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It feels strange to do an introduction post for the Hive community, as feel that I have been around far too long to reintroduce myself. However, one thing that has been made clear of the last months, is how sectioned some parts of the community are and how we have an opportunity to stir the melting pot and remix participation. 

What I have really loved seeing over the last months is that all of the activity has brought unknown users into the discussions and the fork away from Steem has brought back old users, sleeping developers and reactivated quiet investors. Right now, we not only have the chance to revive and rejuvenate the community, but an opportunity to reimagine what it means to be a socially driven economy, powered by a distributed blockchain owned by that very community. While much is the same, the direction we take is up to us.

https://i.imgur.com/a7aiHYJ.jpg

## Do I need an introduction?

Yes. This community is diverse and while some might know me well, many others have likely never heard of me before as we tend to stick to what we know and associate with who we know. We have our friends, our acquaintances - and then everyone else. 

> *My name is Taraz and it's nice to meet you.*

In some interviews, they ask the question along the lines of, "What would your friends say about you?" and in regards to this community it would likely be something along the lines of

> *Damn he writes a lot.*

I have been contributing to this blockchain (historically) since January 2017 and am approaching 4000 posts and 30,000 comments. While some might suspect otherwise, I am not a machine, but writing is probably the place these days that I fall into flow the most, where I feel at home. Generally, I write around three articles a day that average around 1000 words each, with the goal to bring something different into the conversation or, visualize it in an alternate way.

I write across many topics with only one theme that runs through each - my own observations. My writing is a reflection of my world through my eyes, no matter if it is a work of fiction, poetry or looking at the economics of tokens - I value my experience enough that I investigate it and hope that what I find, adds value to what others experience.  

https://i.imgur.com/t1CmxAe.jpg

My posts cover many topics and many genres, but human nature is somewhere I like to spend my time and I try to observe, predict and imagine what reactions will be to events and where things may lead. My goal is to be where the ball will be, but I am one of those who doesn't want to be there alone, I want those I care about to be there with me. 

## Value-adding interaction

One of the greatest thing about Hive is, when value is added, all benefit. This is an opt-in collective and as such, we have the possibility to take ownership of our experience and our outcomes through our participation. My chosen role in the community is as a creative and community node, someone who can be relied on to contribute quality, engage consistently and bring people together. I have been a corporate trainer for 15 years and a trainer for over 20, communication and information distribution is something that comes part and parcel with me.

As such, my posts are long and often carry many threads to make their tapestry and I do this intentionally, so that the audience can pick at one and pull, to see where it leads. Some people pull to try and unravel the weave, some follow a thread to see what they discover. I can't do or learn for anyone else, life is our own as individuals to lead, but I believe in examining that life and aim that my content adds to my journey and potentially aids others along their own. 

https://i.imgur.com/DEWPxkB.jpg

## Own

That is what it is all about isn't it? *Ownership.* People look at the material without the consideration that what we should really take ownership of is our experience. For me on Hive, that is my content, my interaction, my reaction and of course, the stake I have in the community. How I use my resources matter to me and has some affect on the experience of others, for better or worse. The HP in my account is only part of my voice, the rest is through engagement. Some people think that without a large wallet, influencing the system is impossible. 

> *It is bullshit.*

Yes, I have a little Hive Power now, but back in that historical journey, I started from zero too and contrary to public opinion in some sectors - I didn't work my way up on my knees in the back alley blocks. I took ownership of what I can control and I put my best foot forward daily, every day and in every way - no matter what is going on in life, no matter how tired I am, no matter my mood. I believe that the largest and most valuable gains we make in life are those earned in failure, defeat, struggle, hardship and when the conditions are the most unfavorable. 

> *Pain is a far greater teacher than pleasure.* 

## This is a poor introduction

I am terrible at this, I do not stay on track and while I use my own experience and examples from my life, I do not actually like talking about myself other than to reference the observations I make. I have the benefit of interacting with many people from a very broad cross-section of industries and backgrounds and this gives me a pretty good view of what is going on around the place. I have two formal jobs, one is my own business consultancy, the other is as an employee at a global IT company, as a training specialist. Then there is of course the third job - *blockchaining.* Which takes up far too much of my time :)

https://i.imgur.com/8bHRn0w.jpg

Oh, there are a few things about me that you might or might not know. 

- I am Australian, but have lived in Finland the last 17 years
- My Finnish sucks ass
- All the photos (99.9%) I use are my own
- My daughter may be the first baby on the blockchain (@smallsteps)
- I freewrite most of my content 
- I haven't missed a day posting since mid-2017
- In real life I am far more funny (anyone who has met me - shhhhh)
- I give my time freely to those I think deserve it
- I think that the community is the most valuable resource we have
- I plan on never retiring from working at what I think is valuable
- I like to create something useful

As you can see, there is nothing remarkable about me, no magical abilities or superpowers that differentiate me from anyone else in this life, and I am okay with that. I actually think this is a pretty good indicator of the future for social blockchains and token distributions - it will be performed and received from normal people like me, people who find what they love to do and keep working at it until they improve and connect with those who appreciate the effort. 

Effort is a valuable component and, it has to be applied consistently. A lot of people these days want fast results with minimal effort without realizing that the chances of accomplishing wishes is next to none. In general, things of value take time to produce and that is no different for the values within and of a community. For me, participation is important and I see the possibility here is enormous to be part of a world-changing industry while it is still in its infancy. 

https://i.imgur.com/NKiIQHC.jpg

If you arrived today and this is the first post you read, understand one thing.

> *You are an early adopter.*

As I said, the plan is to be where the ball is going to be and a part of that is being a part of what gets us there, what we do now. We are the 0.01% of the future token-powered social platform users, and we are the ones who are going to define what that future is going to be. Every post, every comment, every vote, every power up and down develops the conversation in some way. 

> *I enjoy being part of the conversation.*

Did you learn anything about me? I am open to answer questions if you ask in the comments section.


Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]

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This is part of the @anomadsoul, @blocktrades and @ocd supported inititaive:
### [My Introduction to the Hive Community](https://peakd.com/hive-174578/@anomadsoul/challenge-my-introduction-to-the-hive-community)




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