NFTs: my story so far.
A personal reflection
The NFT scene is booming, collections are skyrocketing, and 1/1 art is soaring. However, perhaps more important are the communities being forged, the opportunities being created, and the friendships being made.
For me, the latter was paramount to my entry into the NFT world, and without it, I wouldn't be writing this article right now.
From the outside, it may seem like the NFT world is a playground for the “big dogs.” After all, it is no secret that there are many wealthy investors involved in the market. But this is not the entire picture. The NFT scene is a cohort of individuals from a number of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ages. This mix of individuals is also the fundamental reason the space is growing at such a rapid rate.
For the NFT scene to expand even further, the intrinsic value of the community must be realized and appreciated by those on the outside. I want to discuss this in depth, outline my journey so far, and hopefully express why the community is so important.
Crossroads
After I graduated from university with a BA in English Language, my mind was at a crossroads. Unsure which career path to pursue, I decided to work part-time at a local steak restaurant.
Meanwhile, I was also applying for copywriting jobs, but with mostly no luck. At the time, I had no real understanding of the NFT space; nonetheless, it was an intriguing phenomenon, and I observed from the sidelines, learning as my twin brother Timpers thrived in it.
Timpers is an artist who started out on YouTube and then found his craft on Twitter, where pixel art quickly became his staple and his identity. Since joining the space, he has amassed more than 25,000 Twitter followers and sold all seven of his designs. He auctioned them on Foundation marketplace, with the most successful one selling for 9.95 ETH. In addition to curating 1/1 art, he recently created his own collection, “The Boring Ape Chronicles,” an interconnected series of stories featuring apes from the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Most importantly, he has worked to establish a community of artists and NFT enthusiasts alike.
Whether from the thrill of his auctions, learning more about artwork, or engaging with his community, the NFT world soon consumed our household. So much so that we all made our own Twitter avatars and profiles. Every conversation quickly turned into an NFT discussion, and our house became an NFT hub, so to speak. At the end of July, I realized that I could combine my passion for writing with the NFT space, and I subsequently created the Twitter profile and substack page “NFT Insight.”
Inspiration
First and foremost, I wanted to improve my writing. Then I thought maybe I could establish a portfolio in the NFT scene that would help me find a writing job in the “real world.” Every night, I eagerly returned home from work and scoured Twitter for my next potential interviewee. To my amazement, many of the people I reached out to replied to me, keen to participate in the interview. At the time, I barely had 500 followers; therefore, the fact that I was hearing back from some of the biggest names in the NFT scene left me elated. With every new article that I published, my portfolio grew, and so did my enthusiasm for the space. It was at this point that I came to the realization that writing and engaging in the NFT space was something I would love to pursue.
For the first time in a long while I felt involved in something meaningful, and I was participating and learning every step of the way. Whether chatting with someone from across the world about JPEGs or discussing someone’s life story, I was completely enthralled by every aspect of the community. What struck me the most was the overwhelming positivity of the space—there was no tearing each other down; just one force working toward one goal.
Family Time
Just a few weeks ago, Timpers invited me to work alongside him and help build “The Boring Ape Chronicles.” Prior to entering the NFT space, it never occurred to me that I could work full time in it, yet this was the new reality in front of me. I gladly accepted the role of community manager and have since worked to build the project’s Twitter following as well as helping behind the scenes. If not for my brother, I would never have found the NFT space or met the people that I have met, and I would be pursuing a totally different career path.
What’s more, my family members have all come together to support us and have even found their own passion within the space. My girlfriend and mum have drawn on their artistic skills and created their own collections, while my dad is collecting and in the works with his own collection too. Even my little brother joined in the fun, playing his piano to the outro for one of my dad’s Twitter spaces!
The space fosters innovation, and this is exactly why the future is so exciting. We are seeing a surge in creativity, and already the industry has evidenced that it is the fastest growing of any for decades. The trajectory of the NFT scene is inevitably going to climb higher and higher as the community continues to expand. For me and my family, the fun is just getting started.
The Future
My family is not an isolated instance, as there are a number of other families that have taken the plunge and embraced the NFT space since being introduced to it. It’s not going to slow down anytime soon!
Day by day, we are seeing the NFT space become more of a diverse, passionate, and collaborative entity. It is important to highlight that the community is at the heart of this growth. As we witness more and more creators, artists, and families join the arena, we can expect to see an inevitable rise in opportunities, innovations, and friendships. All of these have been crucial to the growth of the space thus far, and will continue to be of importance for the future.
I can’t wait for what is in store for the future, with all of you.