In my little corner of #Bitcoin #Ordinals space, I get to talk with quite a few Builders and Creators. So, today, I’m setting out with the intention of having a regular Article series where I celebrate some of them for their contributions to the space and the communities they are a part of.
Let’s talk about creators who embody the “Always Be Building” mantra.
Today, I’m shining a spotlight on @shanghaicrypto, a fellow creator whose journey inspires me.
Why Shanghai? Because FAFO, That’s Why!
You know what brings me joy? Seeing others elevate their game. And Shanghai? This dude’s been on a creator’s journey that’s worth celebrating. Here’s why:
- The Animation Grind: Shanghai didn’t just dip his toes in — he dove headfirst into animating @BitmapEmporium‘s resident PFPs (shoutout to the designer, @_lefrog). We’re not talking one or two. This madlad animated FIFTY. For fun. For the experience. He put in the grind to learn and love/hate the process.
- BRC-420 Avatar Adventure: Fast forward to now, and Shanghai’s found a new obsession. It all kicked off with creating a BitmapLand.xyz (shoutout @inscribedspace) avatar for a buddy. Next thing you know, he’s cranked out over a dozen BRC-420 avatars. Again, for the fun. For the experience. Putting in that grind, learning to love/hate the process. Now, he was adamant that I make it clear that not all of the Avatars are his CREATIONS, but the process for creating the inscriptions was his learning that he was engaging in and it was all his EFFORT. That was the FAFO of it all that I believe he was exploring. Asking himself the question, armed with the knowledge that he now understands the HOW, “Do I love this? Do I hate this? Do I want to continue doing this?”
So I had a sense that this wasn’t his destination, just a stop on a long and hopefully storied and meandering path of creation that lies ahead of him. Which begged the question — What’s he gonna do next?
Game Development 🙃He’s going to FAFO what he loves/hates about Game Development.
As an indie game developer myself (see astralassemblage.com) this excites me very much.
While he’s pretty tight-lipped about the details of what that means specifically, in terms of new skills and disciplines — He’s studying Bitmap, Digital Matter theory, and Bitcoin itself to explore his creative options.
Whether you’re talking creative output, or learnings to fuel future creativity, Shanghai has some habits we can all benefit from emulating. He is a prime example of one of my favorite mantras— Always. Be. Building.
Always Be Building — It’s Not Just a Catchphrase
There’s a reason I’m always harping on about “Always Be Building.” It’s not just some cute slogan — it’s a lifestyle, people! Here’s the deal:
- Creating stuff teaches you who you are. What you love, what you loathe, what you find fascinating but don’t really want to DO, etc. Knowing yourself allows you to know how to make happy, make positive change and make important decisions with more confidence. And that’s a good thing.
- It shows you what you love/hate through the magical process of fucking around and finding out. (that’s FAFO, baby!)
- Society tries to make us spectators in our own lives. Screw that! When you’re always building — your passions, your schedule, your relationships — you’re creating your own experience.
And let me tell you, that vibe? It’s unmatched.
Shanghai’s Secret Sauce: Diligence and Experimentation
What makes Shanghai’s approach so damn cool is his commitment to experimentation. He’s out here embodying what it means to be diligent. Committing to the process, embracing the experience, and just straight-up fucking around to find out what lights his fire.
A Call to Arms (or Keyboards, or Paintbrushes…)
So here’s my challenge to you: Be like Shanghai. Pick something — anything — and start creating. Don’t worry about being perfect. Just start. Put in the reps. Learn to love the process, hate the process, then figure out — Is this something I want to DO, or something that I just am fascinated by?
Because here’s the truth bomb: When you’re always constructing, always building your passions, your schedule, your life — that’s when the magic happens. That’s when you stop watching your life and start living it. And isn’t that a gift worth unwrapping every damn day?
So yeah, I’m celebrating Shanghai this week. Because creators like him remind us what it means to truly live, to create, and to grow.
Support and maybe give a follow to @shanghaicrypto and creators like him. Check out the BRC-420 avatars he’s inscribed at the links below!
Limitless (original creation)
Pizza Day Bitmap (original creation)
Astral Arkitekt (that’s right, he made an avatar of meeee haha)
Astral’s Artificer (Artificers are students of Digital Dimension’s Theory 🙃)
Full Disclosure: The Astral avatars benefit both of us.😉
Let’s show some love to those who are out there grinding, creating, and inspiring us all to build our own adventures.
And remember…