I've said on several occasions that Google would eventually take its eye off "the game".  Google's game has been, and should always be, search.  And while the search company has been moving in several different directions for a couple of years now, it's more apparent than ever these days that Google's eyes are definitely beginning to lose sight of the search game.

The recent YouTube issues are only one example.  In addition, Google's services always used to feature the ability to search - since that's what the company does best.  But even that has begun to change.  Google Reader, which is quickly becoming the top online feed reader, has no search abilities built in.  How could a company that's foundation is built on search… forget something so basic?

I'll tell you how:  by forgetting that foundation.

Google wants to rule and dominate everything.  But you know what?  You can only be great at one thing.  Sure… you can be good at a lot of things.  But if you goal is to be the best… it's going to be one thing.  I don't think Google is clearly thinking about that anymore.

If I was Google, I'd put all of these extra balls that are in the air down.  I'd go back to the basics:  search.  The other search engines are catching up, algorithm wise.  Google needs to dedicate itself to their algorithm because they have the talent to make search so much better.  They brought us this far.  Imagine where they could take us in the future… if they put their talents back into the search basket.

But instead, they spend that talent on YouTube… and scanning books… and building WI-FI networks… and all of the other initiatives the company has begun to pursue.  It's such a huge waste.  Not one product or initiative from the Googleplex has come anywhere near the quality and impact of the good ol' Google search.  Not one.  They have yet to make any real money off of anything else, either.  And I'll never be able to understand companies that extend themselves endlessly in countless new directions… while forgetting about the basics that built their business.

The Google house of cards is getting bigger and bigger.  Before too long, the only inevitable conclusion will be the collapse of that house.

Google needs to get back to what it does best… before the whole house comes crashing back down.

-Matt