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I was talking to a friend from my past workplace today and he said that while life is good, he is pretty frustrated at work currently. When I enquired why, he said it was just that things aren't working as they should be. And then added, "I think not having ownership stake has impacted me". 

> I agree.

When not an owner, it makes all of the issues, *someone else's problem.* It is easier to walk trash, stay silent in meetings when disagreeing, and leaving finding solutions up to others - even if believing their solutions to be poor. Employees only have to worry about their own position, and what is close to them - owners have to consider the whole business, as well as what they are doing daily. 

>Non-owners tend to be less engaged.

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23w2uZbabswG8Y8ooaJQsrV1iiYXvUZUSERUTvPw5CtVtGPTZUweB39rxVSgcwkFNU6H7.png)


The other day I was [ranting about some Hivers,](https://peakd.com/hive-196233/@tarazkp/snakes-and-hivers) especially those who extract the majority of what they earn. What I didn't mention is the value of individual ownership for the community. Remembering that this is a distributed, stake-based platform, so the more owners there are who are engaged with the platform, trying to make the place better - *the better.* When people sell their stake, they are largely going to disengage from the community, even if they are still doing things within the community that help - because they are doing it to earn.

> There is nothing wrong with that.

But they are employees. It is an easier position in many ways, but it is also a position that is largely powerless, as everything they get is at the mercy of others. And as they have no ownership value to distribute to others, they will struggle to build a presence. And of course, when they have been around for a long time, earning well, and still haven't become a significant owner, they have demonstrated their approach to the community. 

> Just a job.

They are renters and as such, they don't put down roots, and they are ready to go whenever things are not to their liking, which is generally when they aren't earning enough - when the support they got has disappeared, and they have nothing keeping them here, because they aren't getting paid. 

An owner on the other hand tends to be in it for longer, be more engaged, and willing to be part of finding solutions in some way. Not just suggesting changes, but actually supporting change. Being a distributed stake system, people will have many different perspectives on what and how to support or change, but they are trying what they think is best. 

> Because they have skin in the game. 

Ownership of our experience is important in my opinion, otherwise we become passengers, with no control over the direction, or how the car is being driven. This makes us victims of circumstance, and when we do it by choice, we are choosing victimhood over self-direction and responsibility. 

And yeah, I reckon people should be able to do what they want with what thy earn on Hive, but I also think that people who earn should be adding value, and those who are doing it only to earn, should be adding even more value in content and activity, because they aren't adding distribution value, nor are they adding stability of the chain value. And they aren't demonstrating the behaviours to encourage others to own, distribute and secure either.

> Are you invested?

There is a difference between coming to Hive to earn and extract, and earn and invest. Hive is pretty cool as it is possible to come in with nothing, and still build an investment position. It is also possible to come in and earn and extract, but that doesn't tend to last very long, before the earning stops. But, I guess the middle of the road approach is probably a decent approach to Hive, where some of the earnings are extracted, and some are invested  into the platform. It is even made really handy for  content creators, because it is split 50/50 at pay out. 

Well, at least what is good to remember is that you  don't have to read or listen to me at all, and I can't force you, even if I wanted to - which I don't. I don't own you, you don't own me - and no one owns the HIVE on the platform, until it is securely in an account wallet.

> There are risks whether an employee, or an owner.

Which would you rather be?

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]


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