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What If There Was No Hive? (My Life In Introspection)

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@josediccus
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I was reading this post by @starstrings01 and it was a spin-off of the conversation we had on WhatsApp, firstly we talked about being broke, the challenges of being young and having to face life's gruesome economic challenges, the plethora of issues that come with living in a country with a depressing currency, of course, inflated to the core and the hopelessness it brings to people who live in a country with near zero opportunities.

Then he popped the questions: What if hive never existed? I have always thought about this all the time and this is because I am an overthinker, the question was easy for me to envisage because I've been in the conundrum. This was because I live in a country where there is no opportunity for people with fringe abilities and skills.

I was also doing this back in 2014

For example, writing, the ability to be expressive and overly creative with concept development is a fringe skill because it was peripheral. Medicine, engineering, and the law were more conventional, which means people like me, would be second or third-class citizens, because of our inability to break through the echelon of demand.

I like to say, I love the internet, I started using an Internet-enabled phone in 2009, but it was majorly to make friends. Right from when I left high school, at 17, I was passionate about teaching and the internet. I was fortunate to get paid employment at a school at 17. I did that till I was 20, it was when I was about 20 that I started writing because my writing appealed to my Facebook audience, I had people who gave me paid gigs to write on their websites and blogs, and I learned SEO because I wanted to helped their blogs rank on Google and a lot.

I think, I was teaching literature, some of these were students, the rest were tutors

I graduated from doing microsourcing jobs and fivver on the internet at 23. I'd said my fivver journey failed because of the dubious nature of the clientele. Back then, most of them wants to use the work without paying, and I needed the money. I was paid like $5 for writing a 3000 words essay.

What I am trying to say in essence is that, without Hive, I think I'd be on the internet, struggling, looking for the big break, and doing tiny jobs to survive.

However, I cannot completely paint that picture and the reason is that the economic situation of Nigeria in 2014 or 15 was better than what we had today, I think earning in Naira would have just turned one into working to feed and pay rent alone without having any futuristic inclination.

A typical Nigerian hustler

I appreciate Hive even more because it gave me a platform, I was hustling with a friend of mine, I was looking for writing gigs online, when a friend of mine, came to my house he was like; "Joseph, I have a place where you can write and earn" I was like, "oh writing?" He said it was going to be difficult, I was like, I've faced harder ventures, my life is hard already, so writing and networking would be a piece of cake for me. steemit Hive, turned out to be different from what be said it'll be and here we are today.

I appreciated Hive too because it "platformed" my fringe skills. I can say there's nothing else I can do in the world apart from selling, being able to create a concept for a business idea, and writing. Nonetheless, due to my health struggles with HB SC genotype, my life was sort of limiting.

I'm the kind of guy that's die-hard. Even after meeting Hive, I continued teaching, this time it was part-time, and teaching literature to high school students is what I currently enjoy doing at my own pace.

I think Hive gave me that ability to fund my dreams, even though I haven't funded my dream of owning a school, owning a transportation business, and probably being a stay-at-home dad, while watching a beautiful girl cooking rice and stew in the kitchen, I think that dream is still in the offing. Forgive me for being too detailing.. ๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜„

Here we are

In Summary

In reality though, in one word. Hive has changed my life, I've met some of the most amazing people in my life here. I didn't know I'd be able to talk in front of a camera, not to even talk about my love for photography and personal finance. I do not have a lot of friends in real life, but damn! that has currently changed. @starstrings01 and @kbanti are some of my closest friends and this transcended from Hive to real life.

I cannot even begin to talk about the tens and 50's of people who have formed some of the most emotional bonds with me here. They taught me, tutored me, encouraged me, and even if I'll not mention names due to tag spamming. I want you all to know that you made me. I was that guy who had that knack but you fuelled my passion and crowned my efforts with your guidance and unconditional assistance.

Without Hive, 70% of my essence would not exist, and I don't know who I'd have been. I've been able to discover myself by being here alone. The number of brilliant minds here is numerous, mingling with these people alone is a non-monetary incentive that no platform in the world can guarantee. Thank you, "Josediccus" is a name because Hive is here

Interested in some more of my works?

The Intrinsic Propensity To Spend Money
Poverty: The Unwillingness To Spend?
A Scenic Bathroom Photoshoot
The Importance Of Having A Contingency Money Plan
Translational Value; What Is Your Worth?
Using Crypto As A Means Of Transferring Will