Learning from the Greats
Learning from the Greats – CleanerLife
Sep 24th
Giant Squid Lensmaster CleanerLife shares who he credits most for helping him on his journey to Giant Squidness.
“It Is very hard to single out ONE Lensmaster.
I could probably list a couple of hundred Squidoo members who have helped, with the awesome tips they post on their Lenses and blogs, comments/ ratings on myown Lenses and blogs, and most recently, the support of the WiWon team, but Loyalis stands out as the person who really started me on the road to becoming a Giant Squid.
The best thing that I could have done was to hang out in the Squidoo Chat Room, talk to Joe (Loyalis, aka Captain Squid), read his post “Captain Squid Squidoo Interview with Gadget Guy and the Guru” then listened to the interview.
It gave me the first glimpse of the power of Squidoo, and it seemed that the next step for me was to become a Giant. I’ve been working towards that ever since, even if it took longer than I originally thought. The sense of accomplishment is just so much sweeter having waited so long, and I can honestly say that my Lenses are more worthy of having the Giant badge on them now than they were the first time I applied, and continual encouragement, and tips from Loyalis have played a big part in that.”
Don’t Miss these GREAT lenses by CleanerLife!
Quick & Easy Iced Coffee Recipe
Best of Primal Foods on Twitter
Lawn And Garden Plants Transplanting: A Personal Adventure In Plant Relocation
Learning from the Greats – MeltedRachel
Sep 14th
Giant Squid MeltedRachel shares the lensmaster who most inspired her on to greatness!
“The lensmaster that immediately springs to mind is a_willow.
When I first joined Squidoo I knew I wanted to make loads of lenses. I just kept getting idea after idea and I knew I wanted to be a giant squid- but I figured that I’d make 50 lenses (or more) first. I didn’t have the confidence to contact anyone and I wasn’t really sure about what I needed to do to make my lenses good enough. I’ve never really been that good at the social aspect of sites so I didn’t ask for help. I thought I’d plod along and apply when I felt confident enough. Then along came the wonderful a-willow who told me about the giant squid challenge. I felt really blown away that someone would contact me, so I immediately signed up for her group!
a_willow has spent so much time sending me messages and telling me about things I can do with my lenses- not to mention all the help she’s given the rest of the WiWon team. I don’t know how she does it! I’d have a huge amount of long, ugly, boring lenses if it wasn’t for the help she’s given me- and I’d have a lot more work to do editing my lenses to become a giant squid.
Now I’m part of a team and actually communicating with people!”
Don’t Miss These Great Lenses by MeltedRachel!
Learning from the Greats – PartyBuzz
Sep 10th
Giant Squid PartyBuzz shares the name of the one lensmaster who most inspired her to become a Giant Squid.
“It’s hard to name just one person that inspired me on Squidoo…everyone is so great here! But, my desire to be a Giant Squid started with this lens: the Giant Squids (and how you can become one) by MeganCasey . Pretty simple, huh?
I could name several others that helped me and/or inspired me to build better lenses, but if I can only name the one that inspired me to make Giant, that is the one! When I read it, I thought…I want to do that! I CAN do it! Giant Squid…how cool is that?!”
Don’t miss these great lenses created by PartyBuzz:
Decorating Your Bedroom in a Wolf Theme
Learning from the Greats – SimeyC
Sep 2nd
Giant Squid Lensmaster SimeyC tells us about the one Squidoo lensmaster who helped him most on his quest for Giant Squid Status.
“There are dozens of Lensmasters who have helped me achieve Giant Squid status, and it is very difficult to pick one person out of all the helpful people who have guided me along the way. However, there is one Lensmaster who has perhaps had the greatest influence on the Lenses I design, and therefore helped me achieve my goal.
Cinetech, while not being a Giant himself, is a masterful Lensmaster. Every one of his Lenses shows a special touch that combines thoughtful design but always has an eye on marketing and product placement. With several of my Lenses he has mentored me, prodding me in the right direction with objective criticism and specific advice.
During the time he has helped me, I moved from being a good Lensmaster to one whose Lenses helped me achieve Giant Squid status – without his nurturing words, and advice, I would not be a Giant today.”
Don’t miss these great lenses by one of our newest Giant Squids, SimeyC!
Learning from the Greats – Ramkitten
Aug 17th
![ramkittenlme34cba83b528a30297bbc091b1d3e775_1228683472yay[1]](http://www.giantsquidshowcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ramkittenlme34cba83b528a30297bbc091b1d3e775_1228683472yay1-130x150.jpg "ramkittenlme34cba83b528a30297bbc091b1d3e775_1228683472yay[1]")
I asked some of our newest Giants to share the name of the one lensmaster who inspired them the most. Here’s what Ramkitten said:
“I have to say that the lensmaster who’s influenced and inspired me the most is A_Willow. She was one of the first to visit and comment on my first lens and soon afterwards added it to her monthly Fresh Squid Contest in which my lens actually took the top spot, which was pretty thrilling for a newbie. I felt like my work had been validated, and that really inspired me to make many more lenses.
I’ve kept in contact with Michelle all along and then became one of her team members–on the WiWon team–for the latest Giant Squid challenge. She was and IS a great team leader, not only encouraging us but giving us honest feedback and great tips to improve our lenses and come up with ideas for more. It’s really amazing how hard Michelle works on and for Squidoo and the community.”
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Don’t miss these great lenses by Giant Squid Ramkitten:
Becoming A Search & Rescue Volunteer
Ramkitten’s Lensography
Squidoo Lenses That Don’t Sell A Thing
Learning from the Greats – AJ2008
Aug 10th
I recently asked New Giant AJ2008 who most inspired her to go for the Giant Squid Gold. Here’s what she told me:
“Asking me to nominate just one Lensmaster who has encouraged, empowered or inspired me to become a Giant Squid, is like asking me to choose which of my children I love best. There’s so many – and I mean Lensmasters, NOT children, although I do have four!
However, choose I must and in the end I have selected the Lensmaster who was one of the first to join my Fanclub and who left a Blessing on my Purple Star lens, Bullying at Primary School, with words that I still treasure, nine months later:
“A hearty SquidAngel Blessing for this incredibly important lens. This is Squidoo at its best!”
This was only my second lens and is probably the most emotional I have ever published. It is a very personal lens and to have a well respected Lensmaster and Angel leave that message in my Guestbook, means the world to me. Many people who have been Blessed by this Angel, will know that it was Chef Keem who always leaves blessings with the words: “A hearty SquidAngel Blessing” and since that time I am proud to be able to call him my friend and mentor.
The Chef has written so many brilliant and inspiring lenses, but what made me stop and think: “Hey, I think I would like to be a Giant” was actually a video on his Lensography: http://www.squidoo.com/chef-keem. The Chef is a composer and he had put a video up on YouTube, with his own music, that is a tribute to some of the great Lensmasters on Squidoo. And I could not help but wonder if I would ever get good enough to join that esteemed company.
Listening to music, while reading a lens was an idea that was inspired by Chef Keem’s Lensography and I do this in several of my lenses, where I choose a favourite piece of music and put it under the intro module.
But it is not just because he leaves thoughtful messages in my Guestbook, that I am so encouraged by Chef Keem. His whole approach to Squidoo and people is inspirational. He has had serious challenges in his life and by working through those problems he has learned so much. He is a giver and gives without expecting anything in return. He always sees the very best in people and he seems to bring out the best in people too. Is it any wonder that I am so fond of him as well as inspired by him?”
Here’s a small sample of what made AJ2008 a Giant:
Learning from the Greats – BevsPaper
Aug 9th
I recently asked new Giant Squid BevsPaper who it was that inspired her to become a Giant Squid Lensmaster.
Here’s what she told me:
“During my first few months at Squidoo, I noticed that some Lensmasters had the Giant Status and I was pretty impressed with their work. A couple of times I even thought to myself that it would be quite an accomplishment to earn that status but I wasn’t sure that I had what it took to make the quality required to achieve that goal. As I spent more time reading other Lensmaster’s work a tiny little dream began to form that maybe someday I could do it. I was just a “Baby Squid” after all and needed to mature before I could try. I needed to learn to crawl before I could walk.
One day in late March or early April of 2009 I received a comment on one of my lenses by rms (Robin) one of the Giant Squid Organizers encouraging me to try for Giant Squid and offering a Mentor if I thought I wanted one. I can’t explain how that one comment boosted my confidence! Someone thought I had what it took to try for Giant Squid. I stated in one of my lenses that “It takes a village to raise a Baby Squid”. The community of Squidoo really does work that way. After Robin’s first invitation, I was invited to join one of the five teams a few weeks later and I decided to join only because Robin had so kindly planted the seed previously. My quest to become a Giant Squid was first inspired by Robin and I thank her so much for that vote of confidence.
Something that I would like to share with potential Giant Squids is this: There really is a village of people who will help you along the way. Robin started a challenge post at SquidU for the potential Giants to post their progress and that was empowering to all of us. An incredible thing happened on those posts! There were several of the potential Giants from all 5 teams who might have looked at each other as competitors but they didn’t! We all became each other’s cheerleaders reading the lenses we created. Leaving encouraging comments for each other. From time to time other Giants and Squid Angels would pop in and leave words of encouragement, too. I found myself wanting to write my very best, not just to reach my own goal; but I also didn’t want to let any of these wonderful guys and gals down who were rooting for me. It was truly an awesome experience and one that I will always treasure!”
Thank you Bev! I love that I inspired you and I know that your lenses are now inspiring others on to greatness as well.
Here’s a small sample of BevsPaper’s outstanding work:
He Chose Suicide http://www.squidoo.com/jeffssuicide
Scarlet Widow http://www.squidoo.com/scarlet-widow
A Squid Is Born http://www.squidoo.com/squid-born-tales
P.S. The Squidu Giant Squid Challenge for September is now open. Please stop by and join us, or to share a few words of encouragement for the next group of hardworking potential Giant Squids.
Learning from the Greats – Inkserotica
Aug 3rd
“I suppose as soon as I started on Squidoo I wanted to become a Giant Squid. So many lensmasters inspired and encouraged me to go for that goal.
I was a bit late in the game for picking a Giant Squid Mentor but, as soon as I did, the help and advice she gave to me enabled me to turn a lot of my poor lenses around.
That lensmaster is JaguarJulie and I’d highly recommend her to be your Giant Squid Mentor if you find yourself aiming for Giant Squid 
Thank you so much for this opportunity 
Carrie aka inkserotica“
Have a look at a couple of the reasons why Inkserotica is one of our newest Giant Squid lensmasters:
Learning from the Greats – NanLT
Jul 28th
I asked some of our newest Giants to tell me who inspired them. Here’s what NanLT had to say:
“I’m one of the newest Giant Squids here at Squidoo. I’ve been asked to speak about 1 lensmaster or Squidoo lens that inspired me to become a giant.
Limiting this to just 1 person, I think, is quite difficult as there are so many here at Squidoo who influenced my beginning efforts, but if I must choose 1 person that would be Bonnie (BDKZ). From the very beginning I have seen her in there cheering people on, encouraging them, and showing just how good things can be around Squidoo.
It is Bonnie’s work with RocketMoms that really spurred me on when it came to creating quality lenses. With her help I believe that I was not only able to create well over the 50 minimum needed to become a giant, but that the lenses I did make were of a far superior quality than they could have been without her help.
Bonnie gives tirelessly in so many areas around Squidoo. And I for one am very thankful to have her around.”
Don’t miss these great lenses crafted by NanLT.
Tasty Apple Desserts to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth
Through hell and back again, my journey through post-natal depression
Making a Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Research
Highlights several other lensmasters who have aided NanLT in some fashion
Learning from the Greats – J_Barnhart4
Jul 16th
I recently asked her who it was at Squidoo.com that inspired her the most.
Here’s what she told me:
“I had a hard time choosing a lensmaster that really inspired me because there are so many that critique in the forums, leave inspiring comments, and write helpful lenses. When it came down to it, I had to choose Bonnie (bdkz). She is a Squid Angel, Giant Squid Community Organizer, and Head Rocketmom. She can do it all and she does. She invited me to be a Rocketmom in the first session when I only had 12 lenses. It made me feel that I had been noticed in such a large ocean of squid. She reads every lens and is there to answer questions any time of the day. Being a Rocketmom gave me the push I needed to write not only more lenses, but ones that I normally would not have dared to write. Being a part of that elite group of moms is what gave me the drive to write enough lenses to apply for Giant. I never dreamed I would get selected this time around. I am so thankful to Bonnie and all of the other moms who helped me get where I am now. I am sure I will not be the last to thank her.”
Here are just three of the reasons why we are proud to call J_Barnhart4 a Giant Squid Lensmaster.
