Welcome to another edition of the Hive Community Spotlight!
In this edition, I am thrilled to feature @raymondspeaks, a passionate Hiver who has dedicated years to building and nurturing vibrant communities on Hive. Raymond is not just a content creator but a leader and mentor who inspires others through his actions and ideas.

@raymondspeaks is a visionary leader on Hive, known for his deep insights and passion for community building. With a strong belief in personal responsibility and authenticity, he has dedicated himself to fostering spaces where members feel valued and empowered to express themselves.
Beyond his leadership roles, Raymond is a creative thinker who loves turning ideas into actionable projects, focusing on making a positive impact on both Hive and its users. His commitment to fostering engagement and collaboration is evident in everything he does, making him a respected and inspiring figure within the Hive ecosystem.

Let’s dive into the interview section and uncover the insights waiting for you!

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@madilyn02: : Hi Raymond, welcome to my show. How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

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@raymondspeaks: Hi there. Nice to meet you! I don't think we've ever met but we seem to swing in similar circles. I would describe myself as a fighter. A passionate fighter. In all honesty with the cards I've been dealt in life I should have went down in a pile of smoke and flames and I've always came back stronger. I think the one thing I've got going for me is intelligence. I think that separates those who talk ideas and those who put them into practice. Yeah, I'm quite proud of how far I've came.

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@madilyn02: What inspired the username “raymondspeaks”? Is there a story behind it?

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@raymondspeaks: Yes. Previously I wrote on Mental Health magazines. I was a big writer before I came to hive; I'd written on the Huffington Post and had my own column in a men's magazine. My big issue was always that you have to talk things out. I gave up all of that to come full time hive because my profession began to turn insane and invent all sorts of pseudo-science rubbish that interefered with my mission - so I came to the place where the woke mob really can't touch. Can't get more truthful than hardcore markets.

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@madilyn02: How did you first hear about Hive, and what motivated you to join the platform?

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@raymondspeaks: I first heard about Hive back in 2016 on a slack I was in - funnily enough the name was BRO coin (Breakout coin) but that's another story. Anyway, someone came in shouting that Steem was a scam and it'll fail -- and well, curiosity got the better of me and I found this place and wow, it was made for me.

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@madilyn02: What advice would you give to newbies joining Hive?

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@raymondspeaks: Don't expect. You may be an excellent writer but you know no-one and probably no-one here has heard of you. It doesn't matter if someone else is getting rewarded $100's and they aren't as good as you. They've taken the time to build up that audience and gain the social credit to be in that position -- you can too. But you have to network and be useful. The key to everything in life is to be useful. There's a lot of people in this world (particularly in the west) that expect stuff for existing, and they will find out the hard way eventually how life works, be it now or later.

Be useful to people. That is the secret formula to success.

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@madilyn02: What is your favorite music?

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@raymondspeaks: Ohh cureveball question. I love these. Urn. I don't think I have a favourite. I have quite an eclectic taste. Eminem - Love the way you lie is high up there, but then so is The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. I'm also a HUGE trance lover, so I'm big into Deadmau5, BT, and Tiesto, etc. I guess there's music for whatever mood I'm in.

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@madilyn02: What projects are you involved in on or outside of Hive?

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@raymondspeaks: Okay so I own BRO, LGN and Cine. I've partnered with @silverstackerUK to bring you RUG, DBOND, DABS, and CLUB -- and currently we're building on $Gifu on Bsc. I have a lot on my plate lets say, ha! It's going well though, everyhing I've worked with has delivered in some fashion.

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@madilyn02: You often talk about growth and self-improvement. How has being on Hive contributed to your personal growth?

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@raymondspeaks: I've learned a TON since hive. For one thing I've learned about money, that's for sure. When I started I thought pennies came from heaven and we all get rich together, however now I acutely understand that for someone to win, another person has to lose. Getting rich together is a fantasy, and sometimes the people you thought had your back will sell you down the river if it messes with their breadline. Which not judgement here -- people have to eat,

Also whales. People seem to think whales just somehow managed to fall upon a crazy amount of money and were lucky dumb shits that we are all jealous of -- but the reverse is true. Every miliionaire I've talked to is incredibly smart, and perhaps way smarter than I am - so hats off to them. They are rich for a reason I guess lol.

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@madilyn02: What role do you think Hive can play in shaping the future of decentralized social media?

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@raymondspeaks: I have a lot of ideas about hive, but the key thing that makes hive stand out above the rest is how decentralized we are, but it's also one of our massive failures. There's no leadership, no-one to keep pointing the finger at a goal and keep churning us onto our next goalpost, but in time we'll make it, I think the centralized systems of old will eventually mess up too many times and eventually people will begin to see a future with places like hive.

It's inevitable..

..continued

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@madilyn02: If you could add one thing to hive, what would it be?

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@raymondspeaks: I wish I could give out money. I'd give out as much money as I could whenever I could. I'm really a humble man and I don't really want much. Abundance is the key to freeing us from this scarcity mindset. But I have nowhere near the resources to do that, and as the last bear market taught me... money doesn't grow on trees!

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@madilyn02: Finally, who would you recommend for the next Interview and why?

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@raymondspeaks: @themarkymark -- I really like him. He tells it like it is, pulls no punches and will give a completely 100% honest from his perspective discection of what he thinks about this atmosphere. 98% of people don't like the truth and we tend to shy away from the truth -- most people tell themselves comforting lies. But Marky, he's not shy. I love it lol

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@madilyn02: Raymond, thank you for your generosity in sharing your story, wisdom, and experiences. Your words are not only inspiring but also a call to action for everyone in the Hive community to step up, contribute meaningfully, and build lasting relationships. It’s an honor to feature you in this spotlight, and I deeply appreciate your contributions to making Hive a better place.

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Projects/community highlights

According to the interview, Raymond is involved in the following projects:

1. BRO, LGN, and Cine: These are projects he owns on Hive.

2. Partnership with @silverstackerUK: Together, they have developed:

   • RUG
   • DBOND
   • DABS
   • CLUB

3. $Gifu on Binance Smart Chain (BSC): Raymond is currently working on building this project.

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Conclusion

Raymond’s contributions to Hive and the broader blockchain ecosystem highlight his passion for creating innovative solutions and building vibrant communities. From his work with BRO, LGN, and Cine to his partnerships and ongoing projects like $Gifu on BSC, his efforts exemplify a commitment to growth and sustainability. This interview not only sheds light on his remarkable journey but also inspires us to explore new possibilities within the decentralized world. We look forward to seeing what Raymond accomplishes next as he continues to leave a lasting impact on Hive and beyond.

🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺 🌼🌺

Special thanks to:

@thekittygirl
@wesphilbin
@snook

For their valuable support. See you all in the next edition 🤗

View Previous interviews here 👇

https://peakd.com/@inthespotlight

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