Social Signals by GREG SWAN

Share this post
Holiday Homework: 5 easy assignments to get a leg-up on 2022
gregswan.substack.com

Holiday Homework: 5 easy assignments to get a leg-up on 2022

Yes, you're going to buy an NFT. But I'll make it easy for ya 💸

Greg Swan
Dec 23, 2021
6
2
Share this post
Holiday Homework: 5 easy assignments to get a leg-up on 2022
gregswan.substack.com

You are reading Social Signals, Greg’s weekly email about creative, technology, and cultural signals worth noting. Today’s email was written to this 5 hour video of Nick Offerman enjoying a whiskey in front of a yule log. If you haven’t already subscribed, there’s a big button right there!


Hopefully you’re getting some time off in the next couple of weeks, and I’ve created some Holiday Homework™️ for you in case you have some the capacity this year – but don’t worry! It’s going to be easy. 

I shared a similar holiday break homework assignment back in 2019 and a pandemic-friendly version back in 2020 and got a lot of great feedback on these easy, purposeful couple of things we can all do to help set us up for the new year. Including some couch time, too!

I want to lead with that fact that this advice is directed at white collar knowledge workers who have the privilege of taking some time off. So if that’s you and you can use your time or means to help others less fortunate and privileged while still taking a well-deserved break and doing some of these things below, please do so!

If you are able to take some time off to recharge, here are some suggestions how to spend a little of that couch time to get a leg up on 2022…

  1. UNPLUG: Pick at least two days you won’t check your work email. Delete it from your phone if you don’t have the willpower not to look. You’re on PTO. It’s okay to take TWO DAYS OFF from checking it. Maybe try for five and settle for two. If you’re like me your “surge capacity is depleted” and without recharging, you won’t be ready for next year.

  2. GOAL SETTING: Write down 1-3 goals for Q1. Share them with your mentor, boss, friend, and/or post them online. Accountability goes a long way. Don’t worry about planning for the whole year or making them massive stretch goals. Setting some achievable goals for January, February and March is plenty. Especially in the middle of a pandemic. But be intentional, even if they include things like rest, work/life balance, or resetting habits.

  3. ROBLOX 101: Last year your homework was to try Among Us. This year, if you haven’t already, this is your time to register an account on Roblox and spend at least 20 minutes playing with family and/or strangers on the internet with the purpose of exploring what it’s like to experience a social metaverse game. It’s free, and you can play in a browser, on your phone, or on a gaming console. Don’t be too paralyzed to start; just jump in. Dress your avatar and do some experiences with others. For starters, visit NIKELAND, Ralph Lauren’s Winter Escape, Chipotle’s Burrito Maze, or check out some Tommy Hilfiger swag.

  4. BUY AN NFT: Wait! Don’t worry. We’re gonna make this easy. Spend $9 on an NBA Topshot NFT using a credit card. Even if you’re not into basketball, Topshot is an incredibly accessible way to dip your toes into NFTs. When you’re ready for the next step, download Sweet and buy a cheap NFT using the iOS App Store. When you’re ready for the next step, check out Veve and peruse the Disney, Marvel, Coke, and other collectibles. If you’ve covered those easier and more entry-level NFT marketplaces and think you’re ready for the next step into how NFTs can lead to access, social engagement, and community, here’s a how-to guide for registering a crypto wallet, buying Ethereum, browsing Open Sea and buying + minting NFTs. Fair warning: this step requires a LOT of education, $$, effort, and significant time with questionable ROI. That’s why I started you with a $9 credit card purchase, y’all.

  5. GEN Z SOCIAL TRENDS CRASH COURSE HACK: While you’re doing all the holiday reunions and/or Zooms this year and run out of things to talk about, ask your niece and nephews who their favorite TikTok, YouTube, and streaming gamers are to follow. Ask them to text you their favorites or watch some together. Don’t judge. Don’t play the “I’m old” card, either. Just ask questions and learn. And if you can, play Among Us, Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, or whatever they’re interested in with them. Spending time with young people and genuinely showing interest in what they care about is both the right thing to do and also will help you better understand and be prepared for emerging trends in 2022. Double bonus!

That’s it! Binge a show! Read a book! Play a game! Take a nap! Don’t pressure yourself to drive a ton of progress during some of your only days off during a global pandemic, okay? You’ll thank yourself in January when we’re all back at it.

🐤 Those Good Socials

Twitter avatar for @GraceMulvey1Grace Mulvey @GraceMulvey1
I can't think of anyone who has had a better year than the QR code. What a comeback.

December 17th 2021

42,308 Retweets426,875 Likes
Twitter avatar for @ianchillagEverything Is Alive @ianchillag
It's weird to realize how many of the gifts in 12 days of christmas are birds. 6 out of the first 7 days, your true love just gives you birds. it's 23 total birds. what if you don't even like birds

December 9th 2021

1,081 Retweets6,580 Likes
Twitter avatar for @adweakADWEAK @adweak
BREAKING: New Linkedin Connection Noticed You Had Several Connections In Common So Thought It Was A Good Idea To DM You A Sales Message About Some Shit

December 18th 2021

86 Retweets867 Likes

📚 Holiday Reads from Social Signals This Last Year

  • Leaders, Talk to Your People

  • What are Kudos and why are we giving them to each other?

  • Acronyms Destroy Culture and Alienate Customers

  • College grad advice for all ages and life stages

  • Celebrating 1 year of surprise weekend road trips and how to plan one of your own

🔥 Quick Hits

  • TikTok got more traffic thank freakin’ Google in 2021.

  • Instagram is working on bringing NFTs into the platform, which could have big consequences and opportunities for both brands and influencers.

  • LinkedIn launched a campaign to highlight the importance of diversity in the workplace.

  • TikTok is testing a new ‘Repost’ option to re-share TikTok clips to followers, launching a chain of delivery-only restaurants, added new tools including green screen GIFS, and is testing a desktop streaming app focused on gamers.

  • One in five American boys aged 13-17 support FaZe Clan, the biggest esports team in the world. No traditional sports team enjoys that level of support among this demographic.

  • Non-Fungible Olive Gardens launched and immediately sold out (except you can still mint unlimited breadsticks!).

  • Shopify is allowing merchants to mint and sell NFTs on its platform.

  • Intel thinks the metaverse will need a thousand-fold increase in computing capability.

  • A tool called Animated Drawings from Meta A.I. research brings children’s drawings to life. Check it out!

  • Word of the Week: Tetris Effect occurs when people devote so much time and attention to an activity that it begins to pattern their thoughts, mental images, and dreams.

  • TikTok of the Week: Are there really jobs in the metaverse?

  • Holiday TikTok of the Week: Silver Bells (Wake Me Up Inside)

  • Holiday YouTube of the Week: Stop-Motion Holiday LEGO Fireplace made of 3,000 bricks!

  • Holiday Website of the Week (try it out on 12/25!):

    https://isitchristmas.com/

Happy holidays! See you on the internet!
Greg

If you liked this, do me a solid and smash that “LIKE” with the little heart. And share it. TYSM 🙏🏻

2
Share this post
Holiday Homework: 5 easy assignments to get a leg-up on 2022
gregswan.substack.com
2 Comments

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

Kurt Schmidt
Writes Schmidt List Dec 24, 2021Liked by Greg Swan

Alright fine! I made my fist NFT! I didn't publish it live because the gas fees were $135 bucks!

Expand full comment
ReplyCollapse
Gianfranco Berardi
Dec 23, 2021

Oh, I was expecting to hear about Kickstarter's recent announcements. Have a good holiday break!

Expand full comment
ReplyCollapse
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

Š 2022 Greg Swan
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing