How has STEEM impacted my life?

I have been on STEEM since June 2017, and the impact is great in so many ways. I came here to have another social media outlet for my natural weight loss message, but have grown in ways I never anticipated at that time. Here are the top three ways STEEM has changed my life, all for the better and all ways I treasure now.

Learning about blockchain technology and cryptocurrency

My new knowledge of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency is far and away the best benefit and change to my life. I had only slightly heard of bitcoin before I got here, and had no interest in learning about crypto at all.

I have many online friends who got here ahead of me and continually asked me to join. The fact that this was a new currency is the reason I did not jump.

But jump I did in June 2017 when the people asking me became overwhelming, and then became instantly hooked. Over two years later, I am still a novice in understanding the game, but at least I am here and trying.

I have enjoyed the learning curve and seek out difficult posts to try to absorb even more information. I’ve learned about many other coins aside from STEEM and all because of STEEM, and even hold about 20 of them which may even be worth something today or later.

Every single bit of knowledge I have about this new world is all due to STEEM. We have so many crypto-aware people giving their help and information in so many daily or weekly posts that I can never read them all. But I make the effort and reap the benefit over time.

I feel like cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is the new way forward and watch the mainstream slowly come on board. I’m excited to be a part of it and keep watching for the tipping point I know is coming soon. Without STEEM, I would still be unaware, and I am so grateful to be one of the early adopters now.

Gaining the friendship and support of so many wonderful STEEMers.

Often people say it is all about the people, and for me this is very true. I have many online friends I treasure in many different countries now.

Some of my STEEM communities I treasure most are:

• @steemitmamas - #womenincrypto! We are a thing here on STEEM. Only 10% of people in the main crypto game are women, but on STEEM we are over 25%!
• @socalsteemit - Southern California where I came from still lets me partake.
• @freewritehouse - where new people join, learn to post, and thrive.
• @team-ccc - another place for new people to get started and succeed on STEEM.
• @TeamMalaysia - Where I live now and find great support and friendship in person and online. Mayalsia is a hotbed of STEEM!

I have open invitations to visit many STEEMers all over the world, and also meet others when they visit the country I am in. A highlight was the recent STEEMFest 4 in Bangkok where I met so many who I consider close friends now.

So many STEEMers help me in so many ways. This community is more helpful than any other I have encountered in all of my time in social media.

My niche on STEEM is writing minnow tips and helping new people succeed when they get here. I started writing tips for myself so I would have them, and soon found that others liked them too. STEEM is not an easy place when new, and changes continually with new opportunities as well as changes to older strategies.

Now I help people with my minnow tips when they find them, and also one-on-one if they approach me. People often contact me in desperation not knowing how to get more than 10 cents on their awesome posts. I can turn that around sometimes in days or weeks just by suggesting dApps to post with or other small changes in what they do here.

I also offer to help new people when I notice them posting great work and trying. I feel proud to have a great track record of seeing people grow on STEEM instead of giving up.

Recently, I became a @tipu curator and this has been another game changer. My vote is only 3 cents, but with tipu I can boost people by much more. I focus on finding posts that have rewards of less than 50 cents, and try to boost them as high as I can before payout happens. I usually have 3-4 chances a day to tipu and take advantage of them all.

I have other places aside from tipu that I can boost posts and do this with all the people I tipu and with other great posts. Nothing makes me happier to see someone new suddenly get over $5 on a post. I know how encouraging this can be.

• A bit of a side note is my Twitter account.

Twitter has been my best social media account since before I got to STEEM. I used to use it heavily in my weight loss work and get affiliate sales and book sales from it. Now I primarily use Twitter for STEEM promotion.

I keep lists on Twitter, and now have almost 200 "Crypto-Influencers" on this list:

https://twitter.com/i/lists/1074146350034432001

I tweet from this list a few times a week, and now crypto peeps add me to THEIR lists of influencers! I am always on the lookout to promote STEEM on Twitter and will continue to work it. Often people ask about coins of interest or run polls. STEEM is always my answer!

And here is my list of 600+ STEEMers on Twitter. I have been adding to this list since I got here in June 2017:

https://twitter.com/i/lists/879973015290650624

It's a great place to RT from since the newest tweets show first.

Gaining financial support from STEEM and STEEM related money.

I have been living off of STEEM and STEEM related money since December 2017. I live a very frugal life in SE Asia, so this is not doable for most people. But my example serves to let others know STEEM is a valuable coin.

Even with using STEEM to fund my life, I have been able to grow my SP and have this as a goal. One of my first minnow tips is to tell people to keep their eye on the goal of getting 100, 500, and then 5000 sp here. After that, the sky is the limit!

My sp has groen from 200 on 2 blogs to almost 2000 on three blogs in the last year and a half. I anticipate this to continue and look forward to dolphinhood when it comes.

Becoming a vibrant stakeholder makes all the difference on STEEM. I am so happy to watch the people I help as their sp grows. Most people I work with are not taking money out, so with good blogging practice they grow fast.

I know they have seen the potential and future of STEEM. They will be the next boosters of the place so that we can grow even more over time.

In Conclusion

There is no place I post on social media that compares to STEEM. The knowledge, connections and constant improvements are what makes us special. I am so glad I took the leap when I did and have never been tempted to leave. I only look forward to new developments and growth, and watch it happen every day.

This is my entry for the "How has STEEM impacted my life?" contest by @theycallmedan. Today is the last day for entry, so get on it!

https://steempeak.com/steemimpact/@theycallmedan/how-has-steem-impacted-my-life-initiative-extended

I took the photo for this post back in San Diego with a cheap point and shoot camera. My light trails are meant to show the optimism I feel about STEEM.

What I do on STEEM

@fitinfun

• freewrite daily with @mariannewest
• Minnow Tips
• Photography
• Travel

@fitinfunfood

• Food and ccc contest posts
• Tasteem restaurant reviews
• @pifc contest entries

@bxlphabet

• dApp, tokens/tribes and gaming review posts
• dpoll- STEEM and lifestyle questions
• BitcoinMalaysia playing card posts; coming soon!

My most recent summary of Minnow Tips is here:

You CAN Succeed on STEEM

These tips will help you if you are new and struggling on STEEM. Tag me in any comment, and I will help you if you ask me to.

Find me on Discord:

fitinfun#2249

Email me:

sjfrenchtosd at yahoo.com <<< NOT my paypal address

I am a proud member of @socalsteemit. We bring Southern California to you on the STEEM blockchain. If you have a connection to this area, please join us. We would love to have you!