It was frustrating.
I took hours to craft a well educating and informative post and I felt like woot, this should make at least $500 coupled with the fact that I added a killer headline.
After checking that everything was in place and triple checking to make sure I used the right tags, I hit the post button and waited for the upvotes to start rolling in.
The Whales won't be able to resist this.
I closed my Laptop and went to do my school project while fantasizing what i would do with my steem earnings.
After thirty minutes of dilly dallying, I found out that my mind was not in what I was doing, i abandoned my notes and went back to my laptop.
I opened my laptop and checked the post $0.03, i blinked to make sure that my eyes were not decieving me, i refreshed the post twice still no change.
I checked the hot posts sections and saw post of lesser quality with higher potential earnings, it was annoying.
On Steemicide
The same thing happened for the next four days then I knew something was wrong, I started asking questions, I met a fellow minnow ( name withheld) and he had a similar problem.
After we chatted for a while he told me that he was quitting Steemit.
" I can't take this anymore he lamented the system is not fair it was only those who could afford to buy steem and power up that had hope of breaking through.
I stared at those words on Steemit chat and I knew that I had to make him rethink his decision, he was a writer of great talent and I knew that he had what it took to make it on steemit.
I understood his pain, because i was in the same situation with him but I never considered quitting steemit, it never crossed my mind.
He qiut Steemit a week later and left his blog to die.
I stayed and today I am happy I persevered.
I knew that I had to take time and learn how blogging works or I might find myself quitting too, I read resorces online and asked question and then slowly it dawned on me.
I had to build my reputation first and then the rewards will come.
I tell you when you see a pending payout of $500 from a post you feel does not worth it, know that the $500 is not for the post, it is a interest on the goodwill the author have managed to build through consistency and provision of value.
You also have to create time for your blog or it will never grow, some people just comes into Steemit, drop their post and leave and come back the next expecting to have cool cash waiting for them.
Impossible
To understand why, Imagine your are going for a long trip and the airlines allows only one suitcase for each passenger, you stuff your suitcase full and you pratically spend minutes trying to zip it.
Then as you are walking out the door you noticed a short you forgot. You unzip the case cram in the shorts and try again, but now it's just too full.It won't close.
Well, that suitcase is your life, and the short is your blog.
So what do you do?
Quit Steemit. You may decide that your life is too full and that Steemit is not for you, and leave it to the 'cabals'.
Leave Something behind. Stop wasting the little free time you get on Netflix or watching Game Of Thrones and channel every free time you have towards a productive activity.
Learn To Pack Effectively. Get serious and draw up a Timetable for better time management.
Give The Short To A Friend To carry. In other words ask for help, there are a lot of nice people here on Steemit who can help you reseteem and even help answer questions people ask in your blog post, I have been a recipent of this favour in the past.
The bottom line?
Whatever you do, don't try to be a one Man Army, you will fail. Always be teachable and humble.
The solution isn't positive thinking or more self-discipline.
It is surrounding your self with people who can advice and also help shoulder your load. No one can do it alone. Not even you.
So pull out your list of goals and find out people who have achieved that and reach out to them for help. If you cannot think of anyone, then make finding one your biggest pirority.
And then go out there and totally crush It.
The Blockchain Blogger is a series I started to encourage New and existing Minnows, you can help Resteem this Post so that More Minnows Can See It.
Thanks For Reading
If You Won't Upvote this Post Resteem It
Well said @ogochukwu... and here's the additional thing: even after blogging here for six months and publishing over 270 original posts/articles... I still don't know for sure that any one of them will earn anything significant. So I've learned to simply "play the averages" and let go of my attachment to any specific post "doing well."
In any case, thanks for all you do to promote the community both in Nigeria, and to minnows in general!
I expect not to make anything on any articles anymore. I do believe it's rigged to really benefit the original adopters but I do like reading people's posts and writing so I persevere anyway even though I don't expect much of a final reward for my posts. Writing just to write sometimes is enough in itself.
Hello @haushinka
I don't believe that Steemit is rigged to favour the early adopters, the only reasons older steemians make more is simply because they made friends early on and they all grew to be dolphins and whales together.
I still know Older steemians who make little on their posts.
@ogochukwu
Today's going into my 4th day on steemit. I've still yet to entirely grasp how this all works. I wouldn't say that it is rigged either, more that quality posts seem to be improperly solicited out of new users capable of writing quality material. As if I'm supposed to put out semi-decent fluff until I build a following. I don't know about you but I only have a finite amount of potential great stories to write as of now
Hello @denmarkguy
Thanks for reading the post and your comment. Just like you I also play the averages, I don't set high bars for my post no matter how good they are.
@ogochukwu
Hi Ogo, nice post! I live in Enugu too. My first post.. https://steemit.com/african/@neya77/the-ice-man-from-sub-saharan-africa
Oh you dey Enugu as well? Nice. We suppose gather the Enugu-based Steemians for some kind of real-world collaboration, whether seminar or advertising or something.
Yes, have my tiny upvote for that. I've only been here a week and that is starting to dawn on me. My allegedly brilliant posts are not the point; the averages are the point. Thank you for this.
Thanks so much, @ogochukwu. This is so inspiring and it came just when I needed it cos I'm already feeling like I'm wasting my time here. This would add to the things that are keeping me going. I'm grateful
Hello @nevies
I assure you the only place you can waste time is on Facebook and Twitter, here on Steemit even if you don't earn anything, you get educated, the community is filled with people who are good at what they do.
Keep Calm and Steem On.
@ogochukwu
Excellent article. This exactly how I felt when I started out. Heck I still feel like that sometimes after writing an article but I do agree with the reputation part of what you said. That's the key.
Hello @haushinka
That is why I started the Blockchain Blogger Series, every Minnow has to know this. Reputation before Earnings.
@ogochukwu
Do like me and stay away from the hot posts and trending pages! That way I don't get depressed!
Hello @richq11
I only go there now to see if they are any high quality post, the earnings are now invisible to me :)
@ogochukwu
Most of it's either junk or a bunch of tech stuff I don't understand!
Yeah that is true most of the time
Hahahahahahaha
Incredible, this post will definitely motivate red fish like me.
I have one question for you. Do we have to write on different topics or concentrate on one which we love? I don't have any skills, not a developer or not a technical or a crypto guy and write about the stories of ordinary people. What do you suggest?
And please if you spare your precious time and have a look at my blog, may be you have a better suggestion for me.
Thanks.
Hello @ghulammujtaba
I went through your blog and I totally love what you are doing. Story telling is powerful and it connects people.
As for your questions, I believe you should keep sharing the stories with us, over time you will have more ideas of things to blog about.
I started my Steemit Journey writing Short stories and over time my blog evolved.
Following you for more stories.
@ogochukwu
Thank you @ogochukwu for answering my questions.
Already following you and I am sure that I will learn a lot from people like you.
Stay blessed!
You too Sir
Great post.
"I tell you when you see a pending payout of $500 from a post you feel does not worth it, know that the $500 is not for the post, it is a interest on the goodwill the author have managed to build through consistency and provision of value."
That's a great point to emphasize. Sometimes, payouts don't reflect immediate quality of the contribution, but other quality that has been provided elsewhere, or goodwill that has been earned.
It's always good to remember this before flagging because you think rewards are unjustified.
Hello @lexiconical
I myself don't believe in flagging to reduce payout, I have been a victim once and I tell you it was very annoying.
It is like demoting someone who works hard. Thanks for reading.
@ogochukwu
inspirational post @ogochukwu, STEEM ON!
Hello @liberty-minded.
Thanks for reading.
@ogochukwu
Fabulous outlook and observations. Thank you for wise tips and encouragement. It's too bad your friend left. Following you.
Hello @wandrnrose7
Thanks for reading and for the Follow.
@ogochukwu
you yunk.
Thanks @stellabelle
May The Yunk be with you :)
@ogochukwu
Great.
Thanks for reading
I'll admit, I've lost some steam myself over the last week. Most of what I write doesn't even get 10 views. Still not giving up, though.
Hello @lilrut
Even if you lose Steem, you may read other peoples post and share your insights, i made a comment on @stellabelle's post yesterday and It made more earnings than my last two posts combined.
@ogochukwu
I sure hope something will equalize us all in the end.....
I don't think that will ever happen
You might be right, or wrong!
Nice post. Thanks for reminding us all minnows not to lose hope!!
Thanks for reading @ladyrebecca
That was encouraging and inspiring, we will soldier on until we succeed. Upvoted and resteemed :)
Thank you Sir
Our life is like the shorts. I had to read that story a few times. It was creative and made a lot of sense. Thanks for not only telling a story, but drawing it out for us. Just like proper packing, it's a skill learned over time :)
Hello @kubbyelizabeth
It is a skill that is essential both here on Steemit and even in the outside world.
Perseverance.
@ogochukwu
I didn't realize how true this statement is until recently. Random fun fact, my roommate in college has that world tattooed on her arm. When you wrote it just now, reminded me of her.
Very well said, my friend! Perseverance is key, and while many aren't as fortunate to average hundreds of dollars per post, the steady growth would be attributed to the effort you spent to grow your reputation. These are tough times for many, so it's great to know that we are not alone in the fight. Let's keep pushing until we reach our goal of success!
Hello @jedau
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts, yes perseverance is the key, if someone told me i would still be a Minnow by now I would not have believed it, based on the quality of my content I would have been a whale by now.
Slow and Steady is the new approach.
@ogochukwu
@
thanks for this. I just joined steemit and got started. I was wondering the same about some posts that are upvoted to heaven, and I can't see why. I share my content, because I have lots to say. So I rather do it on steemit than on a personal blog. upvoted and followed xx @catieleta
Hello @catieleta
I went through your blog and saw your posts and I can assure you that you are on the right path, you can still share your content on your personal blog, but make sure you share it here on Steemit so you would not be flagged for plagiarism.
Followed You.
@ogochukwu
Hope to learn and also be perfect on this
Yes you can, it takes a learning process
As long as your not being flagged, working to get recognition and visibility is part of how things work. Way to go and stick it through. The other guy wishes eh had ;) He can always start again.
Hello @krnel
Thanks for reading and sharing your insights. I appreciate
@ogochukwu
Hey @ogochukwu , would love to offer to come onto my podcast sometime.
It is all about entrepreneurs; what you are doing, believe in and what difference you are making in the world.
Here is the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5CpCNPna6p95oJfKPew0N3ZT0k-khdgg
It is audio only over skype. Does this sound of interest to you?
Hello @nantchev
I would like to be feautured on your podcast. Drop me a message on Steemit chat, lets talk.
@ogochukwu
Great articule @ogochukwu.