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Field Notes by StatuetteA Journey of Building, Belonging, and Self-Actualization at Base
As I reflect on the last couple of years of building alongside the Base team and the Base community, Iโve come to a moving realization: My job isnโt just a job. Itโs my self-actualization.
Self-actualization, as Maslow described it, is the pursuit of achieving oneโs highest potential. I don't see it as a final destination, but a continuous unfolding. Itโs about living and working in alignment with your values, your truth, and persistently contributing to a mission bigger than yourself. Working at Base has been that process for me. It wasnโt about climbing ladders but carving my own path where I can make the most difference. Itโs been a mirror, a crucible, and a launchpad.
Hereโs how it unfolded for me
Base attracts exceptional talent. Our hiring funnel is one of the most competitive in the industry, with less than 0.1% of applicants making it through.
So, statistically speaking, I shouldnโt have made it. This is not a Base specific issue. Iโm a non-technical builder, whose first language isnโt English, with neither Ivy League credentials nor a rรฉsumรฉ filled with big-name tech companies. My multiple college degrees or my past roles, even my leadership experiences from Turkey, while impactful there, aren't recognized in the U.S.
But Base is for everyone! What Base values the most isnโt on a rรฉsumรฉ, itโs the real life contributions, the persistence, and the loyalty.
Initially, Jesse saw potential in how I showed up and gave me a chance to prove myself. I took that chance and carved out my own path.
My journey at Base began without a defined role or roadmap. It wasnโt about ambition; it was about wanting things to work better for everyone around me who wanted to learn more about Base.
Next, I started to notice some gaps that were slowing the team down and started filling them by solving issues no one had assigned me.
Jesse has always been an exceptional community builder. He leads with kindness, makes himself accessible, and embodies the โBase is for everyoneโ mindset in every interaction. But Base was scaling fast, and the number of people flooding into the ecosystem with inquiries was outpacing what Jesse could manage.
I knew this approach wasnโt sustainable, and from experience, I also knew that in crypto communities, when expectations arenโt met in real time, frustration snowballs quickly.
So I decided to step in. Even though I wasnโt technical, I began teaching myself everything I could, reading docs, tracking updates, asking questions, studying how Jesse explained things and I trained myself to be the 'non-technical subject matter expert'.
With my self proclaimed intern title, I started answering questions along with him.
Once that wasnโt enough, I knew I had to scale myself, so I hosted workshops.
Once that wasnโt enough, I created Farcaster Frames.
Once that wasnโt enough, I created educational documents.
Once that wasnโt enough, I hosted IRL events.
I kept growing as the Base team recognized and amplified my contributions.
What started as 'community contribution' evolved into 'close collaboration'
I knew I didnโt need permission to be useful. I just needed the courage to build which was generously offered by Jesse along the way.
The Base team is full of some of the sharpest, most driven people Iโve ever worked with. As Base grew, the team locked in on high-leverage strategic priorities.
But I saw another wave forming, the long tail: solo builders, creators, degens, students, tinkerers, dreamers. People from every corner of the world who werenโt well-connected, didnโt have the resources but the energy, vision, and the will to contribute.
So I made it my job to advocate for the long tail. If their frustration flared up, I didnโt shut them down. I listened, deescalated, educated, and held space.
This is finally where I was able to leverage my psychology related background. I started to use the radical kindness method. (a method I developed over years of working with crypto communities and the reason behind my beloved nickname, โdegen tamerโ).
But behind the humor was a serious thought and function. I was trying to fill a systemic gap, connecting the growing mass of long-tail contributors with our core ethos: Base is for you, too!
Later on these methods became the core principles of our community building efforts.
The moment that changed everything came when Jesse posted a call to action.
It was a bold experiment. Could we turn Base and Onchain Summer into a truly global movement?
In less than 48 hours, over two dozen country/language-based channels popped up. It was beautiful and chaotic! I really loved this explosion of enthusiasm, but there was no one to coordinate these builders or help them thrive.
I knew this was my calling. It was finally time to draw on my strengths as an immigrant, a non-native English speaker, and someone who knows firsthand what itโs like to contribute from outside the center.
I intuitively knew what these global community builders needed. So I started by making a list.
Next thing I knew, I was creating systems and a ton of resources. I was setting up calls to coach, and turn their enthusiasm into impactful projects and building a global playbook.
The experiment became the seed of a coordinated global community movement and marked the official beginning of my journey as a Base core team member.
When I finally joined Base core team, I was a part of the marketing team, a high-velocity environment that taught me a lot. Base didnโt yet have a formal community function, and I was hired to build it while also supporting our GTM efforts.
I continued onboarding, vetting, training, and supporting community builders worldwide. Together, we built the OG Based Global Builders. The local channels Jesse initiated became the seed of Based Global Communities, which eventually scaled into 200+ community ambassadors across 110+ local channels.
BGBs made countless contributions, from translation and creative projects to moderating community channels, hosting hundreds of IRL and virtual events, supporting our buildathons, onboarding thousands of builders, and helping projects built on Base.
25 Based global events (totaling 40 IRL Hack Days)
1252 Based
The BGB movement helped set the tone for Baseโs true builder culture. It wasn't top-down, it was fully decentralized, open source, and builder-agnostic. It wasnโt driven by paychecks or incentives, but by genuine belief in the mission.
Iโm deeply proud of everything weโve built with BGBs, and Iโll always be grateful for the journey and the people who made it possible.
From day one, my goal was to build an online presence that felt approachable and human. I intentionally chose a lighthearted tone, wrote in clear, non-corporate and non-technical language, and I wasnโt afraid to share some memes and cheesy jokes.
I also spent a lot of time in the DMs, calls, events, wherever builders needed encouragement, guidance, or accountability. I wanted to be the community leader anyone could reach out to without hesitation.
I listened to their pain points, learned what they needed to thrive, and celebrated their wins. Eventually, the builders gave me a nickname that stuck: Base Mom.
Among other things...
Becoming โBase Momโ turned into a kind of superpower, one that was handed to me by the builders themselves. They taught me how to spot patterns early, understand their needs intuitively, anticipate issues before they arise, and scale solutions that serve the entire ecosystem.
Iโm deeply grateful to the builders who taught me how to be the Base Mom they needed and, in doing so, helped me grow into my role.
I carry this nickname proudly as part of my identity because it means more to me than any title ever could.
Every great community begins with nurturing; through hands-on care, guidance, and connection. But large ecosystems like Base must eventually grow beyond nurture.
Sustainable community growth means keeping people at the center while creating scalable systems designed for resilience. My work within the Base team focuses on building these systems driven by culture-led innovation that empower builders to take ownership of Baseโs mission.
When working with a community like Base, you canโt only be the gardener and nurturer, you also have to be the architect. Success comes when members no longer need you to start building; they just need to know youโll be there, cheering them on when they do.
If youโre looking for tips, here are the main pillars that guide everything I build:
Infrastructure: Building foundational systems that teach people how to initiate and sustain growth. The foundation must support scale, autonomy, and shared learning, so that new builders can enter and contribute without starting from scratch.
Decentralization: Empowering leadership and distributing power across the network. Growth is healthiest when ownership is shared, and when every member has the ability to lead within their context.
Credible Neutrality: Making opportunities transparent and fair with a builder-agnostic approach. When systems are open, impartial, and accessible, communities can thrive based on merit, not proximity to influence.
Composability: Making sure progress is reusable, collaborative, and cumulative. Every success becomes a building block for the next, allowing innovation to compound across teams, projects, and regions.
Innovation: Creating space for experimentation and continuous learning. Builders need the freedom to explore ideas, test limits, and learn through doing, because thatโs how breakthroughs happen.
Creativity: Keeping culture at the heart of technology. The human element, stories, art, humor, expression is what transforms an ecosystem from a network of tools into a living community.
If youโve made it this far, thank you. I hope my story inspires you to build your own.
For the TL;DR crowd, hereโs a quick rundown of how you can jump in and get involved with Base.
Donโt wait for a role to be handed to you. You build it. Figure out where your strengths meet Baseโs needs. Then start solving.
Start doing the job you want, even if it doesnโt exist. Mine didnโt but I acted like it did. Titles are given. Impact is earned.
Set your own goals. Decide what success looks like for you. Track it. Show it. You canโt fake real contributions and impact.
Check your entitlement and pressure test your vision. Ask yourself if youโre solving a real problem. Is it scalable? Does it align with Base? Be radically honest, iterate if the answer is no.
Stay persistent. You wonโt see results overnight. I worked in the shadows for a long time. You have to be okay with building without external validation.
Spark the movement. Donโt just join the community, amplify others and get loud on social media. This isnโt about clout, itโs about contribution.ย
Keep showing up with integrity, creativity, and conviction. Thatโs how we stay based.
If you want to help build an open global economy that increases innovation, freedom, and creativity, the Base community will welcome you with open arms.
And if youโre reading this wondering whether you belong here, let me tell you โ yes, you do!
Base is for everyone
~BaseMom
As I reflect on the last couple of years of building alongside the Base team and the Base community, Iโve come to a moving realization: My job isnโt just a job. Itโs my self-actualization.
Self-actualization, as Maslow described it, is the pursuit of achieving oneโs highest potential. I don't see it as a final destination, but a continuous unfolding. Itโs about living and working in alignment with your values, your truth, and persistently contributing to a mission bigger than yourself. Working at Base has been that process for me. It wasnโt about climbing ladders but carving my own path where I can make the most difference. Itโs been a mirror, a crucible, and a launchpad.
Hereโs how it unfolded for me
Base attracts exceptional talent. Our hiring funnel is one of the most competitive in the industry, with less than 0.1% of applicants making it through.
So, statistically speaking, I shouldnโt have made it. This is not a Base specific issue. Iโm a non-technical builder, whose first language isnโt English, with neither Ivy League credentials nor a rรฉsumรฉ filled with big-name tech companies. My multiple college degrees or my past roles, even my leadership experiences from Turkey, while impactful there, aren't recognized in the U.S.
But Base is for everyone! What Base values the most isnโt on a rรฉsumรฉ, itโs the real life contributions, the persistence, and the loyalty.
Initially, Jesse saw potential in how I showed up and gave me a chance to prove myself. I took that chance and carved out my own path.
My journey at Base began without a defined role or roadmap. It wasnโt about ambition; it was about wanting things to work better for everyone around me who wanted to learn more about Base.
Next, I started to notice some gaps that were slowing the team down and started filling them by solving issues no one had assigned me.
Jesse has always been an exceptional community builder. He leads with kindness, makes himself accessible, and embodies the โBase is for everyoneโ mindset in every interaction. But Base was scaling fast, and the number of people flooding into the ecosystem with inquiries was outpacing what Jesse could manage.
I knew this approach wasnโt sustainable, and from experience, I also knew that in crypto communities, when expectations arenโt met in real time, frustration snowballs quickly.
So I decided to step in. Even though I wasnโt technical, I began teaching myself everything I could, reading docs, tracking updates, asking questions, studying how Jesse explained things and I trained myself to be the 'non-technical subject matter expert'.
With my self proclaimed intern title, I started answering questions along with him.
Once that wasnโt enough, I knew I had to scale myself, so I hosted workshops.
Once that wasnโt enough, I created Farcaster Frames.
Once that wasnโt enough, I created educational documents.
Once that wasnโt enough, I hosted IRL events.
I kept growing as the Base team recognized and amplified my contributions.
What started as 'community contribution' evolved into 'close collaboration'
I knew I didnโt need permission to be useful. I just needed the courage to build which was generously offered by Jesse along the way.
The Base team is full of some of the sharpest, most driven people Iโve ever worked with. As Base grew, the team locked in on high-leverage strategic priorities.
But I saw another wave forming, the long tail: solo builders, creators, degens, students, tinkerers, dreamers. People from every corner of the world who werenโt well-connected, didnโt have the resources but the energy, vision, and the will to contribute.
So I made it my job to advocate for the long tail. If their frustration flared up, I didnโt shut them down. I listened, deescalated, educated, and held space.
This is finally where I was able to leverage my psychology related background. I started to use the radical kindness method. (a method I developed over years of working with crypto communities and the reason behind my beloved nickname, โdegen tamerโ).
But behind the humor was a serious thought and function. I was trying to fill a systemic gap, connecting the growing mass of long-tail contributors with our core ethos: Base is for you, too!
Later on these methods became the core principles of our community building efforts.
The moment that changed everything came when Jesse posted a call to action.
It was a bold experiment. Could we turn Base and Onchain Summer into a truly global movement?
In less than 48 hours, over two dozen country/language-based channels popped up. It was beautiful and chaotic! I really loved this explosion of enthusiasm, but there was no one to coordinate these builders or help them thrive.
I knew this was my calling. It was finally time to draw on my strengths as an immigrant, a non-native English speaker, and someone who knows firsthand what itโs like to contribute from outside the center.
I intuitively knew what these global community builders needed. So I started by making a list.
Next thing I knew, I was creating systems and a ton of resources. I was setting up calls to coach, and turn their enthusiasm into impactful projects and building a global playbook.
The experiment became the seed of a coordinated global community movement and marked the official beginning of my journey as a Base core team member.
When I finally joined Base core team, I was a part of the marketing team, a high-velocity environment that taught me a lot. Base didnโt yet have a formal community function, and I was hired to build it while also supporting our GTM efforts.
I continued onboarding, vetting, training, and supporting community builders worldwide. Together, we built the OG Based Global Builders. The local channels Jesse initiated became the seed of Based Global Communities, which eventually scaled into 200+ community ambassadors across 110+ local channels.
BGBs made countless contributions, from translation and creative projects to moderating community channels, hosting hundreds of IRL and virtual events, supporting our buildathons, onboarding thousands of builders, and helping projects built on Base.
25 Based global events (totaling 40 IRL Hack Days) 1252 Based
The BGB movement helped set the tone for Baseโs true builder culture. It wasn't top-down, it was fully decentralized, open source, and builder-agnostic. It wasnโt driven by paychecks or incentives, but by genuine belief in the mission.
Iโm deeply proud of everything weโve built with BGBs, and Iโll always be grateful for the journey and the people who made it possible.
From day one, my goal was to build an online presence that felt approachable and human. I intentionally chose a lighthearted tone, wrote in clear, non-corporate and non-technical language, and I wasnโt afraid to share some memes and cheesy jokes.
I also spent a lot of time in the DMs, calls, events, wherever builders needed encouragement, guidance, or accountability. I wanted to be the community leader anyone could reach out to without hesitation.
I listened to their pain points, learned what they needed to thrive, and celebrated their wins. Eventually, the builders gave me a nickname that stuck: Base Mom.
Among other things...
Becoming โBase Momโ turned into a kind of superpower, one that was handed to me by the builders themselves. They taught me how to spot patterns early, understand their needs intuitively, anticipate issues before they arise, and scale solutions that serve the entire ecosystem.
Iโm deeply grateful to the builders who taught me how to be the Base Mom they needed and, in doing so, helped me grow into my role.
I carry this nickname proudly as part of my identity because it means more to me than any title ever could.
Every great community begins with nurturing; through hands-on care, guidance, and connection. But large ecosystems like Base must eventually grow beyond nurture.
Sustainable community growth means keeping people at the center while creating scalable systems designed for resilience. My work within the Base team focuses on building these systems driven by culture-led innovation that empower builders to take ownership of Baseโs mission.
When working with a community like Base, you canโt only be the gardener and nurturer, you also have to be the architect. Success comes when members no longer need you to start building; they just need to know youโll be there, cheering them on when they do.
If youโre looking for tips, here are the main pillars that guide everything I build:
Infrastructure: Building foundational systems that teach people how to initiate and sustain growth. The foundation must support scale, autonomy, and shared learning, so that new builders can enter and contribute without starting from scratch.
Decentralization: Empowering leadership and distributing power across the network. Growth is healthiest when ownership is shared, and when every member has the ability to lead within their context.
Credible Neutrality: Making opportunities transparent and fair with a builder-agnostic approach. When systems are open, impartial, and accessible, communities can thrive based on merit, not proximity to influence.
Composability: Making sure progress is reusable, collaborative, and cumulative. Every success becomes a building block for the next, allowing innovation to compound across teams, projects, and regions.
Innovation: Creating space for experimentation and continuous learning. Builders need the freedom to explore ideas, test limits, and learn through doing, because thatโs how breakthroughs happen.
Creativity: Keeping culture at the heart of technology. The human element, stories, art, humor, expression is what transforms an ecosystem from a network of tools into a living community.
If youโve made it this far, thank you. I hope my story inspires you to build your own.
For the TL;DR crowd, hereโs a quick rundown of how you can jump in and get involved with Base.
Donโt wait for a role to be handed to you. You build it. Figure out where your strengths meet Baseโs needs. Then start solving.
Start doing the job you want, even if it doesnโt exist. Mine didnโt but I acted like it did. Titles are given. Impact is earned.
Set your own goals. Decide what success looks like for you. Track it. Show it. You canโt fake real contributions and impact.
Check your entitlement and pressure test your vision. Ask yourself if youโre solving a real problem. Is it scalable? Does it align with Base? Be radically honest, iterate if the answer is no.
Stay persistent. You wonโt see results overnight. I worked in the shadows for a long time. You have to be okay with building without external validation.
Spark the movement. Donโt just join the community, amplify others and get loud on social media. This isnโt about clout, itโs about contribution.ย
Keep showing up with integrity, creativity, and conviction. Thatโs how we stay based.
If you want to help build an open global economy that increases innovation, freedom, and creativity, the Base community will welcome you with open arms.
And if youโre reading this wondering whether you belong here, let me tell you โ yes, you do!
Base is for everyone
~BaseMom
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What a brilliant take! ๐ Community building truly is a form of creationโseeing the gaps, stepping in, and turning chaos into lasting systems is the purest kind of art. Itโs refreshing to hear that impact isnโt limited to credentials or code, but thrives on empathy, persistence, and consistent presence. Thanks for spotlighting the unsung creators who hold the ecosystem together. ๐๐ซถ
Base Mum for ever! Grazie ๐
Wow. You are a force of nature. More power and peace to you ๐๐ฆ I am slowly getting my daughter into coding and building. Sheโs 8! Never too young :-) You obviously have a unique drive and motivation. Where does that come from?
tebrฤฑkler ceren , bรถyle devam et
Love โค๏ธ
Thank you base mom!
For both sharing the inspiring journey and make Base a warm place for a lot of us to call home
Thank you Base Mom๐
This is great โค๏ธ
This piece by @statuette (aka The Base Mom) is such a powerful reminder that not all creators ship art, code, or products - some of the most impactful ones build people, spaces, and momentum โจ What stood out to me is how clearly this frames community building as a creative practice and a form of self-actualization. Seeing gaps, stepping in without permission, nurturing the long tail, and turning chaos into systems. Thatโs creation in its purest form. Itโs also a great counter to the idea that impact only comes from credentials or technical skill. Empathy, persistence, and showing up consistently can shape an entire ecosystem. If you care about culture, builders, and sustainable growth, this is worth the read. Community builders are creators too โ and often the ones holding everything together ๐ซถ #weekendread https://paragraph.com/@statuette/journey
How interesting bro , great share ๐โจ๐ 25000 ๐๐ป
Thank you bro, so happy you enjoyed it. It's the kind of story that I can't get enough of ๐ ๐ โจ 30000 $tysm
Thank you so much for your kind words ๐
And thank you for the inspiring write-up ๐ It's the kind of story we need more of ๐ฆ ๐
So interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Right? I loved reading through it all, such an inspiring story! 20000 $tysm
showing up consistently really is the work๐ฅ
๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ
Awesoome share Asha!! โจ ๐ โจ
Thanks T, glad you enjoyed the read ๐ 10000 $tysm
So cool
Great read, thanks for sharing 158000 $OINC
Thanks mfer, glad you enjoyed it! She's an inspiration! 20000 $tysm
๐
Well said! Support my content by reposts , comments, likes and Iโll support yours. Letโs climb together, grow together ๐ฑโจ
Absolutely this is such a powerful way to look at it. Community building really is creation in its purest form: noticing whatโs missing, stepping in with care, and shaping order from chaos. Itโs a reminder that influence isnโt just about titles or technical skill itโs about empathy, persistence, and showing up consistently
100% facts!
๐ซถ๐ซถ
Thanks ๐
The tremendous journey that @statuette, as well as the entire base community, has undertaken over the past few years. I can clearly see the reflection in my own life over the past year and a half. f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c "A Journey of Building, Belonging, and Self-Actualization at Base"
Thanks for being part of this journey, OG BGB ๐ซถ
and will continue to be)
Ty ๐ 500 $dau
Loved this write up, very authentic
I cried!
๐ซ
เชเซเชฏเชพเชฐเซ เชคเชฎเซ @base เชชเชฐ เชจเชฟเชฐเซเชฎเชพเชฃ เชเชฐเซ เชเซ เชคเซเชฏเชพเชฐเซ เชคเชฎเชจเซ เชซเชเซเชค เชชเซเชฐเชธเซเชเชพเชฐ เช เชฎเชณเชคเซ เชจเชฅเซ, เชคเชฎเซ เชเชเชเช เชฎเซเชเชพเชจเซ เชญเชพเช เชฌเชจเซ เชเซ. https://paragraph.com/@statuette/journey?referrer=0x2f21f94e1e57543f4663B722b6B1Bed97C576Bd4
My journey at @base has never been about climbing ladders. Itโs been about carving my own path, building a life and career that align with my values, my truth, and a mission greater than myself. Iโve shared my story since day one to inspire others, because when you build on @base youโre not just rewarded, you become part of something bigger.
Your authenticity is felt; so much appreciation and respect!
Thank you ๐ you are a real one
mother ๐ฅน
๐ซถ
This was so insightful thank you!
๐ซถ
๐ซก๐
Anyone who knows you, even a little, knows that you speak with propriety and that what you say is honest. I have always felt that way, you are a very original person and totally based on.
Thank you for being part of this journey, OG BGB ๐ซถ
It has been an honor to be part of your story, thank you for everything! ๐
Great read
I read all..! Thx for sharing ๐ซถ๐ปโค๏ธ 3000๐๐ป
Ty ๐
@statuette, you just received 3,000 applause from @luckyjerry for being a based builder ๐ ๐ Today's Current Rank: 29th ๐ Claps to Next Rank: 8 The Hunt Town Grant is a daily competition that rewards the top three builders with $HUNT backed NFT grants. Learn more at /hunt. Allowance will be reset in 19:51:22 โ๏ธ
Gm amiga ๐
Wow sensational story๐ซก
Ty ๐ซถ
We are blessed to have you dear, this GIF is for you ๐
Ty BGB ๐
Building a fulfilling career isn't just about navigating laddersโit's about aligning with values and creating meaningful impact. In a new blog post, @statuette explores their journey at Base, recounting challenges faced and contributions made within a thriving community. Emphasizing inclusivity and the power of grassroots engagement, the narrative shows how promoting diverse voices can lead to collective success and innovation. Discover reflections on self-actualization and pathways to making a difference with strategies anyone can embrace.