I've been hearing about Steem for a couple of months now. Like most that come across it for the first time, my immediate question is: well is it worth anything? I don't know why I insist on thinking in such simple terms with any cryptocurrency, but that's where my brain goes each time anyway. The real answer is extremely complicated, and it turns out that I don't have the information required to accurately answer that question.
Let's find out.
This is the only real answer. I want to find out what Steem can build, and there's no better way to learn that than to get on here, blog about it, and see where it takes us. Coming in blind as a new user I have no expectation of what monetary gain can come from it - just that there should be SOMETHING if there's interest in what I'm trying. I have some ideas, some guesses, and some ultimate goals. Those are going to be secondary to the rules that I lay out in this post. The rules are what are going to keep this "something built ENTIRELY from Steem" and "something built with money and talked about on Steemit to generate extra money." Before we get into those rules...
A little bit about myself.
I'm a 31 year old male from the US (Florida Specifically). I've spent over 100 days at Sea on Cruise ships in the last 5 or so years (as a passenger). I travel constantly. I've been as far as Hong Kong, and as close as Cuba. Traveling the world (maybe funded by Steem?) is my ultimate life goal.
I'm nomadic, and since I turned 18 I've never lived in the same home for a full year. I've been employed and unemployed, and have made either a side or full time income as a poker player for the better part of 10 years. Poker is the primary form of gambling I've excelled in - but I also am a lifetime winner in Fantasy Football and there's more than a few casinos that would prefer that I don't play blackjack. I've chosen a life that lends itself to being single, but that's my preference.
I love food, but I can't cook. I eat out 90% or more of the meals that I eat in a day. My uncle is a Culinary Olympic Gold Medalist, Judge, and one of very few Certified Master Chefs. My taste in food is expensive, but it's also trustworthy. Combined with the lack of value of a dollar, my constant need to try the best of the best has led to some amazing meals. I've eaten Sushi off of a naked body, and I've put a chocolate bomb in my mouth as my 15th course of a meal. I don't recommend emulating this lifestyle at all: it's a great way to be overweight and broke (I'm generally at least one of those at any given time).
I'm tech savvy, but I can't code. I know enough to be up on all the current trends, but not enough to create my own trend or work for a trend leader. I've never blogged, but I do write for a PRINT magazine with national distribution.
I think I'm funny. 
The Rules
These are the most important part of this journey. The rules are what will make this entirely a Steem driven entity. The rules will keep me grounded, and keep me from flying off the rails. While writing these rules I believe that they should never change. I don't have enough experience to know for sure that I'm correct, so I can't say they won't ever change. For the foreseeable future, this will be the set of rules we live by.
Rule 1: No investment from anything other than cashed out Steem Dollars.
It's very likely that this project ends up being a business of some kind. The number one rule for anything that requires money is that I MUST make it on here (or through the business that was created on here) first. I cannot put my own cash into it. I cannot give a percentage of the company away for a service. I cannot crowdfund the project. You get the picture.
Rule 2: No blogging from anywhere except Steemit.
I'd like for this to encompass all social media posts, but I know that is too ambitious. I will not be blasting this on my personal Facebook, or spamming Reddit, or anything of that nature. It's important to me to see what Steem can do on its own, rather than how it can supplement other current forms of generating revenue. Should I create a website for whatever reason that needs a blog, it will link to here.
Rule 3: No gambling.
Again, many things can be broken down to gambling, but I'm talking about overt gambling. This means buying any sort of options, stocks, currency pairs, etc. Poker play. Daily Fantasy. Anything that is clearly gambling is prohibited. Obviously there are many things that carry a risk factor with them, but these are the largest volatility. This also means I will not be trying to time the market in any way on Steem itself, I will have a set cashout date each week, and I will cashout the full amount of Steem Dollars (I intend to allow power to stay where it is) and immediately convert them into whatever currency I need them to be converted to.
Rule 4: Track EVERYTHING
In the beginning this will be very simple, but as the project goes forward there will need to be more information to truly see what Steem is doing for me. I'll create a spreadsheet (and blog about what I'm putting on it and why) that will always be accessible to the community.
The Future
So what am I thinking? Where could this go? I've had ideas in my head for things I'd love to do like Cuban coffee blends, weight loss travel adventures, write a movie script, etc. I'll know very quickly which direction to head shortly after I post this. I see myself doing interviews down the line "What is Steem and how did you make a million dollars using it?!" Lets get there together.
Your first image does not show up, but I will vote to help anyway. Enjoy the adventure and be blessed.
I said I wasn't tech savvy! Thanks for the vote anyway :P
You are welcome, @steemfunded.
Welcome and good luck.
Heres helping you to a Million $ friend. Good Luck!
Probably not an admirable goal - I'd just blow it anyway. I WOULD like to develop something of sustainable value though.
Well I believe in you and whatever goals you set to use the money for!