Continuing to blog on all the fascinating aspects of my experience on our Steem blockchain, here is my fifteenth 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.
A bit late this month, due to the time set aside on the first being interrupted by the significant downtime associated with HF 21/22 glitches. Today was my first real opportunity since then to get this finished.
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 significantly over last month. Not good, but the market overall was also down, right?
For the fourth month in a row, I have been posting this "big picture" view of how STEEM is doing vs. the overall crypto market. We continue to see the first month's result was not an aberration. STEEM lags the market. Full stop. Period.
For the first time, this month I have elected to "spell out" exactly what the impact of this market reality is on this particular investor:
So ... In my decision to invest in the Steem blockchain in August 2017, I have lost almost $3,300 USD two years later.
Can the "blow" be softened by factoring in the ~ 1,750 SP earned via authoring and curating? Not in my book! I don't even want to know how many hours I have invested into this effort over these past two years, but the uhhh ... "pay" ... is lousy.
Only the value of interacting with others all over the world, which I do not profess to be wise enough to calculate, provides some consolation ...
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What? Still fishing roleerob?! Where's your commitment to the cause?
Not to worry, dear reader, I am still "committed to the cause." At least somewhat. But life "on the outside" has taken a higher priority now for some time. That will not change for the month of September. While the "dust settles" from the recent HF 21/22 changes, seems like as good a time as any to be "dialed back" ...
Beyond that? We'll see how it goes!
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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'
The only real items of importance to me, in a quiet month, has been the steady progress made on my upvoting of others efforts. And I am still commenting / replying. I recently crossed over the 13,000 upvotes and 2,500 comments line!
@steemitboard's website, if there is any question.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 spite of my limited time on our Steem blockchain recently, I am still "around" literally almost every day. I have three of my fellow Steemians who I would like to recognize for this past month:
@nextgen622: In my efforts to "branch out" a bit and find new Steemians to support, I found this gentleman from Australia. Soon after meeting him, he responded to my request for more info by supplying me a link to his memoirs - "Living in Between Two Worlds."
@rawutah: While I have featured this gentleman from southern Utah before, I wanted to feature him again, given the influence he is having on me, in this chapter of my life. 
@brittandjosie: This energetic and passionate lady from the Netherlands is a real dynamo in support of all that is happening on our Steem blockchain. Sometime ago, she elected to place me on a special map she had created of acquaintances she had made with others from all over the world. I was very honored. A little slow here, but I want to acknowledge who she is and what she did.
@exyle and team), she also cohosts a great account focused on finding and encouraging our Steem blockchain's newcomers - 
@heyhaveyamet!
@blockbrothers for one of our all important Steem Witnesses and check out the @heyhaveyamet account!In the marvel and wonder of how diverse we are as people, each of these fellow Steemians is unique in their own special way. If they are not already familiar to you, I would encourage you to "get to know" each of them. And then seriously consider following them and supporting their work.
So, overall a quiet month for
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 Thursday, 5 September 2019!
@trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!@trufflepig's #1 "Truffle of the Day" award!graphic designed by 
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