Squidlog.net

If you have been paying attention, a lot of things have happened on Squidoo in the last few days. Just in case you haven’t, here they are in brief:

• New Giants have been selected.
• New Angels have been appointed.
• There is a brand new front page for all of us.
• Rules for groups are changing.

Okay, so do you have all that straight? Take a few deep breaths. What does this mean?

Well, I cannot read the mind of the powers that be at Squidoo. But I can tell you what I think you are seeing. Like all good organizations, Squidoo has been growing. And what that means for Squidoo is this, growth is good. Growth means that Squidoo is earning more money, and achieving more popularity. But growth also causes problems for the leadership. Growth makes a group unwieldy, and harder to control. Cracks in the organization develop and sometimes, things get through the cracks that we don’t want in our group.

So now you are seeing the leadership at Squidoo taking control of the growth that we have seen. And it is going to cause some volatility in lensrank and other public indicators for a while until all the new plans are implemented.

And here is what I expect that you will see as you ride out the changes. New giants lenses will go up in lensrank. Angels will be looking for worthy lenses to bless, and that will cause lensrank changes. Groups are being reexamined for their value to Squidoo and to lensmasters. So we will lose some groups and that will affect lensrank. Other groups will become more active, and that will also change lensrank.

Standards are tightening for what it takes to be a Squidoo Giant, and top lensmaster. And this is a good thing. We have heard over and over again in the forum that people want change. Well, now you are getting it, so sit back and see what the changes will do.

Does that change what you should strive for as a lensmaster? No, it does not. You should still be writing good and excellent lenses, promoting them, and involving yourself in the Squidoo community. Is change a good thing? Yes, it is. It is important to remember that Squidoo is a business, and a business needs to control and police itself. Does Squidoo have a reputation? Yes, it does. Squidoo is responsible for maintaining and improving its reputation and that is what you are seeing now.

So hang on for the ride. I think it will be a little bumpy over the next week or so, and then it will settle down some. I think in the end, most of you will be very pleased by the results.
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It is finally really spring, and the weather is beginning to change. Here in Cleveland, Ohio the annual Cleveland International Film Festival starts this Friday, and the early spring flowers are starting to come up out of the ground. As we all know, lots of changes are occuring in the economy, and work circumstances of everyone around us.

Last week, my husband’s company laid off 39 people, and did so gently, offering them 6 months severence pay. Even so, it is a bitter pill to swallow both for those laid off and those left behind. My husband is not one of those laid off, yet he is in mourning for the vast change it will cause him, and missing those that are leaving. Nevertheless, it is spring and time for us to look for opportunities in our circumstances. Let the fresh air of spring blow through our minds and help us look for ways that we can turn this downturn in the economy into an opportunity to make our lives better. Reexamine your life to see if you are still on a path for the goals that you are trying to reach. Look for ways that you can save money and the earth at the same time. Go for walks in your local area (totally free). and visit local shops for things you need (help spur your local economy), reacquaint yourself with your neighboring businesses.

Find your niche, and go forwards. As Lewister says in her post, there is no magic fairy dust, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reach our goals.

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