When people say that Steem is a gateway drug to cryptocurrency I believe them, why? because I was one of those that actually joined Steemit a little more than a year ago and being completely oblivious to what cryptocurrency even was.
I still remember, one of my Spaniard friends started blogging on this mysteries site called "Steemit". Usually, he blogged in Spanish but now, suddenly English?! So I went in and read his amazing post. I personally just started on my first bike tour ever and were sitting in a Hostel somewhere in the Czech Republic when I decided to ask him what this Steemit was all about and eventually check it out myself.
A few days later I had myself a brand new Steemit account... Now what?
from 0 to hero
When I wrote my first post that by the way, was my first writing experience. I didn't know anything so basically, it was just a collum of bland text and a bunch of grammar errors. No pictures, nothing. I actually felt a bit ashamed nobody recognize my work. I Imagined people coming in reading it and laughing at me their way out and I wanted to hide away.
It was a shame because excited because I really felt I shared something great but **no reaction from anyone, nothing but my own 0.1cent upvote was sitting there.
What the hell did I do wrong?
I came to the conclusion that zero pictures might not be so attractive to people and I should probably put in some more of those tags everyone else was using. Also, I started looking at other peoples posts and I quickly realized I made a boring post with little to offer. I also Improved my gramma a bit, since I am not native in English these things didn't come as natural to me.
So I tried again!
My Second post ever made became a huge success! I could not believe my eyes that I actually made 83 dollars on a single post! WOW. Of course, back then, I didn't know what a whale was and it is obvious now, that I was just a bit lucky(or was I?). Actually looking back, it was 
So I made a couple of other posts over the next week but to my "surprise" nothing happened, again. I was like,
"yo, where did all my fans go?"
1 week later
Time flies by: A hundred posts later...
Back then when I joined Steemit was different. Whales were the important curators and bidbots was not existing. I gotta admit although it was not perfect that a handful of people decided who went to the trending pages, it felt better than the current bid-bot system.
I have by now been on Steemit almost 1 and a half year. Documenting all kind of posts here on Steemit. from Denmark to Greece on my bike, falling in love, living in Romania, cycling Denmark to Romania and just simply exploring and enjoying life to the fullest, all with the help from Steemit. So many things happened since I joined here and I have been here to blog it all.
Throughout my posts, I had varied success from posts that almost gave nothing to big explosions of payouts. By now I know what Steemit and Steem is all about and also know a dozen of other cryptocurrencies out there, I guess I am starting to be a veteran?
I also started investing a little myself into Steem because I thought "If I got so addicted to it, probably others will also?".
My own Steemit story brings A short message to everyone: quality matters!
I feel like I lost a little track of myself a few times and started giving in for the "shitposting". Because why should I care whe nobody liked my work? But time and time again it has proven that writing quality posts are the way to go here.
Looking back on my Steemit story this is the case over and over. Every time I decided to dedicate myself to my posts, they eventually ended up being worth it. Every time I started doing short, "shitposts" as we like to call them, nothing happened and never will.
I know It is not what is shown on the trending pages so it is hard to agree upon. But this is from my own evaluation of posting almost every day for more than a year(with a few breaks here and there).
But it is the truth that you will not have progress if you don't apply yourself.
It does not seem so but there's a reason why so many people who chose quantity over quality that are now complaining about why they are not getting anywhere.
Maybe not all your posts will get recognized but certainly, some of them will if you keep persisting, that is something I personally have proven through my own experience blogging on Steemit.
If you liked my little Steemit story you should go and write your own! Thank you 
-holm
All pictures are taken by me.