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Luvmyludwig's Squid Journal, A Journal Of My Time On Squidoo

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A Journal Of Luvmyludwig's Time On Squidoo

I joined Squidoo On Jan 8, 2009, and it has been quite an experience to say the least. As I reflect on the time I have been a member of Squidoo, so many thoughts come rushing into my mind. A lot has changed in 2 and a half years both here on Squidoo, and with me personally. Squidoo is not the same, I am not the same, but I am still here and having fun.

Here you will find a look back at my time here on Squidoo, and my thoughts about the changes implemented since I joined. I will also share my milestones, the ways in which I have adapted to changes, and a look back at past Squidoo experiences. Thank you for joining me here on my Squid Journal (Formerly my main Lensography).

The Beginning, The Start Of My Journey On Squidoo

Why I Joined Squidoo

I used to have a cafepress store that didn't have much success because I couldn't put enough effort into it at that time in my life. A lensmaster featured one of my products, and that was the first time I had ever heard of Squidoo. I didn't poke around (and for that I'm kicking myself now),so I didn't have too much of a clue about it.

I remembered about Squidoo while my mom and I were discussing the businesses we were trying to get going, so I decided to poke around some. Two days later I was completely addicted!

One of my New Year's Resolutions in 2009 was to do more for me, and Squidoo definitely fit in with that because I love to write and I love to use my creativity. I needed something flexible because I pick up and put down many interests and hobbies, I seem to have ADHD of interests. This ADHD of interests, as I call it, stems from my mood shifts created by bipolar disorder and my dreamer type personality. 2 1/2 years later I still enjoy Squidoo.

Image Credit: Squidoo Sticker by SquidGear

My First Experience With Squidoo Angels

I discovered what squidoo angels were a day or two after joining Squidoo. I was in contact with Squidoo Angels early on, and immediately liked the idea of them. I got some much needed encouragement early on from Squidoo Angels.

I have always loved both parts of the Angel powers. The Blessings are just that, blessings, but so are the dings in the sense that without the dings, there would be more spam around here. I hope I continue to meet our Squidoo Angels.( <--- these were the angels when I joined and this is the lens I read about them)

Image Credit: Smile Angel by hilversum

Wanting To Be A Giant Squid

I want that!

"Me, me, me, whoo hoo, over here. I wanna be a Giant Squid! I know I'm only a baby right now, but baby squids can dream. I will be a Giant Squid one day because I plan on making quality lenses and honestly I don't know if I can ever stop.

So far I have 51 lenses. There are 13 hours until the Giant Squid deadline and I am working feverishly to make it. Wish me luck!"

I wrote the above quote right before the Giant Squid deadline (when there was a deadline quarterly). I made it the first try (whoo hoo!!!). I will share more about the Giant Squid Program (Now Club) below.

Have you heard of the Squidoo Giant Squid Program? Do you want to be a Giant Squid? "

My First Lens

The first lens I wrote is Southern Hospitality.This turned out to be a very personal lens and I am proud of how it turned out.

I grew up in a small town and I have small town values. I believe it is important to pass my beliefs and way of life on to my children and when I moved to a bigger city, I realized something was drastically different here and that it was going to be difficult for my children to truly understand.

Image Credit: Small town fireworks ~ TBA Awarded! by Zenyaris

My First Lens, Southern Hospitality

A Story About Small Town Life

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Early Squidoo Accomplishments

Becoming A Giant Squid

The Giant Squid Challenge

The first Giant Squid Challenge was for the June 2009 Giant Squid Deadline. For this challenge I was a member of the Wiwon Team. During this Giant Squid Challenge each team had a community on Ning and we worked together to help prepare each other for the Giant Squid Deadline, and encouraged each other. We also competed against the other teams (Wiwon team won!) competing in the Challenge.

a_willow was our fearless leader for this challenge, and I can't say enough about how helpful she was. She is tough as nails, but kind and helpful all at the same time. Throughout the competition she'd email me about mistakes or suggestions, and she'd leave encouraging comments on my lenses.

It was During this challenge that I made Giant Squid! (50 top quality lenses!).

My Lenses About Giant Squids

There Are More Squidoo Lenses Below Also!

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Other Lenses About The June 2009 Giant Squid Challenge

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Giant Squid Challenge Coach

And Working On Getting 100 Lenses

For the second Giant Squid Challenge, the one for the September 2009 challenge, I was a Coach on the Wiwon team. I was there to mentor a group of potential giants to Gianthood. I probably learned more than my group did, but I did my best as a coach and I made progress toward the Giant Squid 100 club.

I also met some very special people during this challenge, and I got to know some better than I had previously. The chat room in our Ning group was bumping back then, and we all had a lot of fun. With all the fun, there was still learning going on, and encouragement being given. This was a very exciting Giant Squid Challenge.

A Fun Lens I Made During This Challenge

note: I had no idea where to put this lens, so it is featured multiple times in the lens . I guess it's kind of like how Michelle seems everywhere at once.

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Lenses By Others About The Giant Squid Challenge September 2009

Some Amazing Information Found At School Of Wonders!

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Giant Squid Greeter

Much Respect For The Giant Squid Organizers And Giant Squid Greeters

During the Giant Squid Challenge for the December 2009 giant deadline, I was a Giant Squid Greeter. The job of Greeter was being redefined, as was the Giant Squid Challenge. Instead of competing, during this challenge we were all in one Ning Group that held different classrooms focused on different aspects of lensbuilding. Becoming a Giant Squid Greeter was an experience. Overall it was a good experience, and I learned a lot during that journey. (That's a whole other lens!)

I also met some really great lensmasters during the Giant Squid Challenge for the December 2009 giant deadline within the Ning group set up for that challenge. Some of those lensmasters have gone on to make the very best of lensmasters.

About Being A Giant Squid Greeter

Alot learned in a short time!

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Other People's Lenses About Giant Squid Greeters

What an amazing group of people!

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Giant Squid 100 Club

While Being A Greeter I Made The Giant 100 Club

While a Giant Squid Greeter, I became a Giant Club 100 member. I worked extremely hard to get the required amount of lenses and make sure they were quality. Sometimes I worked till the wee hours of the morning on my lenses.

I wouldn't have made it without the support of the Fresh Squids/ Fresh Wonders group, or without a_willow and KathyMcgraw (my accountability partner). I am glad to have made the 100 club, and proud of my accomplishment. When you work so hard for something, you cherish it, as I do my Giant 100 Club Membership.

My 100 Lens

About my accountability partner

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The Whole Story Of Being Accountability Partners

By kathyMcgraw

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Special Squidoo Groups

Fresh Squids/ Fresh Wonders

An Amazing Group!

Fresh Wonders, formerly Fresh Squids, is a wonderful group of lensmasters that give each other support, understanding, encouragement, and help with Squidoo. It is a small private community that helps a small number of new lensmasters at the time learn to Squidoo.

At one time I was very active with Fresh Wonders, and I hope to be again some day. I just can not say enough about this group of lensmasters.

All About The Fresh Squids

Past And Present

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Explore The Archived Fresh Squids Lenses

It's a great collection of learning and community spirit lenses

The Fresh Squid related lenses were moved to their own account found below.

Rocketmoms

Lens Ideas Galore

Rocketmoms is a group of Moms on Squidoo. When they first started, Rocketmoms caused a lot of controversy and made a huge splash in the squidoo ocean. I joined Rocketmoms the second session after receiving my invitation, and I graduated two sessions.

I still visit Rocketmoms and I still get lens ideas there, but I haven't completed a whole third session yet. I would like to though sometime in the future.

Rocketmoms Lensographies

Each LEnsography Contains Several Lenses Made For Rocketmoms

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Squidoo Burnout....Big Time!

Squidoo Burnout

Doing Too Much Too Fast

squidoo burnout

After all the Giant Squid Challenges, Rocketmoms, Giant Greeter, Fresh Squids/ Fresh Wonders, Contests, Lensbuilding Sprees.....and so on and so on....I hit a wall. I hit a very big wall. Completely burned out. Brain fried. I spun my wheels, I let priorities slip, I got disorganized more than ever, lost motivation....in short, I made no progress with anything. I was completely overwhelmed in my online and personal life. It was a difficult time to say the least.

I can't pinpoint an exact day this happened, but all of a sudden Squidoo was not fun anymore. I spent a long time like this, trying to work on my lenses and build more, trying to gain control, but failing miserably. The truth is I am just now digging myself out of this burnout online. I had to take some time to get my personal offline life under control first, and now that I have done that I am ready for Squidoo once more.

I have made several attempts at getting my Squidoo account under control, but this is the first time I have made any real progress in months (maybe a year). Yesterday I labeled all my lenses, and I rewrote the majority of this lens. Today I will finish this lens and possibly some more. I have a plan in place. I am organized. I am no longer in burn out mode just spinning my wheels.

There will be a lens that covers my Squidoo burnout once my lenses have all been updated. I will share how I finally snapped out of it (or rather did the hard work required to change things).

Image Credit: Tagsforkids
Steve does some amazing Squid Graphics. Thank you for making this Squidoo Burnout Graphic for me.

Growing Pains At Squidoo

Growing Pains Here At Squidoo

But we're all adjusting

Squidoo has been going through some changes in the last couple of years. Some people are happy about the changes, some are not. Many have mixed emotions about them, or just feel differently about each change.

For me it started with the Squidoo Groups being changed (done away with). The Squidoo Clubs took their place. The Squidoo Policy changes were good ones for long time success. Squidoo is surviving the Panda Update because of these changes (IMHO). The Monsters and points were added with Squidoo Plus....fun fun fun! Fan clubs were done away with, squidcasts are gone. The Giant Squid Club has just had a major overhaul (I'm still a Giant 100 Club Member whoo hoo!) Oh yeah, the Squidu forum now has a council that moderates it. We voted on the council. Do you think they're doing a good job?

More changes are sure to come, but it's up to all of us to work together to get through the changes. Squidoo is still a wonderful place, and I believe after things have settled down we will all enjoy a better Squidoo. I am looking forward to seeing the next changes.

Image Credit: Ouch Bandaid by sagrundman

My Lenses About Squidoo Changes

More to come I'm sure!

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A Few Lenses About Changes At Squidoo

Mixed Emotions For Sure!

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Moving Forward With Squidoo And Other Online Endeavors

Moving Forward, Making Plans, Taking Action

So much to do!

Here I will pick up with what I am doing now, and my progress from here on out. I just got re approved for the Giant Squid 100 Club, the next milestone is the 240 club. I am in no hurry to get there mind you. Slow and steady from here on out. This time I am doing things the right way. I am working on organizing and cleaning up my account currently. I'll check back in as I progress.

Happy Squidooing!

Image Credit: "Squids At Work" By Tags for kids, found on Squidart Too

Lenses I Have Made About Squidoo

Special People On Squidoo

In No Particular Order

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About The Squidoo Community

I love the Squidoo community!

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Squidoo Lenses For Fun

Silly me!

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Archived Squidoo Lenses

Outdated lenses that have been archived for their historical value.

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A Look Back At Squidoo Before I Joined

"Squidoo's Beginnings" ********By GreekGeek******** Once Upon A Time....

Let Me Know What You Think

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About The Author

Luvmyludwig

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luvmyludwig

This is my Squid Journal. It's a record of my time here on Squidoo.
"If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it." ~Albert Eins... more »

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