As @stayoutoftherz coined the term tonight, we live in an instagram society which makes it harder to encourage anyone for a few lines of written text. I'm happy and proud of @vikisecrets becoming the host of our Viennese chapter Hive meetups to show the world we exist (not only symbolically in digital) but physically in flesh and blood, with problems, needs and wishes just like anyone else. I think we cannot expect anyone becoming interested in blogging when they haven't met the person behind one's posts. And this was the title of our meetup tonight: "How to onboard new users?"
On the picture: @digitalmike @thermoplastic @vikisecrets @sciencevienna @mers @cpufronz, @reiseamateur (Thank you everyone for spending this wonderful evening together)
I won't give any advice at this point but I definitely will mention how writing on my more personal and frequent account @mochita helped me grieving. In life changing moments we see who might have potential to go this way with us and my inner friends' circle changed for sure. Today I can say I didn't break and I wish everyone who might struggle as well ultimately finding the right outlet for his/her sorrow. We cannot expect to proceed when we need to adjust our values and needs in the first place. For instance I couldn't work as crypto-consultant anymore as I couldn't bear the loneliness and temporality that comes with the job. I think in tech it's even worse. As I nevertheless built up my network of clients, the last months I placed them gradually into my colleague's hands Alexandros Ntolgkov, I think he does a good job! In case you might have doubts collaborating with freelancers, just secure your projects via Kleros Escrow especially for those kinds of projects your gut feeling is telling you that there's not the handshake quality in place you'd have wished for, it spared me a lot of trouble over my last few years.
Being self-employed or working on your business (model) does not get you the appreciation it deserves and I empathize with everyone who makes the decision to pursue that path. Networking will play a major part and as much as you'd like to make everything alone, you just won't make it and you will have dependencies in your life. As entrepreneur many things will not be in your hands and you will have to live with those different kinds of dependencies, the only way that'll bring you further to your goals will be to stay genuine and honest with others and yourself. Community building is not the same as business building and many will have to learn that the hard and bloody painful way. As much as I was successful with my entrepreneurial network sciencevienna.crypto it took a load of my mind when deciding to jump-start it anew, adjust it to my new realities. Whatever you might call it sciencevienna 2.0, I don't care anymore as what matters is how my work makes others feel. May the next hive meetups become a source of inspiration and collegiality: Hive is alive!
Yours Alex
