One Small Comment Having A Huge Impact
I have been quietly following a conversation that has circled the boards lately.
I first noticed a comment made by Simplymike here
If I’m really honest, I do feel a little lost sometimes. Of course, I’ve had a chance to build an amazing network of friends, and we support each other as much as we can. But sometimes I really miss that long line of newbie-supporting initiatives that were all eager to teach me the ropes around here. Because although I have a rep of 57, there are plenty of times I could really use such a huge backup.
But I’m trying to figure something out to make sure that people who leave official newbie-hood will not be ‘abandoned’ and have no other choice than to get by on their own.
It might take some more time, but I’m trying to bring back a little balance
Even I can see the truth of this statement. There are an overwhelming number of opportunities geared toward fostering the growth of the newer and smaller members. I myself take advantage of theses as much as possible.
As I strive for the next level and hope to leave behind "official newbie-hood" I find myself beginning to plan ahead. Even now I have come close to not qualifying for a contest the winning of which would make a huge difference to growth of my own account. Actually a friend would probably have entered and for sure won, had he not been a tiny bit ahead of me in his own account.
This comment apparently struck a cord with more than just me. Soon posts were popping up and discussion happening
wolfhart weighed in
The reality is that some will never reach even the minnow level as a result one has to find balance not only in who to support but selfgrowth also. Selfgrowth is one of the hardest things to understand on how to accomplish.
As a plankton striving to be a minnow self growth is just a matter choosing the best opportunities and taking full advantage. It can be slow but it works.
It seems things are not so simple for a minnow. I had heard that becoming a dolphin is 10 times harder than reaching minnow status. That could very well be an understatement. It seems the dolphins are off playing at sea enjoying their dolphin status. That is great so reaching the minnow pond means suddenly discovering a need to become very creative with growth strategy.
This also makes me wonder if buying enough Steem to level up could have its disadvantages. Mostly because growing organically at least provides a learning experience that just wouldn't happen otherwise. I know I have to learn a lot along the way while bootstrapping.
- here
lynncoyle1 joined the conversation
The problem with my process, is that my own posts get neglected. Sometimes it takes me a bit to get back to the comments on my posts, but really, I'm talking about writing my own posts.
Mystery solved...that's why my SP is only around 350.
Time and where to put it. I wonder how many consider the fact that this changes as we grow. I already know that for me 8 to 12 post a month is the best for my growth at this level. That is only 2-3 each week leaving time to invest in other growth strategies. Not to mention enjoyment of the time spent.
Minnow and dolphin however may benefit more from other activity, depending on personal goals.
- here
abh12345 offered insight
it's easy to spot the huge influx of accounts with < 100 SP over the past 6 weeks in comparison to the other (larger) thresholds. The bottom is growing much faster than the top, as you would expect I think.
It's honorable to be looking down for ways to support Red Fish and Minnows, but if you have not got your support network in place, this is going to impact the growth of your account. Very few have managed a good level of growth with this approach - anywhere near those contributing to
/
for example.
It seems to me this is not sustainable for the long term growth of the platform. If you consider the retention rate it is pretty clear that there is an overwhelming amount of time and resources that are in the end basically "dusted" just like so many tiny votes.
I think everyone manages to "dust" a bit of our Steem resources in this manner. Maybe through helping get someone a 
Time management seems to be a common denominator across all account levels. There are just so many things to do here and prioritizing can be a job in its self.
The fact that there are many reasons for being on the platform in the first place makes setting those priorities a process unique to each individual.
The list continues to grow. A single comment has inspired an avalanche of thought provoking conversation.
I am still following along. Not long ago I followed a very similar conversation about the problem of dust votes. A few clever minds came together and solved the issue for anyone who wishes to participate.
Now I am watching again. I know the community will come together and find some solutions to ease the way from minnow to dolphin. I am beginning to think this must happen in order for the platform to survive and thrive long term.
Following along the path of those who are a step ahead I have found to be one of the best possible investments of my own time. It is when they share the problems they encounter, brainstorm solutions, and share where they put in time and why that I myself am able to decide in advance how I will choose to Steem through the next level. This alone saves a lot of misplaced time and effort on my part.
So I offer heartfelt thanks to all of those who shine a bit of light on the road ahead.
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