Everyone is gradually anticipating the next hard fork, but sincerely, are we truly ready for it?

> # Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.......

# Table of content
- Understanding the hard fork
- Adjusting to meet basic needs
- What we should do right now
- How does it affect all
- Way forward
- Ending note
![Altcoin-Hard-Fork-1-696x348.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQma4PyP5W9jPWdfSiZqEsL2HFjWPQb2LgLTsVww9xEFd8b/Altcoin-Hard-Fork-1-696x348.png)
# Understanding the hard fork
A hard fork in it's simplest term, is altering previously existing protocols on the blockchain which were considered invalid. This change requires users of the blockchain to make certain changes considered necessary.It is not the end of steemit as being ignorantly propagated by some,it is however a dawn of a new age.
It is not the time to rush and cash out nor power down, it is the time to invest in the block chain the more. Without the hard fork, there would be no improvements on the blockchain.
It is a time when older nodes on the block chain can't validate the blocks of the newer and upgraded nodes.
Like I said, it is essential in the general protection of the blockchain technology such as taking care of security threats which were found in the older software versions and add new changes which are usually permanent.
![hard.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXRjHnVAC1Hbc9xgMBSnugp2vmHcXWBZro3VESrzJfsyh/hard.png)

# Adjusting to meet basic needs
So some people especially minnows are basically scared because they heard instead of 40 full power votes, each individual is only allocated 10 full power votes right? Well wrong in a way, you can adjust your voting power percentage in such a way that you do not have to always vote at full power.
That way you can still share your votes among the quality contents you have always desired and also nobody especially minnows, has to feel vote strapped.
Just adjust the percentage and you are good to go. The hard fork does not stop you from voting for quality contents, neither does it encourage you to become selfish. It encourages you to think of ways to overcome a temporary, but yet perceived limitation and I have just offered a viable solution which is **reduce your voting power percentage** soyou can still vote more and receive votes too
![harsh.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaVTuCMtmu6mF9DenrwhTibufxj1fEZ79QForMGjkdbeg/harsh.jpg)

# What we should do right now
We should first of all remain calm, and realize that a hard fork is not the end of the block chain, it is rather a new beginning.
Secondly,we should do what we love doing which is posting on steemit and trading steem as if nothing is going on, afterall it is still business as usual. 
A lot of people right now claim they came for the money and stayed for the community, it is time to truly stay for the community and pay your dew. This is not a time to run away or go on emergency vacations (though we all need rest), it is a time to prevent the price of steem going below the $2 mark because if that happens, then that would just suck.
We should also not start playing favorites, we should like I earlier said, remain unbiased and focus on moving on together as a community. Your money won't run away.
![helping+out.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdfHEPJHz9GHK3C5NKQ7thVCDvaxBQ5ZidEnpRgqGDHcZ/helping%2Bout.jpg)

# How does it affect all
From the little understanding I have of it, it is basically going to empower the minnows.
How you may ask? It is targeted at giving the minnows a boost in voting power while reducing the impact of the whales, thereby giving power to all. If you ever had a post with so many votes and little cash, and you received a message from screenname saying your post is undervalued, well that is going to change.Either by reducing the amount by which a post is undervalued or by totally eradicating it.
This is the period people will see the true nature of minnows who complain especially. We will now know if such minnows will help others or focus solely on themselves.
Now, power is about to be handed to all, and not some.My advise is make best use of it for the development of the community. Will that be the case?
![f4952118a7f1d7a975832f34c3c3dbf4.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdzEguDowdjUKYs6FTupoaGBPn3EEfiK7UsvHkih4brdi/f4952118a7f1d7a975832f34c3c3dbf4.jpg)

#  Way forward
> I am not a person who lists the problems, I also give possible solutions

Everyone should come to the realization that developing the community is a collective and not singular effort. People should stop assuming the whales are only thinking of themselves, they should realize that whales have been delegated an awful lot of responsibilities and responsibilities which they have to fulfill.
We should focus more on building the steem and sbd and also work on increasing our steem power to enable us get better curation rewards. 
Let us work hard, bring new people and keep posting and also trading steem currency to help increase it's value so that can really meet our $10 ------>1 Steem target before January 2018.
![forward.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaJiG2zu6XB67uS1SLUi9XnxLrkk3bQ2Bfma8p6WLsxhQ/forward.jpg)

# Ending note
I started off by saying the hardfork is not the end of the world, it is a blessing in disguise. People should not see it as a time to rush and power down because of the belief that people will lose.
It is a time when we have a genuine opportunity of making the difference for this community and it's currency, if we agree to put aside any selfish interests or fear and work for the progress of all.
Contrary to some fears that the hard fork will wipe away everything, it won't, it will only strengthen the system.
Let us do well and we'll look back and say good job
![good job.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaEsXf6eUUJ81Tw8bNuQVxA89w9Bc28J6izgmnSk7UPHW/good%20job.jpg)

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# Feel free to comment and correct me, I am open to learning
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**Image credit:** [1](https://coinjournal.net/opinion-whats-difference-bitcoin-hard-fork-altcoin/)-[2](https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-guide)-[3](http://www.digitalistmag.com/future-of-work/2017/03/24/leadership-adapting-todays-harsh-realities-04989198)-[4](https://www.mibos.org/partners/)-[5](https://www.shutterstock.com/search/the+way+forward)-[6](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/employee-engagement-way-forward-dr-salim-al-flaiti)

Thanks to @elyaque for the badge and @son-of-satire for the generic footer
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