Squidblog

Volatility is a measure of instability. And instability in the wrong places can be bad. You don’t want a volcano to be volatile. You don’t want volatile acidity (or vinegar taint) in your wine. You don’t want to be in a volatile relationship (I hope).

But through rosier glasses, volatility also means change, and change can be a good thing that allows you (or your product or site or friendship) to develop. That’s why the U.S. elects a president every 4 years. That’s why the Amazon bestseller list refreshes every hour. That’s why Squidoo LensRank changes every day. Change is a result of new opinions and updated data. Volatility, when done right, keeps your site or government or interests fresh and timely–and, most importantly, creates opportunities to do better.

For example, we’ve been testing and tweaking designs for Squidoo lenses, based on a synthesis of data and marketing and lensmaster feedback. Next week we’ll be releasing another wave of designs, a change that will generate new opportunities for lensmasters, for their readers, for the community.

You don’t get it right every time, but engaging in the process is half the battle. The key is to watch what, and who, takes advantage of the opportunities that each change creates, and to keep evolving from there.

Embrace volatility that gets you closer to your goals. Run very quickly away from volatility that makes things go boom.