Crumbs! that wasn't supposed to happen :-
Well, I'm probably making a massive error of judgement even writing this today, because the lkely outcome runs counter to my intention, but here goes nothing...
I logged in today and saw my rank had shot to 56. Many people would I'm sure be delighted and over the moon and would probably broadcast the fact. I kinda pulled my hood up over my face and hid, like a tortoise popping back in its shell.
My exact thoughts were,
'Oh crumbs.. people are going to think I know what I am doing!'
followed by,
'Please God don't let me go Top 50!'
For a while I have been hovering around the low 60s mark which was kinda scary but understandable. Understandable because I do spend considerable time interacting with members and the platform generally. Usually I slip a point or two over the weekend because that is my family time, and then rise a point or two again through the week, like a cork bobbing along on a tide, sometimes overcome by waves, sometimes floating peacefully above.
Imagine my shock then to return after my customary weekend absence to find I have risen 5 points.
I know you get points for interacting with the community. However my interactions generally consist of a few words of encouragement, a considered and constructive comment on a member's website and generally running round like a headless chicken cocking things up and begging wiser members for help with my latest disaster.
For the record, my original website is still very wobbly on it's legs and probably heading for extinction or euthanasia, depending on whether I decide to put it out of its misery. My SAC site is moving with the speed of said tortoise, although not for want of trying on my behalf, and my tick-list for month one SAC is very unticked, again, not through want of trying but through want of ability on my behalf.
So, if you are a newbie, by all means ask me a question and I probably won't know the answer, but I will know someone who does. If there is one thing I have learned since being here it is who to go to for help and support when I need it, what people's specialisms here are, so who best to approach with a certain kind of query. These people know who they are and I hope they know how immensely grateful I am to them.
When I newbie asks me a question, it is the knowledge I have learned from these people that I will pass on to them, because it is tried and tested, particularly by me who can break anything.
My one piece of advice to newbies however is, don't be fooled by rank. Age ain't nothin but a number and so is rank. My rank is not a reward for success, but an indication of how much help I need and get. If you want an indication of success, look for Ambassadors. They are the heroes of the platform and they have truly earned their stripes.
People here are catagorised according to their activities. They may be Creators, Helpers or Contributors. Again, use this information to assist you in seeking out the members that will have the answers to the kinds of questions and needs you have.
I'm going to crawl off and hide again now and mangle my website a bit.
Keep being fabulous!
Alison
Recent Comments
12
Rank can't totally be ignored. It stares you in the face every day. Reference points are flawed.
I always append the direction of a precise figure like "moving away from 4 or a higher number than 4" to eliminate the inherent confusion in direction of movement "up or down"!
You are right Mike, it is absolutely in your face when you log in. I just wish it wasn't called 'rank' as it feels misleading. My diminishing number is simply a result of how many times I have yelled 'Help' on here lately :-/
I know the feeling exactly Alison. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Ray
I've posted two questions on here today Ray that have me absolutely bamboozled. As a result of being completely hopelessly confused, and asking for help, my rank will increase. I view it as my badge of daftness :-D
Hi Alison, there is definitely a lot to learn here. It's mind-boggling really. My rank moves up and down and since I started the SAC it's slipped some but I know rank doesn't make one successful. My posts haven't indexed in a while. That is my main concern right now. One of these days I'm going to figure this stuff out. I know one thing, I'll never stop learning!
Cal
Exactly! Rank is almost a distraction. I know when I started I sought out people with what I perceived to be high ranks thinking they are the experts to go to. In reality it is more of an indication as to how likely it is you will find them active on the site any time you log in. I just don't want anyone thinking that because my rank appears to be going up that I know what I am doing. In fact it is the exact opposite in my case that is making the number smaller!
I know exactly how you feel and I hear what you are saying. After 9 months and 2 “moving forward” websites I don’t feel like I know enough either.
I let my ranking drop a while back because of this same dilemma.
Laura
Thanks Laura, it's a dilemma isn't it? Ranking only drops through inactivity or absence of interaction though so pulling back from interaction won't help your sites improve. It's a catch 22 as long as people believe rank to equate to expertise. I'm just putting it out there that it doesn't mean that at all, in fact it can be quite the opposite. I meet people on here from time to time who are very successful in their businesses but ranked between 200-500 or lower. Probably because they are simply getting on with it!
'Rank is a misnomer I think, although I don't know what other term would be a more accurate substitute.
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Hi Alison,
What a great post!
You're right about looking up to our Ambassadors as our heroes. I'm used to looking up to others my entire life.
I'm only 4'9 and 3/4" inches tall weighing in about 96 pounds. Yesterday, I had to see two doctors, a physician and an eye examiner because my eyes had made so much improvements, that the Dr. felt that I should hold off further procedures to see if my eyes will make a full recovery.
I am humbled.
I've always had to depend on so many people and I'm amazed of their sacrifice and patience with me and so, looking up to others has been my life.
I look up to them, the men and woman who can do things I'm not able to do. I appreciate them for being courageous and I know that they too have their own problems.
And I think it would be proper, that, it is okay to root for someone at the top and especially for those who are in between.
The rankings are there for us to see who's being courageous at the time. Taking their turn on giving to others. They may drop out of the rankings and that's okay because it gives someone else a chance to step up and be the hero.
Everyone is a Hero!
The best part of the training, is this ranking system, it keeps us thinking about others first. It is your non financial resources, it's what's in your heart that gives you your rank.
Thanks for your post it was very inspiring to me
Pete Weaver
Hey Pete, thank you for your kind and considered response. You have made me think again, maybe I shouldn't shy away from my rank, it's just that the word makes me feel such a fraud.
Brilliant news about your eyes, you must be over the moon. May you go from strength to strength! Small but mighty, isn't that what they say?
Wishing you all the very best :-)