**Hello, May :) I am very pleased waking up to you and let's be good to each other yes?**

It's the FIRST of the month and that means one thing -- making true to my commitment to this space.

**And what's that?**

**Growth.**

![HPUD copy.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/oj5lyMp.jpg)
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And that can be achieved by consistent effort and work. Sounds difficult? Kinda, but not really. It depends on what we really are up to. I bet most of us were initially in for the $$$ but that of course changes over time as we explore. And that's what happened to me. Things turned around for the better when I made a simple goal to grow my account and have fun while doing so. Add to that the willingness to learn. These has made my journey here a little bit easier and enjoyable so far.

**Here in Hive, growth means everything,** at least that's what I have come to realize when I started working on my simple goal. And here's to share what I did (and strive to do consistently):
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<h2>Staking Hive & Participating in the HPUD</h2>

For the new ones in this space, HPUD or Hive Power Up Day is done every first of the month where we stake $HIVE by powering it up. It's how we grow our influence in the Hive blockchain. To know more about it, check [HERE.](https://peakd.com/hive-122221/@hivebuzz/pud-202205) 

My first PUD happened in January 2022 and I've since been doing it every month so this day marks my fifth consecutive participation. I started late, just watched time passed me by so to speak during my first 6-7 months here in Hive. I didn't take things seriously nor tried to learn my way through. But as mentioned above, it changed when I made up my mind to work and set a goal. And I'm grateful to virtual friends (@coquicoin for instance) who helped me along the way.

![Screenshot_142.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/J7DRumJ.jpg)
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Today, I've added 100HP to my stake which just got me closer to my goal of 2500HP at the end of the year *(originally 1500HP, but I was able to hit that number in March so I revised it and it seems I need to make a new number pretty soon too.)*
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<h2>Participating in the HPUM</h2>

![Screenshot_136.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/Z1jKU76.jpg)
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Along with taking part in the HPUD, I also participate in the [Hive Power Up Month](https://peakd.com/hive-122221/@hivebuzz/pum-202205) which is staking at least 1 $HIVE daily for the whole month of April. This is quite challenging as one needs to remember doing it within the UTC time every single day. This exercise is not focused mainly on the badge but developing consistency and persistence which are not only useful here in Hive but also in life in general.

I've completed my fourth month and the fifth just started so the daily staking will continue.

![Screenshot_140.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/Li9PxZy.jpg)
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And know that taking part in this initiative also opens up a chance to get delegation from @hivebuzz and other sponsors, which of course mean additional help in growing one's account.
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<h2>Building my Leo Power</h2>

This is one of my most recent goals. I started exploring the Leo Finance interface [a month ago.](https://leofinance.io/hive-167922/@ifarmgirl/baby-steps-behind-blogging-exploring-polycub-and-leofinance) My curiosity consequently led me to set up a 500 [LeoPower goal](https://leofinance.io/hive-167922/@ifarmgirl/hpud-polycub-leo-and-other-token-goals) at the end of the year, but then that was [revised](https://leofinance.io/hive-167922/@ifarmgirl/my-leo-number-and-turning-one-in-the-hive) to be achieved by the end of April. 

![Screenshot_145.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/crlLtWR.jpg)
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Like how Hive Power works, **building LeoPower is increasing one's influence in the [lion's den](https://leofinance.io) which basically means growth.**  I'm happy that I achieved that number and I'm now setting a new one, say, 3k at the end of the year? Pretty ambitious but a cub can dream!
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<h2>Taking Part in the #HiveBloPoMo</h2>

Coincidentally, the Hive Blog Post Month, an initiative by @traciyork also falls in the month of April (and November). This is [blogging on the blockchain](https://peakd.com/hive-134671/@traciyork/hive-blog-posting-month-aka-hiveblopomo-starts-april-1st-2022) daily for the whole month. And for the first time ever, I participated and glad that such goal has also been achieved.
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<h2>Getting Engaged</h2>

I've learned from the whales here that we enhance our presence through engaging and interacting with others. It's like saying *"Hello, I'm also here and I mean business."* And in the process of doing so, we learn a whole lot more. So I invite you to get engaged and you will benefit enormously, not only in having a chance to be seen by the whale upvoters but with what you get to learn.

Seeing my name mentioned in the [Hive](https://leofinance.io/hive-167922/@abh12345/the-hive-engagement-league-32xxbj) & [Leo Engagement League](https://leofinance.io/hive-167922/@abh12345/leofinance-engagement-5ct4am) posts makes me glow because it means I'm doing my part in making the community alive. Add to that the chance to win some cool prizes too!

![Screenshot_143.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/fkJ9EHR.jpg)

and there are other perks like a prize of 100LEO from @khaleelkazi. I'm not sure if his [challenge](https://leofinance.io/hive-167922/@khaleelkazi/engagement-is-hard) is still up though, lol! But yes, even without these prizes, we got nothing to lose but we actually have everything to gain.

That's it for today and forgive me, this post has gone longer than intended but I hope it got the message across. 

<h2>Thank you and Happy Labor Day!</h2>

*Photos are screen captured from Hive interfaces. No copyright infringement intended. 010522/11:00PH*


Posted Using [LeoFinance <sup>Beta</sup>](https://leofinance.io/@ifarmgirl/how-i-strengthen-my-influence-in-hive)