Your Upvotes Do Not Define Your Worth | My Thoughts as a Minnow

in #untalented7 years ago

Looking at the increasing number of steemit users in the community, I can't help but notice the increasing number of minnows. You can see a wide number of users asking for upvotes in the community, minnows earning as low as $0.001 or even none at all. As you may have seen, the number of Steemit users are increasing exponentially. With this comes again the cycle of emotional turmoil that each minnow has to get through in steemit.


Status Quo for Minnows

Here are some of the valid experiences, feelings and thoughts that most of us here (especially Minnows/Newbies) in Steemit usually feel:


Low Payouts

To all the minnows reading this. I know how you feel. The community is incentivized. You see people in the trending section earning $800 or more. Your friends have higher payouts than you do. And you begin to ask yourself, "Why am I not earning as much as they do? Did I do something wrong?". This can leave a big hole on your ego. You start and question your capabilites and your worth. You become overly critical with your actions. Or worse, you pack up your bags and leave Steemit.

Not being upvoted when asked for it

"Please upvote my post". I cannot recall the number of times I have used this phrase on the groupchats. When I ask for an upvote from others, there are only two possible reactions: either they do it and they do not. And looking back at the experiences I had, most of the time, a simple plea for their precious click cannot be earn by mere request. As a minnow, this is a hard experience. We become angry at the thought of not receiving rewards from those we have generously upvoted on, and we demand the same from them. We think how unfair it is to give to others when we don't get what we want in turn.

Not getting enough attention

Most of the time, we post our blogs and expect to get rewards as high as the sky; only to be dismayed by the lack of attention it gets. Much more, it just kills our pride to see not a single comment or reaction from people in the community. "Do I even exist here?" You are left frustrated, drained out and wanting to shut the door from any interaction. You may even feel the need to stay anonymous, delete your account and just move on with your life in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, or any socially media platfrom where your posts are given the attention you so long for.


What can we do about it

Now, the problems I mentioned are very real. They are at most, the cornerstone of what it is to be a minnow. As the name implies, we rely on the whales (curators, witnesses and fellow authors) to give us a bite of those SBD's. It is important to note that each one of us will go through the same experience here in Steemit. To those who feel this way, High Five!. You are surely not alone. Though it may seem like the end of the world for your success in Steemit, much like in real life, takes time and effort to achieve. In my month here in the community, here are my insights on how to ease yourself from the burden of being a lowly minnow:


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Focusing on your content

"Join the Community that pays you to post quality content". Before we signed up to Steemit, we were greeted with that website banner. Signing up, we agreed to its terms and use. This alone is the sole focus of Steemit: "Quality Content"!

Your content makes you valuable. If you look at the financially successful people in Steemit, you will begin to notice a similiarity: "You see consistent and quality posts that have an impact on the community". This is what the people on this platform want. They want to see you develop your personal brand! The arduous task is just part of the process. Focusing on being consistent with your blog, ensuring that they are of great content gives you an upper hand over other users.

And while this does not guarantee you a spot in the trending section, at least you know you did your best. A lot of curation accounts and community curators need these people right now. You could be one of them if you take some tim to improve on your posts. Hold on there, you will get there in time.

Supporting each other

This is extremely vital. I am and advocate of being vocal with your thoughts. In psychology, when you do not process on your thoughts, these become repressed emotions. This means that these thoughts will haunt you in the near future. Now when you see a great post, roll that cursor over and hit that upvote button! Secondary to making quality content, you are also given the job to curate on quality posts. Resteem. Leave a thoughtful remark. Give constructive criticism of their work. In this way, they can improve on their work. How wonderful would it be to see someone succeed from your advice.

Remember: Emphasis again on the word quality. While upvote for upvote sounds like a stable way to earn, this should not be tolerated. It's good to receive upvotes, but the question is, "Are you willing to give your limited number of upvotes for a person who you do not see fit for it?"

We can look at this in the context of mendicancy - when we give to the street children. No matter how many times we do it, our coins will never alleviate their suffering forever. This brings us the the idea of helping each other. Not through upvote for upvote but by ensuring that he understands how the platform works, commits to improving his content, and building relations in the community so he can maximize on the profits here.

Understand how the platform works

It pays to realize that the community is not like the average social media site. Yes, you can post photos of yourself, or how your day went. But unless you have whale followers, you need to have a deeper understanding of the community.
Terry, @surpassinggoogle always says "Everyone has something to offer". And I want to build on that idea.

If we want to stay in Steemit, maybe it is about time that we start to think about our followers. Maybe we need to see them as our audience and we need to give them a good show.

A lot of accounts always have something they can give back. Some make good content, others give rewards through contests. Point is: You follow them because of what they have to offer. Maybe if we try to put ourselves in that perspective, it will make a big difference. When you commit to the platform, you commit to your followers and you commit to making quality content for them.

Expect less

This may be the greatest lesson for today haha. I hope we can cultivate a culture in Steemit where we learn to have fun in what we do. I'm starting to cut back on looking at my daily rewards. It is just toxic and furthers my anxieties. I will work towards my goal without the heightened expectation for rewards. Just sit back and make good content, socialize with others and hope for the best lol. (Atleast for now)


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Steemit is a place for quality content. I just know that with hard work, minnows with big potential in the platform will make it. I have high hopes for the curators of this platform

Minnows are Friends. Let us Feed Each Other

Let us continue to support fellow minnows reach their dreams. Let us help each other out to maximize from the platform and grow together

Do consider supporting me if you find potential in my blog. Comment. Resteem

You do not have to upvote my post if you do not see it fit. I will work to be worthy of your daily upvotes. (Although you can haha please do) However, I still need your help. Do leave your comments below on how I should improve on my work. I would very much appreciate that.


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Thanks so much for this!

Thank you for this post @josejirafa! Though I do not know you, but upon reading your post... you really sound concern for us newbies. Thank you for taking time to remind us that what we are feeling right now is just normal and that we are not alone. Thank you! 💕

I know how it feels. It's not really the best feeling. I got on a rough start here in the platform and I would not want enyone to make the same mistakes. Still a newbie like you. Let us help each other maximize our time in the platform

Why does this make me emotional? I'm afraid Steemit will be hard for those who are emotionally unstable. Hahaha jk.

Hahaha hi miss glenn @glennamayjumaoas. Im a bit emotional myself as well. Thats the reason why I made this post coz I feel like I havent been rewarded that much. Thats life in steemit.

May the odds be in our favor.

I felt shy upvoting your comment cause there's no value in it. Hahahahahaha

Not getting enough attention and not being voted

This is what I usually feel. Been here in steemit for 8 days now and still didnt had the chance to be fully supported. I will understand it since I am just a newcomer, I love write and I will just continue to steem. Maybe its not my time yet but I hope it wont take long hehehe

#MoabotRaAngTimeSiguro hehehe

That's okay. We feel the same way too. It helps to know that you are not alone in this journey. We have each other to count on. I will follow you. When the time comes that i have enoigh SP and i subjectively deem your posts as quality content, I'll surely drop by.

Thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts. They really matter to me. Taga Cebu rmn sd diay ka haha. Hope to see you in person too. So we can exchange ideas

Worth reading and the resteem. You are indeed a good writer and this article somehow made me feel better.

"Not getting enough attention
Most of the time, we post our blogs and expect to get rewards as high as the sky; only to be dismayed by the lack of attention it gets. Much more, it just kills our pride to see not a single comment or reaction from people in the community. "

This statement speaks for most of us here but the question is, is your post worth the upvote? This is what most of us have to understand that steemit is not just about merely posting what you want to post, it is more about hardwork in presenting your article, the content and effort in socializing with others.

I learned a lot from this post. Thank you for opening my eyes about what to expect and what not.

Upvoted and resteemed.

I learned the system the hard way as well. There were times where I posted random photos and expected upvotes. It's great that we now have the feel of what it is like to be committed in steemit.

The platform is complicated but it makes it much easier if we help each other out. Speaking of, I really appreciate you voicing out your opinion. Thanks for reaching out @ayingroxie

Hahaha! Too bad that we have to learn it the hard way but it's worth it for sure. You are a great blogger and success is not imposible for you in this community. Keep posting and inspiring people.

Way to go!

Dear @josejirafa, i feel for you. I was on the same boat. Sometimes i feel upset, when you support people each time and they never do, because for them, you are just a minnow and they are more of high power.
They only vote people who they support regardless of content. Yesterday i was always a bit upset when i try to leave a good comment and they don't even reply, instead they reply to the people who have more power. Haha. But you know, i figure out that steemit us for connecting to all minnows, dolphin or whales. Because steemit accepts anything you can offer.

Let's just do good post and enjoy steeming. I have upvoted and resteem it.
Ps. Be happy. Xx

Haha yes, I believe we all have been on the same page. It hurts, it degrades us but these are just obstacles and votes do not define us minnows haha.

I love your spirit! Poaitivity is contagious. D< keep it up and I hope I have helped you in some way. Thanks so much for your thoughts. It helps me to know that my post was read by the community. See you around @sherylneil

Everyone of us have experienced those stages as minnows, but as long as we continue to persevere and think steemit as a platfrom with positive social impact, then we will eventually get past the stage of thinking that we're underrated (based on the upvotes that we are getting).

This is a great post to encourage our fellow minnows @josejirafa :D I actually consider you as an undiscovered gem in this platform. You have a great potential Jose, Keep it up! :D

Huhu thank you so much for considering my value in the platform. I really hope to wmpower others to persevere in the community. Lisod ang pinas so we need all the help we can get.

It means a lot coming from you ate shiela @smaeunabs. Thanks for sharing yoir thoughts! And I hope to see you around

Don't mention it @josejirafa :D The passion and dedication that you are pouring here on Steemit will eventually spring out greater heights in your Steemit career :D

Keep on Steeming Jose! See you around :D

You sloved a lots of problems for freshers today
Nice one!

Very much relatable, thanks for the motivation