Will it all be okay?
That is a hard question to answer in terms of the economy at the moment, isn't it? because truth be told, it always is, but that doesn't mean there isn't going to be suffering and pain along the way for many people and, perhaps even worse. While many people take the "it's only money" approach to thinking about finance, life can be pretty damn hard if there isn't enough money. It doesn't buy happiness, but not having any doesn't mean there is no sadness.
I was talking to a colleague and they were saying about their own economic concerns. They are a sales person with a retainer, but works largely on commission. Their supervisor keeps advising them "not to care" if they lose a sale, but whilst this is good advice, it is difficult in practice, because, they needs the money.
The problem is with need, is that it starts to smell like desperation and just like a guy at a bar trying too hard, desperation isn't attractive. Similarly, neither is corner cutting or resorting to a drop in quality. In some way, it is similar to content creation on Hive, where when the price is up, people put in the effort to try to capture staked votes, but when it is down, the same people drop their quality away because "it isn't worth the effort". For those in the know, they realize that the price doesn't matter, the HIVE does, and the best time to build stake, is when the price is down.
It is very much like buying stake, isn't it? Just trading time and effort, instead of the time and effort spent to work in another job of some kind and then using earnings to buy. However, the price of HIVE does affect the amount of HBD that gets printed and received on a post, which is also the liquid portion. And, for those who "need the money", they are going to be net sellers no matter what the price, unlike those who converting their HBD to HIVE and powering up, or even putting into savings to earn the current twenty percent.
Multiple revenue streams.
Everyone talks about it, yet it seems few actually are willing to do what it takes. Everyone wants "passive" income, assuming that it means no work need be done, but unless born into wealth and gifted investments, passive income requires investing. And that means investing resources into something, whether it be money, time, effort, sweat, ideas... Whatever can be traded for value.
For most of us, we don't actually have that many opportunities in life, so we have to pick and choose where we put our effort. And, most of us will not have the kinds of jobs that alone will make us independently wealthy. So, if we want to build a better financial position (and through it, have better access to opportunity), we need to do more than the average. There is nothing wrong with being average, but if you look around at the average person and think that you want more, you are going to have to do different to what they are doing.
I was reading an article recently that was stating that "bosses" had slightly lower IQs than the people they managed. This of course made a lot of "subordinates" happy, because they always knew they were smarter than their manager. However and as we keep saying in society, there are other factors than IQ that go into being successful. And most probably, if you look at the highest paid people on earth, they likely aren't the sharpest tools in the shed - but they have a set of in-demand skills that people are willing to pay for. It is no wonder that so many people are attracted to trying to be a celebrity these days, because it seems like "easy money", until they realize, for most, it is very hard work and the majority aren't willing to do enough of it., for long enough, in a way that people are willing to pay for.
What is your competitive advantage?
There has been a lot of talk about AI-generated content on Hive lately, and the question goes toward the market factors. While people are able to generate large volumes of content cheap in time, effort and resources, what sets them apart from their neighbor, or the million other people willing to take the same path? The thing is, all that content becomes average, no matter if it is at a far better standard than most of these people could ever dream of writing themselves. Same for the artwork - it becomes the "new normal" and no matter how good it looks, people won't pay much for it, because there is no market differentiation between one "artist" and another, because neither are actually creative, the AI is the single source.
I was thinking about competitive advantage in terms of my own content, and wondering what sets me apart from the other creators. It isn't that I know more words, nor that my grammar is better. It isn't the quality of the images or the specialization in topic. So? Well, perhaps it is partly volume, where I am able to write a fair amount, but many can do that and have done. Yet, most of those who have, haven't been able to do the single thing that they need to do in this kind of ecosystem - engage the audience.
And, perhaps it is counterintuitive for many who think that the quality of content comes down to the quality of the written words or thoughts included. However, what quality content is, is engaging content and to be so overtime requires building relationships with the audience. It needn't even be a direct one on one relationship, it can be through the posts where a personal bond is formed in the way a good book draws in the reader to keep reading a series by the same author, or see more movies from a particular actor.
It is about connection.
But, how do you emotionally connect with a constant stream of average that is devoid of personality?
Once upon a time there was the idea that "a picture tells a thousand words", but that is no longer the case. It was only true when there was image scarcity, meaning that a good image would have enough floorspace to attract eyes for long enough for them to consider the content. Now, with so many images flooding the senses, few of them make much of an impact at all. The more ubiquitous, the less value, because of a lack of the all important market differentiation.
It's only money.
No, it isn't only money. And the reason I argue this is not because of the money itself, but for the journey it takes for most people to get that money. For most, they have to do what the average person is not doing, whether that be being great at a particular skill people are willing to pay for, providing a service that few can provide, or robbing a bank. They have to be above average, but with a lot of this, it doesn't come down to someone's IQ, it is a cluster of traits, including those like being risk seeking or, not giving a fuck what the average people think.
It will will be okay.
There is nothing wrong with being average - unless the average person is not happy being average. And as far as I can tell, most people have things that they care about in a way that they want to be above average performers in. They might not be the best, but they want to be better than most. And those who are probably the happiest in this world, aren't those who have nothing, but those who are able to do something that they feel is valuable, even if it is difficult to do. And the unhappiest people seem to be the ones who are doing nothing at all.
We are built to move and think and create. We are built to run and jump, trip and fall. We are built to invent and problem-solve. We are built to collect, cooperate, collaborate and coordinate to accomplish outcomes we can't do alone. And,
we are built to fail.
Constantly.
We are also built to dust ourselves off, recover, heal and try something different. Doing different doesn't guarantee success, but doing what everyone else is doing, doesn't get us far either. If we care what people think of us so much that we conform to fitting in, we lose our chance at having a competitive advantage and therefore, resign ourselves to the average. Everyone wants to be part of a group - the average person is.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
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Wow, a good portion of this post is right in lock step with a conversation that I was having earlier today. It's funny because you are reiterating some of the same things that both I and the other person were saying to each other. I need to figure out something with my content. I don't feel the quality has changed at all, but the results aren't what I was expecting after five years on chain.
It is generally not about quality, so I wonder what it is for you. What sets you apart, what engages your audience? Why would someone spend a few minutes of their day reading you, rather than someone else? It is an interesting exploration to reflect on and perhaps it will have more value for you too, meaning the writing itself becomes valuable.
Of course, I can only speak from my experience and that has been that I have to be part of what I write and enjoy the process itself, as well as the results, regardless of engagement or votes. This way, even if it "fails" I got something out of it. It seems that this in itself is somewhat unique in content, which is part of the reason people stop by and spend a few minutes. It is a space in their day for them to reflect too, kind of like a guided meditation or something - except more practical :)
Writing is a bit therapeutic for me, so I guess there is always that 😃
Yes, money couldn't buy happiness but let us not be hypocrites but it was hard to be happy when you don't have money. Yes, it could be in a few moments but what if you have nothing to provide for your family? Isn't that would be sad and depressing?
So yes, we should work hard to earn more money, that could make us happy 😊.
Ahh, yeah, sometimes when Hive price is at dip I know some who are not motivated to engage. Yet for me I find it a great opportunity to earn. Yes, Hive is hive no matter what the value.
I am just a newbie here, yet as much as possible I don't want to convert nor sell my Hive or HBD. Why? I am always inspired to see old users here with huge voting value!
So, I am hoping I could too in the next few years! ☺️.
Have a great day
Exactly. And the world we live in is largely, not free.
It takes some time to get going on Hive, but stick with it and a few years down the track, you might be surprised :)
Setting up multiple revenue streams in the form of multiple jobs sucks. I remember when I had a business and the amount of work it took to get profitable, and then us packing it in when it was profitable because the money wasn't enough to make up for the time we were losing that we'd much rather spend on other things.
Here is work as well but it's fun XD and less required hours
Fortunately for us we were at least in the position to be able to decide that we didn't want to do it anymore.
I get where you're going with the image worth a thousand words analogy in this case, though I'm stuck thinking of it in the meaning that I got taught which was it's sometimes easier to draw a picture than to spend a block of text describing it XD
Now that you mention it...
And getting angry at other people who are attempting or succeeding at things they've decided are too hard or impossible doesn't seem to make them any happier.
Yes it does!!!! It can be super draining and stressful.
For sure. When it has an engaged audience in mind, pictures are great :) If trying to attract a new audience, not so great - though on Instagram it is about getting your boobs out it seems. But, is it leading to real "engagement" :D
Do you think people are becoming more bitter?
Especially if you're not cut out for that kind of thing which I really am not x_x I really admire people that are able to do it, I know a few people who are running one or more businesses and they're much definitely more better organised than me and able to stay on top of everythinng somehow.
That's actually a good question. Because I can see a possibility for real engagement to occur, but in general it does seem to only be the illusion of real engagement.
I think it's the same level of bitter but more bitter people because now more people have more access to more people. This is purely observation though (of the type where either people are talking around me or I may actually be in the conversation but I'm listening, I don't always engage). What's been your observation? (yours is probably wider as you actually like talking to people XD)
I think managers often have the low IQ in terms of the actual work but their only IQ needs to be doing to manage the people.
I feel competitive advantage with AI these days is under threat for many writers, designers and other workers. Because most of the competitive advantage people have is thought process which AI can't beat and apart from that I feel that things are kind of going in motion for a lot of shift.
So we have to think of changing our old ways because lot of our traditional things would be changing from workforce, money and even in terms of health too.
The interesting thing about the study, was that they still had above average IQs :D
I also feel that real experience and skill are going to be paid a premium over AI generation - but most people have little of both.
I feel the happiest people are those that want nothing. If you can live a life with minimal expectations, the good things that happen to you, you tend to appreciate more as you least expect it.
This is a very good point! Desire is the root of suffering, after all. The challenge is that regardless of how little, we all need something and if we don't have enough, we automatically have wants.
Ah.....the eternal debate between needs vs. wants. We can go on and on.
I think we need to appreciate the fact we can actually have this discussion and we can afford to have wants. Gratitude is important, especially when you have young kids.
Thanks for the follow and upvote on my post :)
It's tough but I honestly think that most of the top management don't really understand much. There were some videos about how Faze was ruined by all the corporate VC money that came into it. I remember liking Faze a bit and they don't really care about what other people think.
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If you are beholden to anyone for your paycheck, you are not free to do as you please - this is the same for influencers on Instagram for example.
When it is down, people leave HIVE; when up, they come back. However, the amount of HIVE you are rewarded is more important than the price of HIVE in the first flush.
I think most people don't come and learn how the mechanism work in the background, even though affected by them. Way of the world.
WOW!
In terms of economy, I agree with you that desperation is at the door while they are deceiving attention with many kinds of news like aliens and so on.
Here, well, I am really glad you came up with this topic. I have to be honest. I felt frustrated a lot, when I see me writing articles that requires efforts, researches or articles where I share my deep experience in the crypto-space and I can barely reach 1 dollar in tips.
Then I see other posts, with some images thrown there getting much much more.
I do not want to sound polemic, but yes, I think that it's not a simple matter of words and thoughts, but also of connections, empathy and simpathy.
But if you have more suggestions I will be more happy to receive, since I am really enjoying your way of posting (and that is why I am dropping here frequently)
There are many sides to it and it often also goes in waves of support and then deserts :)
However, it really is about building the relationships with the audience and often, that lasting relationship isn't through the quality of content, it is the character of the person. It takes time to build personal relationships to the point that stake wants to support that network. Perhaps I should write a post on it :)
Somebody told me that a hard worker with average intelligence will always perform better than a lazy genius. I remembered this one reading the bit about bosses. The amount of work you put in also matters, most of the time.
I couple years ago on a podcast, they were talking about the difference in hours worked in various income bands. The top income bands tended to work the most hours, even though they aren't generally getting paid hourly.
You can work hard, and you can work smart, but if you do both at the same time you may be at the top of your range in no time. My opinion.
Absolutely!!
Posting to Hive will not give you a good income for 10,000 users. Only 100 will earn. There are fewer opportunities than in a regular job. Only a few earn in trading.
But Hive has interesting people, information and the opportunity to make good investments. The best option is to invest in Hive and HBD - rather than trying to make money by posting.
And, it has the possibility to be part of the network of the successful also, but that takes buying some HIVE, if unable to earn it. Buying HIVE is being part of the success of the business model, even if not successful as a creator.
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people ( seckorama ) sharing the post on LeoThreads,LikeTu,dBuzz.https://leofinance.io/threads/@seckorama/re-leothreads-fkbf1zzw
Very good post, Mr. Taraz, explains in a simple way that mistakes are learned, and the person can illustrate to visualize the opportunities; it is also an excellent reason that motivates and generates the change of attitude with possible tools to act, and knowledge to advance... Excellent
https://ecency.com/garden/@photoshop12/mobilizing-environmental-cleanliness-through-community?referral=photoshop12
Are you dropping a link to your post here?
I don't think this could be argued, because those who may have much money still experience sad moment crying that money it's all it takes to be happy. Yet without money life remains frustrating perhaps much of the money is another window of sorry.
Every one needs something wow, something engaging and fascinating and that has to be linking with this, one's audience is sustained while the passion and consistency waters it as attitude and appreciation or gesture brings in the progress desired. But many are willing to endure the building stage where everything look almost poor the determined few gets there and become famous and loved.
#LeoFinance
I know so many people who we started oosting on Hive together but they have stoppped because they are being demotivated by the price.
Something cannot always go the same way. The market is volatile. It will always fluctuate. If we know that, we will surely find peace instead of thinking about the fact that the price is down.
I think the people on Hive need to know that Hive is one of the greatest ways that they can make money. Hive is still the best platform that I have worked on.
Glad I was raised in a home that constantly preached being myself rather than being average... I think I've been better off for taking this advice. I've had quite a few different careers and led quite a few different lives if I'm being completely honest. But I rather like the bit about falling, learning, and getting back up to do it all again, but differently, more authentically. Like you said, the money buys comfort, it buys options, it buys choice, but in the absence of it all we still have ourselves, our connections, our relationships to sustain us even as the money becomes increasingly worthless.
At least there is HIVE & HBD.