The only thing that is worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. - Helen Keller
I've never built up a company by myself so far, but have been working in several management positions over the past years.
The probably most important rule I've ever learned in that context is that you can't ever succeed if you don't know where you're going.
It's the vision that pulls you, not the other way around.
If you looked at the most successful businesses in the world, then you'd quickly recognize that they made their way to the top since they had an idea nobody else had.
And then they kept working straight towards that one idea.
Just one.
The best ideas are not necessarily the most venturesome ones.
Killer ideas are challenging but still realistic.
They don't need to be crazy but they will always make you want to jump out of the bed in the morning.
Now the most decisive step is that you clearly define that vision before everything else.
What Steem requires now is that one vision.
Here's an idea of how to get there.
Top down.
After having laid off 70% of their staff, Steemit Inc is in a situation where they need to rebuild their business.
One of the great benefits of setbacks is that they enable you to re-start and then even excel yourself.
For a reason Chinese people translate crisis as danger but also opportunity.
First and most important task: embrace the chance and keep cool.
Enforced pointless actions are the last thing you should waste your energy on now.
Take your time.
Don't think about any operational measures before you don't even know which goal they're supposed to contribute to.
In the context of Steem: don't think about the next hardfork if you don't know where you wanna see this project at the end of next year.
The single most important proposition is: focus.
@ned I appreciated hearing you say during the livestream that you and your team were probably trying to accomplish too many things at the same time - that's it!
Vision. Strategy. Concept.
It can only work in that very order and never the other way around.
First, I'd like to take you back to 2016 and the vision of Steem as it was initially defined:
Steem was created to return value to those who create value. (...) We've created a technology that is so powerful that it inspires our creativiy, our freedom and our relationships. - Ned Scott
Yes!
Two years have passed since then and a lot has happend, but honestly: isn't that still valid?
Isn't that how we actually want Steem to be? Can't we just go back to those roots?
In my opinion the original vision for Steem was and is simply brilliant.
Here's how we could relaunch that vision in 2019
Vision for Steem: Become the no. 1 social blockchain and no. 1 host of decentralized communities in the world.
Strategy:
Build and maintain a self-sustainable and decentralized network with a constantly increasing userbase that attracts, hosts and rewards talent, fosters creativity, stimulates investment and offers development opportunity.
Concepts:
- Delegate Steem Power from Steemit Inc's main accounts into communities (top community builders and leaders) = delegate the task of building and maintaining (!) a sustainable userbase into the community.
- Define Marketing and PR tasks and delegate them into those communities (see @timcliff's SteemBlast, @oracle-d's engagement in the netcoins contest,...)
- Parter up with Steem influencers, build a network of ambassadors, pitch them to the top blockchain conferences and help marketing the brand in the crypto space.
- Leverage the strongest and fastest growing communities on Steem in order to attract businesses that invest in influencer marketing, pitching specific blogs and topcis to advertisers (side note: product placement in blogs doesn't even require a change in UI!).
- Partner up with top application builders (@dtube, @steemmonsters, @esteem,...) and launch an ICO that finances future developments of those leading dApps.
- ...
Please add yours here.
One of the key drivers to Steem's success definitely lies in its decentralization, in leveraging Proof of Brain and creating sustainable value out of the community.
The more responsibility is delegated into the community, the stronger the network will become.
Then an increase in capital by new investment will be generated automatically, since money always flows into the direction of value.
That's my take and I'm looking forward to reading your comments.
Steem on 🤙
Marly -
(who actually wanted to go on a break from blogging...hehe)
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This blog was created in July 2016, aiming to provide thought-provoking content for open-minded people who go on adventure, step out of comfort zones and embrace the new.
Thanks for being part of the journey!
PS: All my blog posts are created and submitted via eSteem Surfer 1.1.12 - my favorite Steem desktop client that was developed by @good-karma's @esteemapp team. Check out their account for more information.
Original content. Quote found on quotefancy.com.
I couldn't agree more!
Then let's do this! :-)
You’ve hit so many nails on the head in this post that you should be a carpenter. : ) I literally nodded my head yes the entire time I read this.
Hahaha, I had never heard that one before - it really made me laugh :-)
Thanks a lot for your positive feedback on my post, Eric! I hope it can enspire some people who need inspiration the most these days...
Good, we can all use some comedy relief these days! Have a great weekend!
I like and agree with your suggestions, but I think we have to get away from relying on ned and SteemIt Inc. They are large stakeholders, but so far their only competency seems to be BlockChain Development. They should just focus on Blockchain development and leave the marketing and vision to the community.
I would just change where you suggesting delegating to community influencers to read "StakeHolders" instead of SteemIt Inc delegations.
Great article and I agree "Get back to our Roots" could be a great call to action!
Great addings, @whatsup and thanks for your nice feedback on the post!
I fully agree with you: the more decentralized Steem becomes, the merrier.
These are exciting times and the community needs to stand together more than ever!
Getting back to the roots is what steemit inc are doing, however the roots do not include many of these suggestions above.
I love your ideas, but then I have a business mind, not the mind of a developer. One problem I see right now is the delegations. Some of the apps in reciept of the delegation have no intentions on 'growing' the business skills needed to take their app to a business, instead they are just draining the rewards pool for something that will go no where.
I would rather see this delegation go to top community builders and leaders but my feeling is that steemit inc see that as investing in steemit.com instead of investing in the community which they can then leverage when pitching their protocol to developers. The value of saying, "come here we have users waiting for you" is massive, but seems to be ignored.
Moving the 'business' out of steemit inc and into the community is the way to go. we can build departments like communities. not every one on steem is a developer, there is a massive skill set here in the community and I hope we can find a way to pull together to help STEEM.
Great addings, Paula - thanks for taking the time!
I fully agree on your last point: converting communities into departments. That's actually what I wanted to express when talking about "delegating tasks into the community", but your version of the idea is much better.
My question is: why would anyone invest into Steem right now? Why would we blame developers for relying on a delegation if that is actually the only way to compensate their efforts? Not everybody who has started to build something on Steem has thousands of dollars in their bank accounts - but all these visinoaries still have one thing in common:
They want to build on Steem.
IMO an idea and its funding don't need to necessarily come from the same source. As you said: there is a masssive skill set - and what we need to do is bundle forces. And then find people who're willing to invest in that massive source of value.
If a developers build a app NOT on steem, what must they do? Self fund some how right?
Why would anyone invest in steem, easy, we have seen the potiental. Pitching an app does not mean the app investor needs to buy steem, however funding could be saught by apps so they can power their app with steem them selfs. Devs need funding, i dont see why steemit inc should be dragons den. They are not investors, the are developers. If they believe in their development and their ability to run it as a business, they should not fear seeking funding. And we have seen good funding happen here on steem without steemit inc, such as UA and parkito.
Posted using Partiko Android
Thanks.. Which apps are the worst in this regard?
Not sure who the worst is, but is seems like the people over at @appics are really serious about developing a business. I’m not sure how dependent they are on the development of SMT’s but in terms of their app and their marketing, I feel like they’re a good candidate for some support.
I would rather not say so publicly
Hahaha. That's the fisrt thing I thought of when I saw your post come up on my feed :)
You can forgive yourself for chiming in.. these are critical moments and we need all your best voices now ⭐️⭐️
It's not the first time that I came back in the middle of my holidays, haha!
As a steemian you're basically always on stand-by :-))
Thanks for stopping by and making me smile!!
the Daily "Spotlight"!
Oh that's lovely!! Thank you so much for the support :-) Glad you appreciated the piece of content in such way.
Let's face it; everyone in the room had their mind warperd by the meteoric rise. Time to forget about all that bullshit that was just as phony as the fiat dollar. Time to get back to work and not acting like anyone here is owed anything. Time to worship only one god: decentralization.
Peace
Getting back to work is never a bad idea IMO :-)
Thanks for stopping by - and yes: decentralization should be the no. 1 focus, I'm totally with you.
Happy weekend!
Vision for Steem: Become the no. 1 social blockchain and no. 1 host of decentralized communities in the world.
You are so right @surfermarly. This is exactly the reason why we decided to build ImpactN on Steem. We need a decentralised community to reach the Global Goals until 2030. A truly SOCIAL network is the way to go, because wicked problems (e.g. climate change) may only be tackled through distributed action and learning, supported by an infrastructure enabling co-creation and co-llaboration.
Having said this, the way to reach the vision should be social and decentralised itself. The SOS-forums set up by @pennsif could be the place for a kick-off for such a strategy - in collaboration of Steem community and Steemit Inc. The forums start Thursday Dec 13th at 08.00 PM UTC. Hope to see you all there, in search of a strong wind pushing us forward.
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I like and agree with your point of view, i especially liked your introduction about succes and ideas and how realize them
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