I was reminded yesterday in a post that 
Whatever I have done in life I have done to the best of my ability so Hive was just another challenge. That wasn't the case though as at the time I was handicapped by not investing which made it more of a challenge. That is how I saw it and I was going to succeed no matter how hard things were by sheer determination.
Hardships I know clearly and have never forgotten whilst growing up in a single parent home. School holidays I would be doing manual labor clearing building plots of thorn trees and boulders. My brother and I would start early in the morning and leave at dusk. Not every holiday was like that but those ones do remain in the memory bank. We never complained and our friends didn't even know we did this type of thing as they wouldn't have understood. The school we went to was one of the best schools in the country which was government and not private yet you wouldn't have guessed how we struggled sometimes financially. What stood us apart from the other kids was most likely the calluses on our hands where the blisters used to be.
My kids have it so easy compared to what I had and they have no clue. The last time we were in Cape Town we drove past the plot that has 20 or so houses on it these days and I kept quiet. Those were not great memories, but ones I will never forget.
I then compare this to the users who come onto Hive looking for something easy and free and it makes my blood boil. If you give up at the first hurdle what chance do you have in the real world. If Hive was so easy to earn would you appreciate it and the answer is obviously a big NO.
Today in my opinion users should have no complaints as the tribes/communities have made things far more straight forward which wasn't around a year ago. This I believe makes things that much easier and less of a struggle to succeed yet we still see people wanting to milk whatever where ever possible.
I do understand the users that power down as they need to buy groceries or pay rent, but there also needs to be a balance. Something needs to be powered up as growth still needs to be shown from month to month otherwise it is not sustainable.
At some point others will see this as a one way street as you are offering little in return for what you are receiving. I have to admit if I see someone powering up I am more likely to support them than someone who isn't. That is basic economics and common sense as they are here for the long term. I have been so confident in this place I haven't even arranged an exchange yet to move funds and need to at some point I know.
The struggles I experienced for the first year on hive growing from 0 or the 15HP I was lent and took me more than a month to pay back will always be with me and what makes this place so personal. It teaches you no matter how hard something is you need to keep moving forward a day at a time as each day or week will become slightly easier over time.
Over the years I had become soft and never expected such a huge challenge as what I was now facing on here. To be honest I had no idea what I had got myself into and I think made it even more rewarding as the whole process was enjoyable. You have two choices to dig in and fight or run away and I have taken this literally into the business world today. I fight every day in a nice smart way and never give up no matter what the odds are.
A difficult account to land will take anywhere from 6 months to however long it takes, but I know I will have it at some point. In the past before Hive I would have given up and moved on as the fight wasn't there. What wasn't there was the brain power to work out different angles to unlock those accounts as they are all available if you work out the formula.
How many other users can say that Hive has changed them for the better in certain aspects of their life? I know for one with a hand on my heart I can and will be for ever grateful for what Hive has shown and taught me. This is not some stupid blogging block chain which people might think as it offers so much more than just that.