I received a new batch from @HIVEBuzz. I usually don't care about those, but this one was a challenge that I set myself up to an experiment:
What happens if I post every day for one month?
The result was interesting. If you like, read through my short analysis and reflection on what happened. First, of course, the account growth. Second, the affect on my daily life and how it felt. Third, how I see the HIVE blog.
Nothing slow about that growth.
I started May with 2,192 HP. I finished with 2,885. Let's say 700 HP more, which is around 31,5% growth. That is quite a lot.
Most of the big steps came from posts about Splinterlands that really hit a nerve, and caught the attention of some whales. I heard someone call it "hitting the whale lottery", but I think (or hope) that it's merit-bound - I did put a lot of effort into those particular posts.
From here, growth will probably slow down in percentage. But If I can keep it to 300-500 HP per month, I'm happy. That would mean that I'll easily reach my goal of 5,000 HP by the end of 2025
Engagement
Another positive thing was the higher engagement I got in replies. I tried to comment whenever I had something to say that I thought added to the topic, and wasn't just repeat. And when someone did an exceptional job.
There's also a neat correlation between the comments that I made, and the replies I got, as those are to both my posts as well as comments on other posts. I do comment more than I get replies, though, but I guess that's still part of being a smaller fish in the sea.
Votes
I changed my voting-distribution a little. As I'm reading more and more, I reduced the amount of voting power on the voting trail that I'm following. It already shows in the cake-diagram, there are now many more names that I actively curate because their content really speaks to me. Some are known for their content, but I recommend checking out number 3, there is some really good content to find there.
I'm really happy with that. It shows my personal impact, and it feels great to have an impact. I'll probably reduce the voting trail a little further, in order to make this even more "me".
My incoming votes did change, too. I think it's more organic now as well, and less voting trails. There was a really good and valuable voting trail that supported me up to 2,500 HP, but then stopped. Probably because I either was posting too much, or because I reached the threshold where they stop supporting. I'm still learning about those initiatives.
No time, gotta write.
It wasn't like that, though. The first week I was a little nervous. What if I don't find topics to write about? What if this will make the posts mediocre, a mass production without soul? And yes, there are a couple of posts that I might have redacted more carefully, or would've worked a little more on the ideas, but after a while, I got into a flow. I sometimes wrote 2-3 articles in one day, just because I was inspired. And then nothing for a day, publishing those I had written before.
Looking for other topics pushed me more into the math section, calculating a lot of things for #splinterlands. Now I'm working on my statistic-skills, got some nice hints for tools to plot data and such.
By the way:
Where can I find data for my account on PeakD/HIVE?
Like the development of followers and who I follow, which day I powered up how much hive, and so one? Preferable in one file, and not going one by one through a history... I know how to use CSV files now 😎
Hive is different now.
Connections are growing. I'm getting to know some writers. I think I'm letting them to get to know me. And it never feels like wasting time here, there is so much great content to learn from and get inspired - or to just and simply enjoy.
I'm finding more communities as well, more honeycombs to explore and see where my thoughts fit. Many initiatives from long term users caught my attention and I joined many of their discord channels to find out more about them. I think I'm becoming more of a fan of all this, all of you.
Conclusion
This was worth it. It was good that I challenged myself to this, and hopefully it was an addition to the whole Hive as well. I won't be paying much attention to it from now on, maybe I'll skip a day from time to time. But if the creative flow goes on as it does at the moment, and time allows it, I'll keep writing and exploring and making connections.
Before, Hive was a means for writing and learning about Splinterlands, and helping me build my set there. Now, it's actually becoming more important than the game. I just powered up 50 HP instead of funneling those into the game. That, too, is a change that this month caused.
Big thanks to everyone who's creating great content and/or supporting mine!
And especially to those who answer all my pesky newbie questions and help me navigate through here :-)
Your insights on your growth on the platform are interesting and important - and I will (try) to follow your fine example as a new user.
But there's more to doing something every day - doing a task every day changes us in ways we can't even see.
There's a discipline in China to do a practice for 1000 days - around 3 years. When I finished learning the Wu / Hao Taiji form, I set myself the goal of training every day for 1000 days - and I did, through international moves, ill health, and general bad luck. Did I become a master? By now means. But the discipline changed me. When I was close to a 1000 days, my GF at the time said, "What are you going to do on day 1001?" My reply? "I'll train." Because once I've got that much under my belt, I won't lightly abandon it - I'm at around 2100 days now.
So I'd encourage you to look at how posting for a month changed you - in addition to the great uptick in the account...
That's a good point to consider. The thing is that while training is more a solitary activity, my writing is also open for others to read, and I'd like offer the best results possible. Currently, I think I'm still doing that, but if I just don't make it one day and am not pleased with the results, I rather not post than deliver mediocre content.
Glad you're finally here! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.
You can still set the discipline of writing daily - but make posting daily a separate goal...
That's a good compromise. And yes, I am writing daily, but now I'm reading less. Gotta find the balance still!
That's a very tough balance to find. I've been all on the reading side lately; I have to get back to writing.
I think the highest streak I've ever managed was 13days in a row - and even that felt like a big deal 😅 but seeing how much the month-long challenge helped you grow, but stats-wise and personally really makes me want to try it too. I'm not sure I could keep it up for a full month yet, but you've definitely planted thr idea in my head
You make it feel a little exciting
Also, your point about Hive starting to mean more than just, I'm feeling that shift myself lately
It was a challenge, and I do enjoy writing a lot. But it was a bit of pressure, I admit. For highest quality, I will probably not do that again, but see how things turn out. Right now, I'm working on 3 articles at the same time, so I'm stocked for a few more days :-D
I'm glad you're getting into the feeling, too, I hope it just grows stronger. It really is an interesting community and there are so many smart people here to learn from and exchange arguments with. Real arguments. Real discussions. No name calling, no tantrums, but intelligent discussions on sometimes difficult topics. I thought several times that I stepped on somebodies toes with comments, but writing privately it was like "Yeah no way, all cool!" That's what I love most :-D
A great mindset - challenge yourself but know when to ease up for quality. And three articles at once? You're on fire 🔥
Meanwhile, I barely know what to write some days 😅 thank God for prompts. And yes, the thoughtful discussions here really make Hive feel like a place worth growing in
I get most of my ideas reading through other posts. Things that are written in a by-sentence, but seem important to me to expand them to a post, for example.
I'll have to try that one🤔. Thanks for the tip
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