By 4 o'clock in the morning, I am out of bed and downstairs preparing my first cup of coffee.

I work at my job from 7 in the morning until 5:30 in the evening. But my real business has become my Steemit blog.

I started using Steemit last August. I was never much of an internet user, much less a Blogger. I associated that term with people who lacked ambition and were lazy. But Steemit opened my eyes. I found a community here, where everyone supports and appreciates one another. The fact that a monetary value is attached to posts is what initially lured me in. What really hooked me is that Steemit is a place where I can write. Ever since I was in grade school, I loved to write. I always had an active imagination, and loved putting it down on paper. Back then, only the teachers and my parents read what I wrote. With Steemit, however, I have an entire world of potential readers.

Choosing a username that accurately represents me was the first step in this venture. Country Inspired is perfect. It is a clear definition of who I am.

I have maintained a Facebook page for several years titled Country Inspired Creations, and I started a business with a partner in November 2015 called Aubrecht & Fisher Country Inspired Creations, LLC. It was proper to give my new Steemit account a similar name.

In my early days, I treated Steemit like a hobby, reserved only for moments of down time. But as time went on, I began to realize how similar my Steemit account is to a business. So I started treating it more seriously.

Like a business, I must have good customer relations. I have to create a product or service that pleases the "customer" (my readers). If I write a good post, I get upvotes, replies, or resteems. It is also my duty to give insightful feedback on others’ posts, offer my upvotes, welcome and encourage new users, and respond promptly when someone leaves a comment on one of my posts. My success on Steemit would be impossible without my followers and the support they provide, so I am compelled to offer the same support to others.

Like a business, I have finances to maintain. I carefully monitor my Wallet page to see what Steem is coming in, and what its value is each day. I set short-term and long-term goals. I try to maintain an effective balance of liquid Steem, Steem power, and Steem-backed dollars. It is tempting to experiment with other cryptocurrencies, but I feel Steem has just as much or more potential than any of them, so I refrain from doing so.

Like a business, I must pay attention to the news regarding Steemit, and make decisions based on new developments. Changes implemented over the weeks as Steemit develops affect my account and how I engage with the community.

Like a business, I have to make sacrifices. This means getting up at 3:45 while my family is sleeping so that I can be on Steemit. My lack of sleep may catch up to me by the week's end, but when I see the rewards I earn for a quality post, I am reminded of why I do what I do.

Like a business, I believe what I get from Steemit has a direct correlation to what I put in. Some day, like everyone else, I hope the value of Steem is extremely high. But to get there, I must do my part, along with other users, to post quality content unlike anything found on other social media sites. Even if Steem doesn't appreciate astronomically, I feel I will have gained from the experience.

Country Inspired has become my brand that I am developing. It will forever represent me, recorded in the blockchain.

Treating Steemit like a daily job does not take the enjoyment out of it.

I get out of bed early feeling excited about what I do each day. Steemit allows me to read and write during the most peaceful hours of my day. And I wouldn't be here nearly every day creating new content if it weren't for people like you, who take the time to read my posts. I appreciate you and your support!