My second interview in as many weeks goes to someone I have never met physically, but feel a close kinship with – the always lovely MiMi (GrowWear) on Squidoo.
What is Squidoo? It is a popular online publishing platform whose tagline is “Everyone’s an expert on something.” Just six years ago, it was founded by four people, including the popular business blogger and innovator, Seth Godin.
Fun Facts about Squidoo
* Free to use.
* Nearly 1,800,000 hand built lenses (pages).
* One of the 100 most popular websites in the US.
* Lensmasters (the writers) earn money for themselves and/or charity, from a few bucks a month, to $1,000 or even $10,000.
* More than one million visitors to Squidoo every day.
* Generated more than $500,000.00 to charities around the world.
I have been writing articles on the Squidoo platform for over two years now. What I learned very quickly was that Squidoo has one of the best supportive communities on the Internet. Through the generous help of others, I learned html, SEO (search engine optimization) and how to write more effectively. And I learned how I could help and support others in return.
MiMi, known as GrowWear on Squidoo, exemplifies this generous community. Here, in her words, learn what inspired her to write on the Squidoo platform and also why she gives back so much.
Q: Congratulations on celebrating your 4th anniversary writing for and being a part of the Squidoo community. Please tell us how you found Squidoo and what prompted you to join?
MM: Thank you, Kim. Yes, four years! It’s hard to remember back that far though. The old brain is not like it used to be. But, I believe it was a news announcement on a tech site that drew me to it. At first, it was a “me” thing. I wanted to see how I could use Squidoo to “get business.” But that didn’t last long. What initially drew me to it went by the wayside as I realized what a great platform it is for self-expression.
Q: How has Squidoo changed over the four years you have been a part of it?
MM: The most important change is that the writing quality has increased. Yes, we still get the members who selfishly create junk, but I believe that the actual writers with talent will win in the end.
Could Squidoo support them better? Yes, and a system to do that is sorely needed, but I’m not at the round table, so I don’t know what or if there are any plans along those lines.
And something I hope never changes is the “giving.” It’s not an accident or an afterthought that we have charities that we can easily give some (or all) of our royalties to.
Q: You are one person who really exemplifies the Squidoo community. You promote others lenses through Squidoo Lens Reviews. You are one of the people behind Professional Squids, and you are constantly visiting other people’s lenses with helpful and encouraging comments. Where does that level of caring come from and why is this so important to you?
MM: Gracious, that’s a huge compliment. Thank you, Kim! …Well, you’ve described some of the things I have given up on doing any longer in that I am notoriously one who gives my all, then burns out. But, I’m still me, and a giving nature is one of the most important aspects of who I am.
I think it’s extremely important to let others know they are appreciated, heard, looked at, and considered.
That his comes from a childhood where I had a scant few positive role models is probably the biggest reason this is so important to me. Though I’ve fallen short more times than I can count, compassion is everything.
Q: I get the impression that inspiration plays a big part in your life. Is this true? Where do you like to get inspiration?
MM: That is a most excellent question. Excellent because, yes, it is true, but I don’t know how you know that, and I don’t know how to explain why it’s true! …Everything inspires me—even the graphic design on a four-pack of dog treats I bought a few days ago. Maybe it’s because everything is just so interesting. Maybe it’s because learning is growing. I really don’t know!
Q: Why should someone join Squidoo?
MM: If they would like a digital platform where they can express themselves and share themselves with the world, Squidoo is the place to be.
Q: What are you most proud of in your time on Squidoo? Also, please give a few examples of your own lenses that you would want others to see as examples of what Squidoo is about.
Pink Tools on Amazon
MM: Kim, there are so many great things that have happened in my time here. My “lenses of the day” (a daily award given on Squidoo) are important, but there are so many other things as well.
Things that I just have not had the time to “collate,” so even though I’ll leave it at the Lens of the Day’s for now, I do suspect that my later conclusions would include Squidoo Lens Reviews (a blog) as my proudest element, and also Professional Squids…We promoted writing as the most-important thing, and that’s a lot to be proud of.
…Here are three wide-ranging examples of Squidoo lenses: Homeless In America > Gonna Catch A Big One > Pink Tool Kits For Women.
Editor’s Note: Homeless in America was the #1 Overall Squidoo lens for quite some time. It is powerful and important. Gonna Catch a Big One is a children’s book written by MiMi for her grandchild; one of the unique ways Squidoo can be used. And Pink Tool Kits for Women is just plain fun.
Q: What are you currently inspired by and how will that be incorporated into what you hope to accomplish this year?
MM: Wayne Dyer is the “guru” that is most in line with my own thinking, so any of my accomplishments will be a direct result of how close I can get to the “power of intention.”
Thank you, MiMi, for taking the time to answer my questions and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.
Learn more about Squidoo.
Dear Kim, you are quite welcome! Thank you for the interview. …I just adore the way you highlighted this with your artwork and the quote.
You are quite welcome, MiMi. Thank you for being interviewed. I loved that you said compassion is everything.
Wonderful, inspiring (listening to Wayne Dyer right now on YouTube…I must find his tapes I have stashed in the upstairs melange of life-stuff, ha!) and I have loved and appreciated what Mimi does on Squidoo since I joined up more than 4 years ago.