It’s amazing where the roads of life often times leads us. I found the Steemit community in an interesting way. Here’s what brought me here. Let me share my story...

...I tend to do my due diligence and research, and such was the case with Steemit. I’ve read many of your posts, even without having an account. 

But now... I’m ready to jump right in!

How I first heard about Steemit

I first heard about Steemit from... @jerrybanfield on YouTube. I was looking for videos on how to create an online course on Udemy. He was sharing his story about how they banned him and shutdown his account, and how that there’re Life After Udemy.

I find Jerry to be extremely knowledgable, a great teacher, and… yes, he’s got some totally cool music too! 

Thank you Jerry, for inviting me to join Steemit. Also, @joeparys was the second person I found on YouTube who shared his passion for Steemit, and has an amazing online presence as well. I continue to learn alot from these guys.

A Little About Me…

Islands, coconuts, and eating a... horse?

I am an ordained Pastor, and have always had a heart for people. 

In 1994,  as a young 24 year old, I was ordained and the moved to the Kingdom Nation of Tonga, located in the South Pacific (near Fiji and Samoa), where I pastored my first church.  

Quick little story. 

On one particular occasion there in Tonga, I attended a funeral and the people put a plate right in front of me and asked me to eat. As I did, they all seemed to look at me with a certain curiosity, but I didn’t know why. Then one them leaned over to me and said (in their language), “Is it yummy?”  

I said, “Yeah, it’s good, but it's a little… a... chewy.”  Then they all started laughing at me. (This occasionally still happens to me every now and then, lol). Then they finally told me I was eating a... “horse”. 

I had one of those surprised (yet, awkward smiles) where you don’t know what to do next. 

Horse? Yeah. I know. Sad and… yuck. (disclaimer: *This isn’t common in Tonga, but sometimes when it’s a poor family, and a horse is old, they will actually use it to feed the people at a funeral*).

I also married there in Tonga, and have one son, who is now 20 years old.

Rockin’ & Rollin' in Seattle

I have been in many bands while growing up in Seattle (ever since the “grunge” days). But until recently I never got the chance to be a lead singer, I just played guitar. But when I came back from Tonga I wrote so many songs, and got a chance to launch my own band, Mona. We played at many of the clubs in downtown Seattle and recorded an EP as well. 

Here’s a little taste of the music I wrote...

Passion for Blogging and Moving to Thailand

During my time of pastoring on Maui, Hawaii... 

...I read an inspiring book…. (uhhh, actually it was an "audio book”, so I didn’t technically “read” it. Does that still count?). It’s very well-known book now, but when I got ahold of it, no one I knew had ever even heard of it. It’s called, The 4-Hour Work Week. 

Little did I know then (that 3 years later), I would actually be moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand to begin my entrepreneurial journey and to start my very first dropshipping store and experience some of the very things that Tim Ferriss talked about in his book.  I so fell in love with Thailand and the wonderful people there. I’ve lived there for 3 years, and although I’m living in Hawaii, I consider Thailand my home too. 

Love on the Rocks, ain’t no big surprise

Just being open and honest with you here on Steemit

 Since I’m becoming a part of this big family… even though I was a “Pastor", I was also in a rocky marriage. My wife frequently talked about us getting a divorce. I never used the “D” word. But, as she persisted, I guess it was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

After many years, I finally gave in and said, ok. This is one of the reasons why I ended up moving to Thailand and stepped out into my entrepreneurial journey. 

Sad to say, and strange as it seems... as of today (the day of writing the draft of this post) I had to sign the last papers than finalizes our divorce. 

All roads lead to steem

But I just choose to believe that, no matter what any one of us goes thru, all roads lead to steem. And what I mean by that is that we’re empowered during the darkest time of our lives to go forward with a new-found momentum! Together we are stronger. Somehow in my heart I really do feel a leading from above to be a part of this community.

I currently live in Honolulu, Hawaii. My son lives here too, AND he’s about to become a Father. But I told him...

“Don’t you dare call me ‘Grandpa’, 'cuz I for sure ain’t ready for that! Just call me ‘Pops’ or something.” 

Then we both laughed. In the midst of all that I’ve been through, I feel super blessed! 

A New Season and Time for a Change

I have a new project that I’m still getting up off the ground. 

It’s a website where I can take what I’ve been through, as well as what I’ve learned about, in doing online business, and I hope to help empower people’s lives. It’s called, The Change Nation. (www.thechangenation.com)  But instead of blogging over there, I feel like I want to be a part of the Steemit Community and blog over here, and interact with you all. 

How I came up with my Steemit username

Years ago I was an intern director on the island of Maui in Hawaii (where I lived for many years), training young people who were wanting to enter into the ministry. The programme was called, "Transformed". The name of it has since been changed, but I always loved that word, and it continues to inspire me to this day. When I checked the availability of @transformed, I was actually surprised to find that it was still available. 

"Transformed" has nothing to do with transformers cartoons or the movie or whatever. 

I’ve actually never even seen one of those movies. Haha! It’s just super cool to me, and easy to remember as well.

But to me, (the actual word ,"Transformed" means: a process of change, a metamorphosis, a transitioning of becoming something else— something greater.

Years ago I came up with my own personal motto that guides me too: 

"Make a difference in somebody’s life today!" 

Steemit provides the perfect opportunity to do exactly that. Whether it’s a post that encourages someone, or a DLive or DTube video that you post, or even a DSound audio clip or song— Steemit is the place where I want to empower people to dream bigger, and perhaps in some small way I can help them be transformed for whatever ever dreams are in their heart to pursue and accomplish.

I’m not here on Steemit to “make money”

I’ve always loved writing, making videos, and doing my best to impact lives. But when I had a blog on my last website, I… I wanted to interact with others, but there usually wasn't that many comments. Here on Steemit, the community totally rocks! 

It hasn't even been 24 hours of me being on Steemit yet, but I'm really enjoying reading posts, commenting on them, and giving them an upvote.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Steemit Family!

I’m sure I’ll be sharing more of my story in future posts and videos, but I wanted to thank you for taking to time to read my very first post on Steemit and allowing me to be real, AND vulnerable. 

I’m planning on being active in our Steemit Community everyday. I look forward to reading your posts and getting to know you more as well. If you’d like to also connect with me further. You can also find me on these platforms, but I (perhaps like you) are looking forward to moving away from ad-infested environments and are excited to be a part of building this new platform called, Steemit, here on this cutting-edge network called the Steem Blockchain:

You can also connect with me here:

Instagram @robbgorringe

Facebook @robbgorringe

Twitter @robbgorringe

www.thechangenation.com

Thank you Steemit family! The best is yet to come!

@transformed