when you'r prepared, luck happens more often
This is what many who are jealous of others success don't understand. The rags to riches is usually a case of someone stubbornly plodding ahead after others gave up and finding themselves in front of the prize. Usually unexpectedly.
You mentioned getting onto exchanges during the bear cycle. I think that would be a great focus for the new committee that is forming. I also hope they will look into how to educate businesses on how Steem could benefit their already existing companies that would not rely on Steem in their business structure, but would enhance it through means like:
Customer rewards.
Employee bonuses.
Redeemable in house for goods and services after they have been awarded.
Alternative payment portal that is almost instantaneous and low cost.
Everyone always talks of how all alts HAVE to be tied to the value of Bitcoin and this simply isn't true. If any alt can convince the business world that it would enhance their company after the initial investment we would see a chain independent of Bitcoin valuation.
It seems to me many of the apps I have seen are tied to the internal exosphere of Steemit and its community. This severely limits the potential to maybe 25k people. Convince the outside sector that this could be beneficial independent of this community and the world is a potential client. Hoping this new committee will focus on this expansion.