Weekly Learnings #9

Gm fam,

Here is what I learned and found fascinating this week:

(Click the image to view the original tweets)

What fascinated me

1/ Twitter’s algorithm likes long-form tweets, shaping creators behavior.

Twitter recently introduced long-form tweets as an alternative to its iconic threads. Despite initial skepticism, creators have started preferring this new form. Why the sudden popularity? It seems that long-form tweets are favored by the algorithm, which often rewards users with greater reach, consequently leading to an increase in followers.

For years, threads and so-called 'tweetstorms' were king, but it now appears that the algorithm holds the true power. This reminds me of Naval's statement: “The most powerful people in the world are those who write the algorithms for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, because they control the spread of information. They're programming the culture.” It's both fascinating and scary how quickly an algorithm can change our behavior.

2/ How iterative approaches can unlock your potential.

I learned this week from Marc Andreessen that there are two main approaches to creation and building:

1. The Steve Jobs way: Polish, polish, polish, and don't ship until it's perfect.

2. The hacker's mentality: Ship early and often (even if imperfect), then iterate.

Hardware tends to do better with the 'wait and make it perfect' approach, whereas software tends to thrive with the iterative approach. Nonetheless, there are successful companies on both sides.

If you love perfectionism, go for it. But keep in mind that many people never unlock their full potential because they are perpetually polishing their ideas without ever actually starting. It's okay to be imperfect, especially in this fast moving space where you often need to test your ideas quickly to see what works. As long as you're consistent and resilient in improving and iterating, I believe you're well-positioned to make a significant impact.

3/ After nearly two years, I changed my PFP.

I did it! I changed my PFP on Twitter. It sounds funny to anyone not into NFTs, but every NFT degen knows what a big deal it is. 🤣 So, how do I feel?

Here are some initial observations:

✅ The BAYC/MAYC community gave me a warm welcome. I got DMs, group chats were lively, and I even received free banner offers. Beautiful unexpected welcome.

✅ Subcommunities are underrated! These invite-only groups, based on shared interests or specific ape traits, provide a chance to find like-minded builders and embark on the journey together.

☑️ No one recognizes me! I thought my Twitter name, beast.eth, was fairly recognizable, but seems like people focus mainly on PFPs. Let’s see next week!

As for Beasty, the king Cool Cat? He's not going anywhere! Quite the opposite! I believe in IP and the power of building characters within Web3 communities. Stay tuned, there are exciting things coming. 😊

Threads that provided value

1/ Interesting concept of fastvertising and how to win the attention game.

2/ Summary of some big ideas in investing. Interesting to go through and think about each of the graphics - relatable also to crypto and Web3.

Reminders

1/ Often the uncomfortable things just have to be done to move forward.

2/ Focus on what you can control.

3/ It’s a long game.

Have a beautiful day fam,

Beast.