The only thing that is worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. - Helen Keller

I've never built up a company by myself so far, but have been working in several management positions over the past years.

The probably most important rule I've ever learned in that context is that you can't ever succeed if you don't know where you're going.

It's the vision that pulls you, not the other way around.

If you looked at the most successful businesses in the world, then you'd quickly recognize that they made their way to the top since they had an idea nobody else had.

And then they kept working straight towards that one idea.

Just one.

The best ideas are not necessarily the most venturesome ones.

Killer ideas are challenging but still realistic.

They don't need to be crazy but they will always make you want to jump out of the bed in the morning.

Now the most decisive step is that you clearly define that vision before everything else.

What Steem requires now is that one vision.

Here's an idea of how to get there.

Top down.

After having laid off 70% of their staff, Steemit Inc is in a situation where they need to rebuild their business.

One of the great benefits of setbacks is that they enable you to re-start and then even excel yourself.

For a reason Chinese people translate crisis as danger but also opportunity.

First and most important task: embrace the chance and keep cool.

Enforced pointless actions are the last thing you should waste your energy on now.

Take your time.

Don't think about any operational measures before you don't even know which goal they're supposed to contribute to.

In the context of Steem: don't think about the next hardfork if you don't know where you wanna see this project at the end of next year.

The single most important proposition is: focus.

@ned I appreciated hearing you say during the livestream that you and your team were probably trying to accomplish too many things at the same time - that's it!

Vision. Strategy. Concept.

It can only work in that very order and never the other way around.

First, I'd like to take you back to 2016 and the vision of Steem as it was initially defined:

Steem was created to return value to those who create value. (...) We've created a technology that is so powerful that it inspires our creativiy, our freedom and our relationships. - Ned Scott

Yes!

Two years have passed since then and a lot has happend, but honestly: isn't that still valid?

Isn't that how we actually want Steem to be? Can't we just go back to those roots?

In my opinion the original vision for Steem was and is simply brilliant.

Here's how we could relaunch that vision in 2019

Vision for Steem: Become the no. 1 social blockchain and no. 1 host of decentralized communities in the world.

Strategy:
Build and maintain a self-sustainable and decentralized network with a constantly increasing userbase that attracts, hosts and rewards talent, fosters creativity, stimulates investment and offers development opportunity.

Concepts:

• Delegate Steem Power from Steemit Inc's main accounts into communities (top community builders and leaders) = delegate the task of building and maintaining (!) a sustainable userbase into the community.
• Define Marketing and PR tasks and delegate them into those communities (see @timcliff's SteemBlast, @oracle-d's engagement in the netcoins contest,...)
• Parter up with Steem influencers, build a network of ambassadors, pitch them to the top blockchain conferences and help marketing the brand in the crypto space.
• Leverage the strongest and fastest growing communities on Steem in order to attract businesses that invest in influencer marketing, pitching specific blogs and topcis to advertisers (side note: product placement in blogs doesn't even require a change in UI!).
• Partner up with top application builders (@dtube, @steemmonsters, @esteem,...) and launch an ICO that finances future developments of those leading dApps.
• ...

Please add yours here.

One of the key drivers to Steem's success definitely lies in its decentralization, in leveraging Proof of Brain and creating sustainable value out of the community.

The more responsibility is delegated into the community, the stronger the network will become.

Then an increase in capital by new investment will be generated automatically, since money always flows into the direction of value.

That's my take and I'm looking forward to reading your comments.

Steem on 🤙
Marly -
(who actually wanted to go on a break from blogging...hehe)
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This blog was created in July 2016, aiming to provide thought-provoking content for open-minded people who go on adventure, step out of comfort zones and embrace the new.
Thanks for being part of the journey!

PS: All my blog posts are created and submitted via eSteem Surfer 1.1.12 - my favorite Steem desktop client that was developed by @good-karma's @esteemapp team. Check out their account for more information.

Original content. Quote found on quotefancy.com.