Hi I'm Blake Kirby, known as Daddykirbs. I truly believe that everyone has a story and every story counts. I share my story online to Educate and to Entertain, but mostly to Encourage you and to become a part of your story. Thanks for being a part of mine! Let's talk about communities. (I'm practicing for a new video intro)
In 2010 I started sharing my excitement for a few projects that I was doing in my suburban backyard. This sorta led up to the creation of my Daddykirbs YouTube channel. It all developed over time with no real focus or mission. Over the years I have grown as a creator and a person.
One of the things I love about sharing my story online is the community that is forming around my content. People connect with who I am and what I do. There have been many moments where I have been blessed to hear things like "You are like the father I've never had", "I never would have tried this without you" or "you helped me finish school". There are so many stories like that where someone's life was improved simply because I was willing to share my story and journy.
I'd like to share with you 4 areas where communities are forming around my content.
YouTube - This is where I started sharing first so it makes since that the community is growing there. The comments below each video becomes a hangout for people to share their stories, comments, concerns and questions. I have learned so much just by reading and interacting there in the YouTube comments.
Patreon - A while back I opened up this account as an attempt to increase the chances that I could eventually leave my full-time job and start sharing online full-time. I find it difficult to ask people to join Patreon because to me it sounds like "give me your money", but even without pushing it what has happened is that there is a small group of people with the gift of giving that truly value my content and mission. They support and bless me with their dollars.
Steemit - Here we are on Steemit. I've been active now for 251 days after being invited by @weetreebonsai . This platform has been an amazingly positive experience. Even with some of the dicouragment early one because "nobody votes for me" like I think most of us go through, what I've found is that the people here in the homesteading community are more interested in each other's stories and more engaged than in most places. I'm extremely excited about the potential for relationships here. It's wonderful to be a part of such a great community that has the ability to support each other with those relationships, comments and even an upvote that potentially can become and income.
Facebook - in general I don't like Facebook, but one area that I truly adore is the small closed group that is a gathering of some of my core followers. This group is called the Daddykirbs Fanily group. I coined the term "Fanily" to help identify those FANS that are becoming like FAMILY. We are truly sharing stories and encouragement daily.
Each of these communities is unique, special and wonderful. I remember back when I achieved 10,000 subscribers on YouTube my son @espenkirby said "Can you believe there are 10K people that want to watch you?". I chuckle every time I think about him saying that. Yes, it's hard to believe that people would be interested in my story, but the truth is people are attracted to stories. Communities carry on traditions with stories they share information with stories and songs. We are wired to commune around stories.
When I say Thank you for being a part of my story I truly mean it. You are important. You are valuable (and not just because you can upvote my posts! LOL) May we have many more opportunities to share stories with each other. Have a great day.
I love the homesteading community here for the same reasons. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with like-minded people in different areas of the country. Then you have the fun of seeing what it is like for them to implement your shared interests in totally different places!
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LOL And yet again you fail to see the human we all see, all the areas you see as something that is the negative, really is the part that makes you the same human all of us are (we see us in you). You are the mirror...We all love and admire you.
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Thank you :) You are the subject (part of the subject) of an upcoming post! keep your eyes peeled. This is gonna be good.
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LOL See if that comment came from anyone else I would be worried!
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Yeah, stories are great! Especially when they are real. People want to see real people, so much on television is fake!
I've been thinking about joining Patreon for a long time now, but it is like you said, I don't feel like asking people for money. Or perhaps I'm also scared that nobody would give me anything and that would kinda suck for my self esteem :P
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If / When Steemit really starts to pay out I'll likely discontinue Patreon. Some people do really well there but you kinda have to give it a lot of attention to make those people feel like they are getting something "more". (at least that's how I feel).
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I really love the community on here and after coming from Facebook, it's like coming home to a lovely small town where everyone know you after getting lost in the big city.
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I agree!
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Whether community, family or faNily... the support and encouragement from all the people I have met come across and communicated with has been astounding!
And tell your son.. I was one of those 10k people who WANTED to watch you even WAY back then! lol
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Haha!!! Yeah. What I'm finding interesting are the number of people that are telling me now that they've been watching since way back. This kinda shocks me because I still struggle with some self confidence. Back then... I struggled big time and it probably showed in the videos. God is working on me to help me share my story with more confidence. I truly believe that God has put it on my heart that my story is important, but most importantly to encourage others that their story is important too.
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Same here!
I have a normally low self-confidence level, but have found since joining steemit, I have blossomed and become more social.
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That was great! I Always read your blog... And i like what you're doing...
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Thank you @kennyroy !
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Thanks for your information @daddykirbs
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Hey Blake Kirby your blogs are really helpful and entertain @daddykirbs
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Wow! So many amazing things happening here. congratulations on 10k subs! I will have to go check out your channel and add another sub to that total.
Seems like you have a pretty good system working all your platforms. I will be taking notes.
Thanks for sharing! You'll see me on your youtube comments soon 😄
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10K was a while ago, but thanks! :)
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I take it back happy 43k haha well done
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I agree 100% with you, i already made friends from finland, from mexico, from the USA, steemit chat is awesome, damn the whole steemit community is like a FAMILY, thanks for being part of it!
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Hi Blake! New fan here lol. I am inspired by this post so thankyou for sharing! Steemit has really helped me to open up and share my life, especially because of the fabulous supportive homesteading community here. Much love to y'all. I live in Canada in a small offgrid community, raising goats, bees & chickens. Look forward to more posts! ^_^
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I try to read your blogs everyday and I always get something to take away from it - thank you from @andysantics48 :)
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Thank you, Blake, for blessing my life with the constant reminder that family and personal goals outweigh professional goals. I often am caught up in work that I don’t have time for what I’m truly working toward. I have learned so much from your videos, your heart for your family and friends, and your true genuine humbleness. I have definitely been working on reprioritizing what truly matters to me and how I live life. Homesteading was a dream that I turned into a goal and somehow my 2018 got blessed with the chance and ability to slowly grow into that lifestyle. These are only a few reasons as to why I am an avid YouTube follower, Patreon donor, and I feel privileged to be a fanily member. One amazing pro of globalization are the true connections and friendships that can be built.
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Thanks for sharing the different platforms you have been involved with. I have never used Patreon but glad to learn a bit about it from you. I also am not much of a fan of facebook.
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