At the end of the first 3 months of my Steem "journey," I have decided to "put a wrap" on what I will consider going forward as "Chapter One" of the story. Tonight I would like to share both some things I have learned, as well as a key decision I have made, as I start in to "Chapter Two."

After completing my introductory post on May 14th, I immediately ran into what I refer to as The Challenge in my recent post on encouragement on our Steem blockchain!

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With this introductory comment, let's just jump right into Chapter One and see what The Challenge was:

Chapter One and The Challenge

In my encouragement post referenced above, I wrote the following:

"With all of the best intentions and highest aspirations, all of the resulting work we then put in faces an immediate challenge the moment we click Post on our first content creation."

"How is anyone ever going to see it? Let alone read it! Let alone support it ..."

One of my biggest early frustrations, common to pretty much everyone else, was thinking I had just clicked Post on some great new content. For example, I put a lot into and was pretty proud of one of my first posts - "Essential Foundation for Good Business”. Well, so what! The last time I went there, it still had 2 visitors ...

In my view, this is arguably the singlest biggest problem on Steem. I won't recreate what I put in to my encouragement post, in support of that view, but go on into this one ...

As any of our fellow Steemians finds out very quickly upon choosing to enter the “Steemisphere,” there is a lot going on “in here.” If you can find it! Yes, great, but how do you going about doing that? For a while, I just stumbled around and along the way, picked up a “tidbit” here and a “tidbit” there. Sort of like a “crumb trail” …

Getting to the main focus of this post, fairly quickly I began to be introduced to the idea of communities. Each had its own approach and area of emphasis. A “common theme,” however, for many of them is helping the new Steemian get “built up,” as most start out as a “plankton” or “minnow.”

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Over the next few weeks, I "stumbled" into the following communities, in this order:

• The Peace, Abundance, and Liberty community found at @minnowsupport.
• The Partiko development team at @partiko, the creators of the great Android app.
• The Helpienaut community found at @helpie.
• The Pay It Forward Community at @pifc.
• Steem Community found at @steemcommunity.

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There is a lot that goes into these communities - a serious understatement. There have been many posts written about them, so I won't make any attempt to recreate any of that content here. I will also not spend any time on the fact there are many, many more communities, some of which I have a little idea, many of whom I'm sure I've never even heard of yet.

What I would like to say, for the sake of all who might come after me, new in their own "journey" and facing the same fundamental question, is very basic.

"How can I possibly spend the needed time with all of these communities!"

We all have the same fixed constants - there is 1 of us, and our time - 24 / 7 / 365. That's it!! None of us can break out of these constraints.

I would suggest to you that you'll want to make a decision on narrowing your choice down to participating in one or two communities (although others with more time may feel they can adequately support more ...).

Here is a key exchange, while "searching out" all the possibilities and learning as I went. It was part of my original message to @thedarkhorse, on 4 July 2018:

[Note: Found on his Week 14 post, after being introduced to the PIFC community by @headchange in her Week 14 Entry post.]

"Good morning @thedarkhorse! Beautiful day (here at least) in America. Happy Independence Day!

Following up on your original comment to me (did not “know” of you prior to that), I have now read @headchange’s post. Pressed for time, looked through your profile and made two observations:

1. Your “started in” on August 2017. As did I, with one very notable exception. I started as an investor only. You appear to have been engaged from day one. Well done!

2. You spend a considerable amount of time to create the content you post, judging by the graphics etc. As a result, so far, while I have encountered other “support groups" (and they all are doing valuable, “heartfelt” work) in our Steem Community, yours stands out to me as the best. I specifically like the format you have put together, whereby those submitting posts for future consideration, must first build a post of their own … And they are nominating someone else, rather than themselves … Great concept!!"

This initial impression stayed with me and was continually reinforced by many of the other great Steemians in the PIFC Community. As an example, as a result of one "encounter," here is a reply written to @lynncoyle1 on 13 July 2018.

Many others could be put down here. I wrote whole posts about some of the ideas generated from my "meeting" some of these Steemians, for the first time, and the impressions made.

These investments of time, from others, led to an important decision for me. So, while a lot more could be written about other aspects of my experience during "Chapter One," I will conclude it with the reply I wrote to @thedarkhorse on Labor Day, 3 Sept 2018:

"Good morning @thedarkhorse. Happy Labor Day! Perhaps fitting, given how much time and energy you've put into providing a framework inside which others can join you in your efforts to help build up our Steem blockchain.

Thank you for this great update post on how the PIFC team is doing!

In my recent update post, I mention "recalibrating." As part of that thought process, after careful reflection, I've decided that "chapter one" of my Steem "journey" is over.

So ... Opening "chapter two," I will very intentionally try to be more narrowly focused on where I find the most value in investing my time "in here." I have decided a significant part of that will be toward helping the PIFC team.

I've done what I could, up until now, with financial backing. Moving forward, I'll see what I can do with the investment of more of my time. Don't want to "over promise and under deliver," so I'll just leave it at that, for now.

Doing my small part to provide you a little encouragement @thedarkhorse. For a better tomorrow ...

I appreciate all that you do! 👍

Chapter Two and the Pay It Forward Community

So, decision made, the next step was to “jump in!” I just recently wrote my first entry post for Week 23. Yes, that is Week 23, almost half a year!

I was joining a movement that had been steadily growing over that period, much of it before I ever decided to write my first post. I would encourage you to read through the posts of the PIFC Community founder, @thedarkhorse, to see through his eyes what it took.

I do not know all of the details, but I know there are a core group of dedicated Steemians, who have been there from the beginning. For whatever this movement becomes, those who have joined "the cause," such as myself, owe them a debt of gratitude for their hard work and perseverance. You can read some of the "highlight reel" posts of @thedarkhorse and, then later, through @pifc, to learn more about them.

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A lot of collaboration with many Steemians has led to where the PIFC Community is today. I would like to close this section with my own thoughts about a second great community - the Steem Community (you can follow at @steemcommunity) created by the joint efforts of @abh12345 and @paulag. This is their Witness account and I support and have voted for them as one of our all-important Steem Witnesses.

One key project is "The Curation and Engagement Leagues" and their focus on engagement with other Steemians. Very important for us all to get this "down cold," as soon as we can upon entering the "Steemisphere." Please read this latest post, for an introduction to what they do.

I am a little less familiar with this effort and how long it has been going on, but I believe it has been for quite a while. I do not speak for either @abh12345 or @thedarkhorse, but from my perspective, their respective communities have a lot of opportunity for some synergistic cooperation / partnering between the two.

One Definition of Synergy:

"A state in which two or more things work together in a particularly fruitful way that produces an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects. Expressed also as "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

Business Dictionary

OK, I've done my part. 😉 Over to the two principals, for some "collaboration" on what the future might look like, should they choose to work more closely together in "common cause" in some way.

Please feel free to "weigh in" with your thoughts - pro, con, or neutral - below, on this idea, as we would all benefit, I believe, from the input. Lots of input will result in a better "finished product," should this idea have any merit.

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So, from "stumbling around in the dark" to begin, to closing out "Chapter One" with a little more sense of direction going forward, you now know a little bit more of the story of one Steemian's "journey,"

"Chapter Two" of my story is just getting underway. I am looking forward to the coming weeks, to see what happens!

Closing

There you have it! A brief overview of what one Steemian has been through on his "journey" so far and the impact of communities on how much success we achieve. I hope you have found something useful in it, as you continue on your "journey."

If you would like to "join the cause" and throw in with the Pay It Forward Community, we'd love to have you! Please find some helpful links at the end of this post.

All the best to you for a better tomorrow, as we all work together to build our communities and add value to our Steem blockchain! 👍 😊

Respectfully,

Steemian @roleerob

Posted using Busy.org and “immutably enshrined in the blockchain” on Monday, 10 September 2018!

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If you have found this post to be of interest, the PIFC team would love to have you join us. Here are some posts to help you in making your decision:

• @PIFC's 1st Post: The beginning of a Steem movement flowing from the tireless efforts of @thedarkhorse and all of those who consistently and faithfully work alongside him to build up our Steem blockchain.
• @PIFC's Latest Update Post: - The "latest word" on how well this movement is doing, through the eyes of @thedarkhorse, along with details about the judges and curators helping make it happen!
• @PIFC's Latest Financial Post: - For transparency and accountability, the latest from @thedarkhorse on the @pifc account's financial status.
• @Minnowbuilder's First Week of Fundraising - Gives details on Round 1 of the sale of shares in PIFC community's minnow builder account.
• @viking-ventures' post on Curation: Help from one of the dedicated PIFC team members on writing great Steem content.

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