<h2>Let me share with you my crypto journey and how I built a healthy crypto portfolio from scratch using only my experience on Steemit and the rewards I earned here and how it should be more.</h2>  With Screen shots!
https://s7.postimg.org/yhtpenkwb/How_I_Made_Over_4000_steemit_cover.jpg

I will start by telling you **it’s not all been happy trades or happy days** but over all I have been in the green and since my Poloniex portfolio is now a whopping **$3,600US**.  I must have made a good choice by joining Steemit and ***"kept at it”***.  I have pulled a lot of Crypto out of the exchange and placed it in other investments and wallets so this screen shot is not a complete picture of my profits, just my current holdings.  I have some stuff on **Bitshares and Openledger** as well.
https://s18.postimg.org/qo9iem3op/2017-05-21_at_07-57-19.png

**When I joined Steemit last summer I didn’t know a thing about Crypto Currency,** sure I had heard of BTC I was aware of its uses but I never dabbled in it.  None of it really mattered to me.  I joined Steemit to write and be a part of a new growing community.  I love writing, especially while sipping whisky and listening to music *(still waiting for someone to make an APP that can detect when I am drunk and stop me from posting until the next day)*.  I had website I was paying for and never made a penny off it as a blogger.  For months I wrote here and I basically ignored my blog.  That domain I still own and actually market for future use but at the moment it’s “under construction”, sort of.  

**So how did I turn my thoughts and ideas into money I actually use to pay my bills and further invest in Crypto.** 
http://www.amazingcoaching.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/your-thoughts-create-your-future.png

Well, I wrote on Steemit is the only way I did it.  Some of my posts made good rewards and many did not.  For the first 6 months or so I didn’t take a single Steem or SBD off the platform.  I kept powering up and giving it away in contests for participation, building a following.  You can't get unless you give, ying yang, balance of the universe type shit.  **Giving to the platform comes in many ways aside from giving away your rewards but this was the route I took and don’t regret it.**

I’m going to skip to the part where I had rewards banked in my wallet from writing dozens and dozens of posts.  I had been reading about other people’s trading experiences and decided I had made enough that I could risk losing some of it on the exchanges.  I looked at it as though it was an experiment with real currency (Crypto) but if I lost my investment my life wouldn’t change.  I was fully prepared to lose the $50 worth of Steem and SBD I initially put on the exchange.  It's been a while since that day.
https://s7.postimg.org/6756l3zij/2017-05-21_at_09-08-13.png

I bought and sold some coins just from reading Steemit articles,  looking at the troll box and trying to understand what the charts meant.  @craig-grant was a huge influence on getting me started in trading and the concept of ***”going with the flow”*** is a lot more important than many traders agree with but it works for me.  Without a doubt my first few weeks of trading were mostly luck and BTC rising in value.  I was just going with my flow and I thought was right for me.  I'm much wiser now.
https://s24.postimg.org/ighn0hjqt/6a00d834516a5769e201a73dd63073970d.jpg

I got into BitShares when it was trading in 200sat range.  I got into Burst when it was trading in the 77sat range.  Seems like forever ago.  I never lost faith in these coins regardless of what anyone said about them.  I was bunkered down by keeping them on the exchange with, what I thought was ridiculously high sell orders.  I am in these 2 coins for the long run, and Steem of course.

But over time I would wake up and login to see they were selling.  I remember when I saw all my BTS had sold while I slept.  Had I been awake during the spike I probably would have set higher price.  I was at first really happy but then it kept going up.  I was never able to buy it back for less than that sell order.  I bought it back more expensive and I am totally thrilled that I did.  It’s already worth over twice what I bought it back for. I have since replaced almost all that I sold and because of that my portfolio is where it is now.  All my BTS predictions, based on my own research and involvement have come true so far.
https://s12.postimg.org/yk7iwtkel/2017-05-21_at_10-28-16.png

Burst really surprised me by spiking up to almost 1000sat recently.  I knew it would one day but it happened sooner than expected.  I have sell orders set at different levels so nothing completely sells out for the same price.  I don’t want to wake and see my coins sold and the price is still rising.  Gotta keep some eggs in the basket.  I bought Burst Assets and was getting a dividend weekly which added to my profits.  I sold the Burst, cause it was cheaper then and bought BTS.  I just kept buying BTS with Burst profits.  I even mine Burst now.  What a good move, Burst is Bursting.
https://s18.postimg.org/fpyxvbo89/2017-05-21_at_09-24-45.png

**I have diversified my coins much more now**.  I used to only have a few coins, BTS, Steem, Burst and maybe chip away at the market with a few other penny coins.  I lost a lot too with bad decisions in *noobiness* and learning what a **pump and dump** was and how to take advantage or avoid it.  I am currently terrified of new coins for the record but since I don’t put my salary from teaching I can risk it without risking damaging my financial security.  So yes, I do take the risk, sometimes.
https://s1.postimg.org/tj2eeu84f/2017-05-21_at_09-05-12.png

There is no doubt that most of my crypto wealth came simply because the value of BTC and other coins have risen up.  I have taken out hundreds of dollars and spent it online using BTC.  I bought genesis mining contracts for small residual income to play with on the markets.

**I also bought a bunch of hash power from Genesis Mining.**
https://s13.postimg.org/t6ro349p3/2017-05-21_at_09-10-49.png

I also bought a CryptoPay Visa pre-loaded BitCoin credit card.  It’s in the mail and you can expect a post about that once I test and prove it usefulness. 
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<h1>Break Down.</h1>
&#10102; It’s all about the Steem and SBD.  The gateway to all other Crypto.
&#10103; Without that I would never have made a penny or gotten into Crypto trading and thus wouldn't have over $4000 earnings. 
&#10104; I traded Steem into other coins that are more volatile and got lucky chipping away at the markets.
&#10105; I bought Burst assets and collected dividends.
&#10106; I bought BitShares and watched and still am watching it soar to the moon. *(Not too late to get in now as I predict by the summer it will be worth a lot more)*
&#10107; I bought Genesis mining contracts and get near daily payments in Daash, BTC and Litecoin, not much but it’s something.

**Most importantly I kept Steeming**.  My faith has stumbled, rightfully so during the turmoil the site as experienced.  Growing pains I think are now in the past, different ones may arise and we will deal with those when the time comes. 
**However, I love writing and I already made good friends here so I just keep writing here and hope for the best and its coming true.**
https://img1.steemit.com/0x0/https://s11.postimg.org/anc6covqb/Steemit_tothesky.jpg

My advice to Crypto rookies like me who are new to Steemit like I was.  **Hold Steem and  Power Up** every post until you reach 2,000 Steem Power minimum.  **Buy it on the exchange just get there or more ASAP!** I used to have 5,000SP now I’m down to a little over 2,300SP.  With 2,000SP your vote will make a difference to the success of those you vote for.  You will also start to see returns for Curation.  **Once you’re there, in my humble opinion is then you can start cashing out your SBD** and **cash out decent returns.**

https://img1.steemit.com/0x0/http://i67.tinypic.com/346wef4.jpg

**That's my journey so far.  It's all leading to freedom.**

(Edited Below to Add)

If you liked this post it's not too late for you to check out this post.  It's my personal Steemit Mantra.
https://s17.postimg.org/xq8ylkq5r/2017-05-21_at_16-32-42.png
https://steemit.com/steemit-religion/@solarguy/before-i-lay-my-head-to-rest-steemit-prayer-the-path-of-the-righteous-steemer