I need to tell a story that I think will resonate with a huge portion of new users on #Steemit (and Discord / PALNet -- the associated community for new minnows like myself). Hearing about, and subsequently diving into, Steemit (and Discord a week later) has truly been one of the most exciting developments of my 2017, but I’ve seen a recent trend unfolding (for myself and others) that I think is worth exposing.
First, let me say that these communities have been AMAZING. The content (for the most part) on Steemit is far superior to what we see on any other social platform, and the 
And while these comments come from a true place of love and honesty, they also help to outline the inherent issue I’ve been experiencing. A lack of balance (among other things like sleep, hygiene, sanity, etc.) has accompanied my Discord Dive. And while I'd certainly felt it developing, it took the infamous @SirCork to help open my eyes to what I had felt bubbling up peripherally for a few days:
And he’s fucking right because I know he's got skills! While the community development IS worth consideration, I’ve lost track of the real work that will put me in a place to ultimately succeed on Steemit. Here’s another telling visual from Corky that shines an even brighter light (at least for me) on the issue:
I would say SirCork’s final lol represents a sort of sad irony that we all know exists, but too often turn a blind eye to. Again, I want to reiterate that there's 100% true value (not the hardware store) to be found through Discord and PALs, but we all need to find the right balance and realize what we're truly looking to accomplish.
It's interesting how we trick ourselves into thinking we're immune to succumbing to these perils. initially, when I was chatting with @SirCork 
Aside from one day in early July, my activity on Steemit has completely dropped off . This introduces a fun little Catch 22 of sorts that I'm not sure how to manage at the moment. On one hand, I've become deeply connected to a group of likeminded creatives/creators who I really believe have the best of intentions, and on the other hand, the more time I invest in that community, the less time I have to invest in generating seriously valuable content (like this...I hope). Where does that leave me (us)?
At this point, my plan is to use the power of triangulation to set my course. About a year ago, I stumbled across Gary Vaynerchuck (someone I'm sure many of you know) and he exposed me to what was a very novel idea to me at the time. He's someone who has built incredible success on the back of deploying truth and content at all costs. He goes so far as to implore his followers to stop consuming his content and just go DO.
For me, I think this is the right tactic, even though I know it will come at the expense of relationships with the PALNet faithful. I'm basically betting on content over community (at least for now). GaryVee discovered that social capital and community (aka -- the shit that really matters) is the inevitable byproduct of producing great content; I'm just hoping for the same fortune.
I really hope you'll take the time to leave a comment and help this post to find the eyes of others who need it. If nothing else, please take a few minutes to absorb the following message; one I think everyone should hear no matter what strategy you'v chosen to deploy.
Much ❤
@Tayken
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