Continuing to blog on all the fascinating aspects of my experience on our Steem blockchain, here is my thirteenth 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' 
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?" ... 😉
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. Down over last month. Not good, but the market overall was also down, right?
I covered this finding in more detail in my "Annual Highlights" post. I won't bore you dear reader with "replaying" it again here.
For this post, we simply see last month's result was not an aberration. STEEM lags the market. Full stop. Period. I will be adding this "market check" to my future monthly updates, to see if this ever improves ...
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Yes, a slow start, but ... I am not planning to go anywhere! I just have other, more pressing priorities in my life at the moment. Like two weeks away from home, visiting our "eastern" (those in the eastern U.S.) children. My focus during that time was on my family.
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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 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'
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From my very early days on my "journey" on the Steem blockchain, I have taken upvoting very seriously. And more than just upvoting quality content posts.
I also make a concerted effort to upvote those who comment well. I think it is unfortunate how little this second aspect of upvoting gets on our Steem blockchain. I could write a lot more about this, but I'll leave it for now and hope the proposed changes in HF21 have a significant impact on improving this part of my fellow Steemians experience "in here" ...
This award may mean little to nothing to others, but I was very pleased to get this award and the milestone it represents.
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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!
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, 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:
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 this month:
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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."
In my "Onward and Upward" with PALNet! post, I gave some kudos to three moderators on PALNet's Discord server - 
To learn more about PALNet's recent initiatives, like the launch of PALCoin, I had stopped in to ask questions on what I needed to know and was helped literally within seconds. It doesn't get any better than that!
Here is what I wrote about this great "customer service:"
"And I know they didn't just suddenly 'show up' after finding out 'this is where the action is' on the Steem blockchain. No! They have been faithfully and consistently helping people since I started out 'in here' in May 2018."
"Due to this investment of their time and effort, it is my understanding these key people (I do not know their account names ...) are getting a large share of the initial PALCoin distribution. Not a problem for me whatsoever, they are well deserving of it!"
In some cases, we may have a legitimate case to make about the old "rich get richer" narrative familiar to most of us. But in this case, I want to give a small token of appreciation these Steemians for their tireless efforts on behalf of us all. They are a great credit to our Steem blockchain!
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In this slow month for me on the Steem blockchain, I decided not to record anything in the other sections normally found in my Monthly Update. Check back next month. They will likely be back!
So, overall a very quiet month for
Not to worry, as there is an "ebb and flow" that I have become comfortable with on my journey. I am hopeful those of my readers who find my efforts of some value "hang in there" with me. So, thank you for reading my monthly update. I trust you have found something of value in it and hopefully even some encouragement.
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! 👍 😊
Respectfully,
Steemian
Posted using SteemPeak and “immutably enshrined in the blockchain” on Friday, 5 July 2019!
@trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!@trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!graphic designed by 
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