Inspiring work, jobs and getting paid

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I am currently on furlough and working 60% and will return to 100% on Monday, about 3 weeks earlier than scheduled. I am happy with this as it has been challenging to get everything done I need in three days (impossible), but still get only 3/5th of my normal work income. My main job (my business) has also been heavily impacted, so it has been over a 50% loss of income for about 4 months - but with my wife working at 100% due to her line of business, we have fared better than many.

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I was asking from my wife (who is in Human Resources and hires for a large retailer), what my chances would be for getting a job stacking shelves and what kind of income that would bring - which isn't much, though would cover our mortgage and food expenses, but fall short of being able to cover everything. If push comes to shove, this is what I would do, or I would work at McDonald's flipping burgers, or emptying bins in an office, or washing windows for the elderly - it doesn't really matter much - I'd do what it takes to cover my responsibilities the best I can.

I have mentioned this before that it seems that a lot of people these days don't seem to want to work, even though they also don't want to go without purchasing consumables. Yeah, this is going to depend on many factors as well as where one is, but that is not my concern - it is up to each of us as individuals to consider this for ourselves.

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Yep, @curatorcat is right, this isn't a job as a job comes with a salary, but I do think this is work and acting like it is work isn't a bad thing, yet this depends on what one considers work to be. For me, work is intentional effort applied to accomplishing some kind of outcome - it doesn't matter if it is paid, a hobby or done for charitable reasons - all that we can do could be work. A job however comes with predefined tasks in order to get an income.

In the case of me stacking shelves, I would get paid for doing just that, stacking shelves - but those shelves would also need to be stacked with the right products and in the right way - with these conditions being set by the employer. I would have very little say over what I put where or how I place them, but I do the task I get paid for and, I get paid.

Hive in general is not like this, as there are no predefined set tasks that need to be completed in order to get paid, there is no job contract, no standard operating procedures (SOPs) and no employer that signs a check at the end of the week. What there is however, are active users who make up a community of staked shareholders who based on a multitude of personal conditions, distribute some kind of value across the user base. What the blockchain does is record the actions and handle the transactions defined by individual users and the mechanisms of the blockchain to move HIVE to and from the pool and directly across accounts. Remember, it is just a ledger that automates the recording the processes and can have algorithms applied that handle the supply chain of the interactions.

What this means is that it is again up to the individual user how they act, interact and transact (behavior, relationships, transfers) on the blockchain and while they have no control over other users, everyone can influence other users. For example, through what kind of content one posts, what kind of relationships one develops, what kind of activity one partakes in - will heavily influence what feedback gets returned from the community.

A simple illustration of this could be that a decent post could influence users to give upvote value and provide positive engagement - whereas a plagiarized post could be met with downvote value and negative engagement. While no one can control what others do, the author can control what kind of content they provide and potentially influence the community with - there are no guarantees if what one provides is going to be met positively or negatively, but it is quite predictable over time if paying attention - just like a job.

If you have a job and consistently fulfill task requirements, you can quite accurately predict that you will be paid for those tasks performed. If you consistently fail to meet the conditions of the predefined task list, it is quite predictable that one won't be paid for long. When this is applied to "working on Hive", as there is no set task list and the environment is directed by a diverse community, what "gets paid" is going to dynamically change over time, with some "tasks" trending and dying rapidly, with others being able to maintain popularity for longer.

When it comes to "getting a raise" on Hive, one has to meet the conditions of the moment or invest more in as an owner and then the "raise" is going to be a question of Return on Investment (ROI). However, even though consistency is key, offering something that is being rewarded today doesn't mean that the same set of actions, interactions and transactions will garner the same support or "pay" in the future. What is likely however, is if the behavior is consistently negative, it is likely to influence stakeholders to interact negatively or more likely, to ignore what is being offered. At some point, even making a change of content will be futile due to reputation built in the past and stakeholders can have a long memory and once they switch off, it can be hard to "turn them on" again.

There is an obvious reason for this of course, and that is that this is an investment for many with many understanding that how they use their stake influences the outcome of their investment. Supporting people who they feel harm the future of their investment is counter-productive to their desired outcome. This doesn't mean that the investor is blind to the challenges and limitations of the current conditions, but they aren't going to support the airing of dirty laundry often and rather work toward repairing and improving in a more positive way, at least publicly.

So, while Hive is not a job, it generally takes work to earn here because one has to be able to satisfy a set of tasks that aren't obvious (though I think consistent quality of post and engagement are pretty well standard for success). These tasks are also going to change over time and, what one stakeholder sees as valuable might be in direct conflict with what another sees as valuable. This means that there is a competition for eyes and stake based on many factors, most of which are personal to an individual account as it is preference driven - not a set of hard and fast rules.

For me, I am fortunate that where I like to work and where I hold some relative skill is also currently in areas that influence actions, interactions and transactions on the blockchain more positively than negatively. I get plenty of negative attention too, but it is outweighed on average by the positive. This means that the work I do with my own actions, interactions and transactions tends to be seen i a positive light - meaning that on a platform that offers value from the community, I do get "paid" consistently for now, but that can shift at any time - especially if I stop working at offering something that influences the audience. Again, I am lucky because I am highly interested in the content I create and it isn't just a placeholder I put up to collect votes. This is work - not a "job".

However, for people who do want to get paid, it is worth considering and evaluating what is required for you to influence the audience. Why I say "for you" is because if you do what I do, it might not be suited to your own interests, skills or knowledge - so will be likely delivered in a way that is disingenuous, which is unlikely to shift the audience positively.

In my opinion - finding what you love to do means working at it as often as one can manage - whereas doing a job is predominantly for a salary and often leads to a disinterested approach and a passionless fulfillment of tasks - it is not very inspiring.

If you aren't inspired by what you offer, do you think your audience will be?

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]

Posted Using LeoFinance



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39 comments
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To me, blockchain is similar to the Lego we had when we were kids.
There were basically two ways to play with Lego. One was to just follow the instructions and end up with the finished kit. The second one was forgetting about the instructions and let your imagination run. You could build anything you wanted, but there were no instructions manual nor secure reward.
Some need clear and direct instructions on what to do, then, if done right they get a reward in the form of pay, in Lego, your reward is having your kit finished.
Blockchain and technology in general, have pushed us more and more into the new way of doing things. You can learn at home and build something you can work and earn money, be that a web consulting service, e-commerce, a video educator, or publishing here at Hive. More and more people are now freelance than back when I was a kid. There will always be "regular" jobs out there but with blockchain introducing new economical business models, those not technical can now free their imagination and start earning in the wild freelance world. Just that possibility is huge for many people and opens up a new era, the era of getting paid for your imagination.

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The second one was forgetting about the instructions and let your imagination run. You could build anything you wanted, but there were no instructions manual nor secure reward.

This was my way. the instructions were only ever followed once, if that.

Some need clear and direct instructions on what to do, then, if done right they get a reward in the form of pay, in Lego, your reward is having your kit finished.

I think the "initiatives and challenges" are good for these kinds of people.

There will always be "regular" jobs out there but with blockchain introducing new economical business models, those not technical can now free their imagination and start earning in the wild freelance world.

It is indeed a brave new world for those who have a little gumption.

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I'd happily do a job stacking shelves or flipping burgers, but people are struggling to even get those jobs at the moment. I like the idea of simply doing what you're asked for a paycheck and having to make none of the decisions.

On the opposite end of the scale, the freedom of doing what you choose as an income is also appealing, but it comes with decisions, time and effort to get anywhere and build your business up.

For many, what they'd really like is the best of both worlds. The freedom to do what you want and get paid for it, but not do the hard yards and figure out how to earn from it.

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I like the idea of simply doing what you're asked for a paycheck and having to make none of the decisions.

A lot of people are like this - but there is also the challenge as often these kinds of jobs don't come with the "reward" that many hope for and after a longer period of time, they can be stuck in a rut wishing for something that is now hard to grasp.

For many, what they'd really like is the best of both worlds. The freedom to do what you want and get paid for it, but not do the hard yards and figure out how to earn from it.

This is why I am happily working two jobs and spending other time on Hive - it is the best of both worlds :)

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I'm glad to hear you are going to get your full income back soon.

I managed to extend my contract until the end of the year (it expired end of H1). Hopefully, I can join a new project after. In the mean time, I'm getting a nice raise for the next few weeks since I'm going away on business.

Luckily my wife also has a great paying job and we would still save decent money even if on single income. I think I may sit around and do nothing for a year after my EI runs out if I don't renew my contract. I will learn to meditate and do some other hippie stuff. Maybe I'll get into temple stays, lol. I also want to work on my business and spend more time improving my investment portfolio.

I bet with 3~6 months, I could really get things going well to the point where finding a new job would be pointless. Maybe I'll work part-time doing something neat. Flipping burgers doesn't sound fun, but cutting lawns or doing farmhand work 25 hours a week (3 days) would be nice. May as well get a workout.

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Any extension is welcome at this time. My position is full-time so I am lucky, especially considering I went full-time immediately.

Having a partner in a relatively secure position is a great asset too. When I say "asset" I don't mean that you aim for this, but often, people who have skills and opportunity find people with skills and opportunity - birds of a feather.

I will learn to meditate and do some other hippie stuff.

and then...

I also want to work on my business and spend more time improving my investment portfolio.

...hipster. ;D

Flipping burgers doesn't sound fun, but cutting lawns or doing farmhand work 25 hours a week (3 days) would be nice. May as well get a workout.

It isn't fun to do, but the people can be fun - depending on age I am assuming. Ad yep - may as well get a workout.

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Having a partner in a relatively secure position is a great asset too. When I say "asset" I don't mean that you aim for this, but often, people who have skills and opportunity find people with skills and opportunity - birds of a feather.

I'll happily describe my wife as an 'asset', lol. Marrying an obvious loser or a 'trophy' is a really bad idea.

I wouldn't mind if my wife wanted to stay at home if we had a young kid around or if she just wanted some extended time off for whatever reason. But she needs to be able to pull her weight when necessary. We are young so best to work and save money now because we may not be able to or just not want to work later.

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(Edited)

I don't really see 'working' on Hive by writing as that different from working as a freelance writer anywhere else - you try and find a balance between what you want to write about and what people want to read and then publish, there's no guarantee of a return even after years of work for most writers - at least on here you're 'getting paid' directly by other people - personally I think that makes your income more secure than having a publisher 'bear the risk of low sales' by paying a set fee for a work, because it's less likely your income stream will be suddenly cut off on the whims of one editor, or an algorithm (at least for now).

Maybe income is also more secure than burger flipping, at least if you're on a zero hours contract!

We're fortunate on Hive that we can earn as much as we do writing about stuff that interests us, few have that privilege!

Of course if the Wolf gets his way, we'll probably be earning a lot less.

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We're fortunate on Hive that we can earn as much as we do writing about stuff that interests us, few have that privilege!

Exactly! It's astonishing that such a thing can even exist.

Possessing Hive Power gives one power over the allocation of token inflation.

Possessing HIVE gives one power over the value of not only HIVE but Hive Power.

Half of all liquid HIVE is possessed by traders on exchanges who trade it to try and grow their BTC stacks in a negative sum game the main beneficiary of which are us, the user base of Hive.

Of course if the Wolf gets his way, we'll probably be earning a lot less.

If Wolf gets is way, most of us will certainly be earning much less. I think the volume of posts would go down quite a bit. I also suspect people would be talking about Hive and earnings much less.

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I also suspect people would be talking about Hive and earnings much less.

Well that makes sense, most of us wouldn't have much left to talk about on that front!

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In a way that could be a blessing in disguise because from then on conversations would most likely be about something that interests non-hivers as well.

But as for monetization goes, Instagram might be worth trying for photographers. There is a lot of competition but the potential audience is a billion strong.

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Yep, it isn't that different that freelance writing, but most people have never freelanced, so they have no idea - same as invested or run a business. People seem to think that being your own boss means "doing what you want" and it does, if you want to have no business.

Maybe income is also more secure than burger flipping, at least if you're on a zero hours contract!

The trick is to be the best burger flipper. ;D Actually, I was a crew trainer when working at McDonald's and the management team definitely knew who was going to get hours, and who wasn't. Being fast and reliable is an advantage everywhere.

Of course if the Wolf gets his way, we'll probably be earning a lot less.

I don't think Hive is ready for that yet, but I do think that it is heading somewhere in that direction in the future and have said so for about 3 years now.

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I don't think the hive is stable income source it just you might make some money but not abundantly to run household so gotta work some extra job to feed your, family

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I think the extra should be hive - with the job/ career being what is worked toward. Reason is that traditional jobs will be more stable overall for a while to come, but a little work on Hive could outperform them later. Take care of needs first - find ways to invest after.

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I agree with the last statement you made. If I don't think my post is good enough to garner upvotes and support then it is not good for sure.

For me, hive is a platform where you are free to do anything you want. A sports commentator, a blogger, a photographer, an artist and multitude of other avatars you always wanted to be. Remove 'earnings' from the equation and then you will clearly see what value you are bringing.

Earning crypto is a short term motivation and like many things in life you need desire, passion and commitment to survive and deliver on the long run. Motivation that stems from 'crypto earning' may not be that strong to hold people here posting things that they don't like and and that are not in line with their personality.

So, earning matters but also your desire to have the social and communal recognition.

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It is a complex ecosystem and the apporach each takes is going to be influenced by a complex stet of personal habits and beliefs - as well as skills and knowledge. The benefit of Hive is we are able to put forward what we want and develop our skill set continuously for the future, and also potentially earn on it. Not everyone will earn what they want, but many can get something and, the process of personal improvement will have additional value - perhaps the core value.

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I believe that any person who is willing to do the hard work stands a great chance of surving in these rough times. In any times in fact.

Delivering great content has a simple secret: to sprinkle a bit of your soul in the process. People can feel if a post is made just to cash in or if that author really has something to share. If when you read it you aren't moved, why would others react differently? Good point in mentioning this detail.

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Yep - s8urvivors tend to survive. There is a thing called "survivor bias" for a reason - victims don't last long.

Delivering great content has a simple secret: to sprinkle a bit of your soul in the process.

I completely agree! The kind of content I like the best is personal content that is also useful in some way - whether to make me think or on a more practical level - but still personal.

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Same here. If it makes me wonder, pause, think... It's good.

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If you aren't inspired by what you offer, do you think...

If you aren't inspired by what you offer..., Why am I doing this?

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Yup, precisely. I think the amount of people who don't actually care about what they offer is quite high on social media.

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If you aren't inspired by what you offer, do you think your audience will be?

That's a good point, and it is something that over time people can see and understand.

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I took a job once as a scab in a strike situation. I did not like it, but it paid real well and kept my family fed for the several months I had it. It was all about the paycheck.

I wrote for Adsactly for over a year. In that time I had two pieces rejected completely. One on the economics of (Steem) and the other about treating your account as a business. They weren't rejected by the editor, but the General Manager who didn't want the Adsactly account involved in the ongoing whale wars.

I've just looked. The economics post is horribly dated, but I might have to dust off the business post in the near future. I think it's a great concept.

Owning a business isn't like having a job. I've owned a couple where I was the lowest paid employee in the place. It's about hustle and grit and desire, not about the skills traded for money. Though I had the skills needed too.

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Yay for being able to go back to 100% soon!

You're very patient, anyone making demands like that of me (finishing the same amount of work in less time for less money) would basically be given the triangle diagram and told to pick two sides XD


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And then I'd probably lose the job so it's probably a good thing I don't have one

Oh we do have the same definition for work, I wasn't sure with some of the posts. I wanna work more! Just on stuff I want to do but this need to have money for other stuff and having to do stuff for money is interfering with everything and it annoys J and I XD

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