. Up modestly over last month. Pretty good, right?
For this "Annual Highlights Edition" of my monthly updates, I took the extra time, to put together the simple metrics shown above. What do we see? From the absolute bottom of the recent "crypto winter" lows, STEEM has risen about half as much as the market overall.
Just a coincidence? Nothing to be concerned with? It is relatively easy, dear reader, to find post after post which encourage all of us "in here" to remain faithful to STEEM, power up at every opportunity, etc. The "heavier handed" ones will even make some pretty unpleasant statements about anyone who might speak "ill" of STEEM ...
My response? What it has been for some time. I have made it sufficiently clear that I have stopped any further (with a few minor exceptions recently, to fund SBI prizes ...) investments into STEEM, although capable of much more. The "numbers don't lie" and I refuse to allow some "emotional investment" to overrule sound judgment. That can be and often is the path to disaster ...
Why I am still around? Please read on, for the "qualified" answer ...
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A steady work-in-progress, is attempting to maintain the following "rhythm" in the investment of my time:
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.
In this section of my routine monthly update posts, 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'
For this "annual edition," I have highlighted what stands out to me for Year One of my "journey" on the Steem blockchain ...
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Within the last 6 weeks, I achieved two significant "milestones" on my Steem "journey" - 1,000 SP earned and 100 posts!
Reached in April, I was quite pleased with this. I am not likely to invest any more of my hard-earned income into the Steem blockchain, until I see some significant improvements in key aspects of it, but I will still remain relatively active (for me anyway ...).
While I am at it, I like the idea of measuring progress with 1,000 SP earned "mileposts" along the way ...
Reached in May, I was also very pleased with this. For many Steemians, I'm sure this might be a "ho hum" moment, as they churn out posts quantitatively at a far greater clip. But ... As shown in the "Executive Summary" section of my One Year on the Steem Blockchain! post, my posts aren't ... uhhh ... "normal" ... As this could've been 805 posts in one year ...
For me and my "journey," I am quite content with this.
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Beginning with my Reflections: My "Road to Recovery" Trip post through to my Recap of "@roleerob's excellent adventure!" In winter ... post, I wrote 28 posts in a little over 5 weeks, including my new record of posting 15 days in a row (I started out planning to write ~ 1 post per week ...)!
Blessed with this wonderful opportunity to both relive and create lifetime memories, I made the most of it. These posts are an important part of both capturing and preserving these memories. Others seemed to enjoy them as well, as the awards I collected represent the most recognition and support for anything I have written for the Steem blockchain to date.
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Until further notice, although now a bit dated, 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:
โYou are reading what I would like to have been quickly introduced to, when I was where you are right now.โ
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:
Source: Steem Artwork contributed by talented Steemian @dandesign86!
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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 ...
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 for this month year:
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Working with โsystems,โ as well as managing the work of others, for much of my career, I have always emphasized โpeopleโ over โprocessโ believing that is the right priority. From a lot of experience, I know the best systems are greatly diminished, if not โmannedโ 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 โmeetโ in our Community. Specifically, those who have had the greatest impact on my "journey."
List of "Annual Highlights" Steemians (in alphabetical order):
@blessed-girl - I first "met" this Steemian on my Week 23 post for the 
@pifc community - my first post for them. I am very appreciative of the opportunity, as she and her family are Venezuelan. She has a remarkable testimony and I love the manner in which she and her family express themselves. Our thoughts
and prayers are hopefully with the people of this oppressed country.
@cicisaja - Having first met this remarkable Indonesian lady through the @pifc community, we've actively engaged ever since. I once told her, if she could ever figure out how to "bottle" her inexhaustible supply of energy and enthusiasm, she'd be independently wealthy. And, I'd happily buy a very large first order ... ๐
@crypto.piotr - This native Polish gentleman spent a number of years in Malaysia and recently returned home, with his native Malaysian bride (along with their little puppy dog, Happy ... ๐). He is a very dedicated Steemian always working to promote content creators and community effort. I have always enjoyed my interaction with him.
@delishtreats - A native of Slovakia now living in Switzerland, I first met this Steemian through her comments on one of my first "travelogue" posts - Lake Quinalt Lodge in Washington. As a "seasoned veteran" of the Steem blockchain, in general, and the traveling communities, in particular, she was very helpful to getting me introduced to the right channels.
@insight-out - A native of Bulgaria, I first "met" this Steemian through my Week 25 post. It was her post that helped "plant some seeds" that ultimately "germinated" into my "Road to Recovery" trip. She is a great content creator, primarily for the #steemstem channel.@delishtreats, she is also an exceptional engager and I always look forward to reading whatever it is she has chosen to write.
@janton - I don't remember when I first "met" this Steemian, but my countryman from Texas and I share many similar views. I have jokingly said I think he is really a bot, given "the Champ" routinely won 
@abh12345's weekly CEL awards for engagement.
@lynncoyle1 - A native Canadian living in Mexico, I first "met" her upon learning one of my posts had been featured by the @pifc community. Beloved and well-known by many, she was one of the first Steemians with whom I had regular exchanges. At a critical time, unbeknownst to her, they played a pivotal role in keeping me "in the game."
@macoolette - A native of the Philippines, I first "met" this exuberant Steemian through the @pifc community.
While they each obviously have their own special personalities, I have always thought of her along with @cicisaja, as I became acquainted with them both at about the same time. And they are both "on the other side of the world," from where I am.
@newageinv - I have referred to this native of Puerto Rico (I think ...) living in Florida as a "rock in the Steemian sea," given his remarkably steady engagement and content creation. I first "met" this Steemian through a resteem of one of my posts, by the great Steemian 
@steemchiller - the creator of SteemWorld (see below).
@rawutah - Comparatively new to me, relative to the rest on this list, this Steemian has had a significant effect on our (my beloved and I) thoughts about what we might do in the "next chapter" of our lives. Tied to the permaculture movement in general and the "Back to Eden" lifestyle in particular. Stay tuned for a potential future post about details ...
@tarazkp - While my interactions with this Aussie in Finland have been comparatively limited, I consider him to be an exemplary Steemian. I have particularly enjoyed and appreciated the way he writes about the "cold, hard facts" of what it takes on the Steem blockchain. To make progress. To be successful. And his prolific creation of high-quality content, day in and day out, sets him apart in a class of his own, from any Steemian I've "met" during my first year.Many other Steemians, with whom I have had some great interactions, did not make this "annual highlights" list. I really thought long and hard about putting it together at all, out of concern about the potential for ... uhhh ..."issues" ... But, in the end it simply seemed the right thing to do. To honor those who are most responsible for my still being "in here."
So ... My original "Magnificent Seven" plan (or "Seven Samurai", if you prefer ...) became instead the Magnificent Eleven! (ohhh, that
List of "Annual Highlights" Steem Community Leaders (in alphabetical order):
@abh12345 - A Brit on Malta, he is a Steem champion for "all things" curation and engagement. He does an excellent job of "leading by example." His efforts, along with those of 
@paulag, have played an important role in retention for those Steemians whose "journey" crossed paths with theirs. Like mine ...@paulag - In Ireland, this great "numbers lady," who works together with @abh12345 on their 
@steemcommunity initiatives, does an excellent job in her own way of representing the Steem blockchain. I've always appreciated her candid, "straight up" style of communicating.@steemchiller - A humble German, yes, okay, while not technically a "community" leader, in the sense of these others, his influence on all of the rest of his fellow Steemians, with his tireless work on SteemWorld, is profound! Anyone on the Steem blockchain not using his incomparable app is making a huge mistake.
@thedarkhorse - An American in the Midwest and founder of the 
@pfic community, he is another great "lead by example" Steemian. To date, all things considered, his community has had the single greatest impact on my "journey" on the Steem blockchain.Without thriving communities all across the Steem blockchain, the future for it would be very bleak. These four community leaders exemplify, for me, what that looks like "up close and personal." Yes, I know there are lots of other communities. And, yes, I had the same concerns mentioned above about only referencing these four. But again, as written above, it was simply the right thing to do. To honor those who are most responsible for my still being "in here."
For your future reference, dear reader, if you are not already familiar with them, here are the communities (and app ...) these four Steemians started and faithfully and consistently continue to lead (or program ...), week in and week out.
Please check them out (clicking on the images, as well as the links, will take you there)!
| Great Steem Communities | Engaging, Curating, and Powering Up! |
|---|---|
Wrapping up this section, I have done my best to provide some encouragement to some of my fellow Steemians, who collectively are playing an essential role in keeping the Steem blockchain alive. All while illustrating a bit of the remarkably rich diversity of human interaction we can all experience on the Steem blockchain. This is far and away the #1 reason I am still "in here."
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Almost on "cue" to go with my annual highlights edition, the "Leaving Survive Mode and Beta" post from 
The "glass half full" view of these posts is the very encouraging overview it gives about progress made in the last 6 months. I particularly liked the brief glimpse we all got into 4 key people - 
The "EIP" (Economic Incentive Proposal) discussion has brought "out into the light" what has been troubling to me for a long time. And, for that at least, I appreciate it. I could write another whole series of posts about this subject alone, but this is not the intent of this post. For now, we'll move on ...
So,
Source: Steem Artwork contributed by talented Steemian @dandesign86!
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Like most posts on the Steem blockchain, particularly true of those written by SteemIt, the "Leaving Survive Mode and Beta" post generated replies / comments. A lot of them.
So ... What would a "casual observer" conclude from scrolling down through those found on this post? Or a growing number of other posts? "All is well in Paradise?" Yeah, right ...
It is very instructive and important to understand the link of this problem to the "EIP" discussion. I was thankful one morning, with an unusual amount of time to follow a "multiple links trail" of various resteems, to find this "EIP FAQ" post of 
As a self-professed "player," (my word, not his ...), these statements stood out to me:
โI can spend $6000 a month fighting abuse with the full knowledge that at least 75% of that money is just flowing into the pockets of others doing the exact same thing.โ
โIt's just too expensive and too futile to do anything 'good' in a broken economy. Knowing this, most of us capitulate and choose to just maximize our own stake to mitigate the negative price effects of a failing platform and in the process we make it worse. This is why we desperately need the EIP. I'll likely be switching sides once that's introduced.โ
[emphasis added mine}
You may wish, dear reader, to read his whole post. And read through the words above again. It answers my oft asked question of myself why no one of sufficient ... uhhh ... "strength" does anything about the problems cited above? Now I know ...
Is "EIP" the answer? There is certainly a lot of heated debate about it. Weโll find out together what the โTop 20โ decide is the best course, going forward, as God knows there is a considerable problem which needs an effective solution to address it. The sooner the better โฆ
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Summing up my view of what I have written about in detail in the ๐ section just above, my single biggest frustration with the Steem blockchain is the complete lack of any sort of means of effective redress to those of our fellow Steemians seriously damaged by these actions.
The rest of us are left with simply being thankful it wasn't us "in the crosshairs" ... (I've suffered a few "glancing blows," but ... It certainly could've been worse ...)
But ... Did we truly "escape" from suffering any damages? No is my strong response, as we have all paid a price in the overall value of our Steem blockchain holdings. Compounded by an "economic incentive" currently built into the Steem blockchain, which not only fails in addressing it, but rather promotes "joining in!?"
Again, I'll say the same thing. I could write a whole series of posts about this topic, but that is not my intent here ...
I'll finish with a challenge to those of you who may disagree with my perspective here to do one thing. Imagine a "whale-sized" prospective investor finding this post. It is not inconceivable to me, as in performing the obligatory due diligence, it stands to reason one would look through the posts of SteemIt, which, up until now at least, is the single biggest "influencer" of where we are at this stage of life on the Steem blockchain.
What conclusions would they draw about the Steem blockchain? First, the positive from reading the post itself? Being prudent and "drilling down" into the details of some of these accounts ... "Crying wolf?" Or finding that some very serious loss had been suffered by innocents? "Collateral damage?" It is inconceivable to me this outcome is justifiable by anyone. At least anyone to whom I am going to give the time of day about their opinions ...
You are reading the post of one such individual investor. I won't say more than that ... Overall, suffice it to say I did not stumble onto some of this garbage until later on in my Steem "journey." When I did, along with the cumulative effect of other issues, it was enough to end any further investing. I'm still here (see above ...) solely due to the fascination I have with and appreciation for interactions with good people from all over the world ...
Until further notice, my increase in "value" is now accruing based solely on whatever comes from my "earnings" ...
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Crafted on top of Background photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com
So ... With that, Year One is "in the bank" ... "Onward and upward" into Year Two!
It is remarkable for
Thank you for reading my annual highlights post, dear reader. Iโd love to hear any feedback you may be inspired to provide.
Until "next time," all the best to you for a better tomorrow, as we all work together to build up our Steem Communities and increase the value of the Steem blockchain! ๐ ๐
Respectfully,
Steemian
Posted using SteemPeak and โimmutably enshrined in the blockchainโ on Saturday, 1 June 2019!
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P.S. Whoa, 4,405 words ... ๐ค Well, I am honestly "working on" writing shorter posts! Failed again ... ๐ Maybe by the end of Year Two, I'll get it down. "Practice makes perfect" ... ๐
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