<h2>First, what's the goal?</h2>

The goal is to make money. More specifically, I want to generate an income with my Steemit account, while advancing my causes, improving myself, helping others, and adding value to the blockchain. I want to be able to withdraw STEEM (to spend on improving the standard of living for myself and @MediKatie), while still growing my account.

<h2>So it's all about money, then?!</h2>

Hell no. I've worked FULL TIME for more than a decade on traditional social media sites, accumulated an audience of tens of thousands, and amassed millions of views - all for free. And I'd do it over again! But now, Steemit offers the chance to do all those things, but also get paid for it. That's why I'm pouring effort into Steemit instead of YouTube and FaceBook. I'm powering up everything I make, and working hard.

Besides, I've invested all my savings, little as that may be to you, into STEEM. I'm putting effort into my posts, I'm capturing unique footage, I'm spending my own resources to create and share. My bills need to be paid just like everybody else's, and I don't feel bad for hoping to earn something here at some point in the nearish future.

<h2>The Plan</h2>

Okay, I've settled on a goal - to generate STEEM. If I can do that sufficiently, I can pull some out to live on, and I can keep some invested for growth.

About how much are we talking? How much am I worth? What can somebody expect to make?

I think a couple hundred dollars a month would be a start. I'm sure we're all worth much more than that, especially if we're doing more than just pressing a button 40 hours a week, but it's not peanuts.

So say $200 per month, to start. Even if Steem only goes back up to $4, I'll need about 50 Steem per month, plus a buffer so I'm not cannibalizing myself. <b>I'm going to need to be pulling in at least 60 Steem per month.</b>

<h2>The Situation Now</h2>

I have 680 Steem today.

Even at these low Steem prices (under $2/Steem right now), I'm generating $0.10 per upvote. (That number can only go up unless Steem completely collapses.)

I usually don't upvote my own posts or comments, but I have friends, fans, supporters, and followers who DO upvote my stuff. My upvotes tend to land on their stuff, and many of their upvotes tend to land on mine. Since I'm usually able to bring in about the same amount as I'm dishing out, I'll consider it equal for the purpose of this exercise.

If I could upvote flawlessly, I'd upvote exactly as my voting power reaches 99.99%, and then allow it to regenerate (2.4 hours), and then upvote again. That means I can upvote at full power up to 10 times a day.

10 full-powered upvotes per day, times $0.10 each, makes $1 USD at current prices. In other words, ~0.5 Steem per day, or ~15 per month.

So it looks like I'm currently generating ~15 Steem per month.
The plan is to be generating ~60 Steem per month.

If 680 Steem generates ~15 Steem/month income, that means I'm growing at (1500/680)% = (75/34)% = ~2.2% per month.

<h2>How long will it take to get there?! (The math part!)</h2>

The plan is to generate at least 60 Steem/month. When I have 2720 Steem, my income will be 60 Steem/month, so my goal is 2720 Steem. 

I have 680 Steem now.
I'm growing at (75/34)% per month. That's +15 Steem this month, +15.3 Steem next month, and more each successive month.

Since I've forgotten my compound interest math formulae, I put the numbers into an online calculator.
In 64 months (5.3 years) at the current rate, I'll reach my goal.

<h2>How I feel about the results</h2>
The results are both exciting and disappointing. 

5 years of helping others and working toward a secure future? It's not bad, not bad at all really. But I was secretly hoping it would be possible within a couple years. After all, I've invested all I have, and I'm working essentially as hard as I can. 2 years would be quite a long time to work full time without a pay check. I'm not exactly in the right financial situation to do that.

On the other side, I'm overjoyed at the idea of very likely being able to pull an income out of something I love doing, and at which I'm good at, and which the world needs. Wouldn't that essentially be one's "purpose"?

![dfasfasdads.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeisse4WwHjyB1wD28mqLJVrcj7G9F21uXWBK8vmh5Nkb/dfasfasdads.png)

Besides, I have a feeling I'm growing faster than 2% per month. I'm sure others have already done the calculations. If you have any to share in the comments, please do! I'm eager to upgrade my calculations with any new information.

If I'm growing at a very possible 4% per month, I'll hit my goal in a few years. I'm going to see if there's a way I can pull data from Steemit. Maybe somebody's already done it? I'd love to know my current rate of growth, or even see a chart of my Steem Power vs. Time.

ANOTHER piece of good news? I'm effectively at more than 680 Steem right now. A couple weeks ago, I gave 150 Steem to friends of mine, <a href="https://steemit.com/steem/@drutter/i-m-giving-150-steem-to-my-friends">here</a>. That's still my currency, and my friends have told me they're using it to start projects and help others, but that I'll get it back plus a bonus when they're able to. So I'm effectively at more than 680 Steem!

<h2>Potential Upside</h2> 
Nothing in the future is a given, but it's useful to figure out just how good things might be. After all, if you don't believe an amazing future has the possibility of happening to you, you'll probably be right. I'm open to the possibility of amazing futures for me, but without getting too philosophical, here are the calculations:

With my loaned out Steem, I'm effectively at 840 Steem Power right now. If I could grow at a reasonable 5% per month, I'll reach my goal in just 2 years!

Not to mention, Steem isn't likely to stay here at $2 for long - many think $10 and up this year is likely. There's also wildcards like the ongoing mass exodus from FaceBook to other sites, and YouTube's constant attack on small monetized channels. Growth opportunities are abundant. 5% monthly growth might be modest.

In any case, I'm going to gather feedback, and more data, and update/upgrade my calculations here soon!

Please note: I don't want to give the impression I'm a profiteer, or that I want a get rich quick scheme, or that I think anyone should profit on Steemit without adding value. I just love logic, and I love analyzing patterns and trying to predict outcomes. This is "fun" to me, believe it or not. I just wish my math was as sharp as it was 20 years ago! I promise that I'm here to add value through contributions, not to game things and turn it into a formula. I completely intend to add value, and hope that with my posts and comments I'm already starting to do that.

Thanks for participating, and thanks for your support. Steem on!

DRutter