What Me + Winnie Harlow Have In Common
What parts of Web3 are you most excited about? What’s something special you’re trying to bring into this space?
We’re about to dive into a story about me (Carly) as a teenager. 🙋🏽♀️
But first, let me ask:
Social media… I’ve got a love-hate relationship with it. How ‘bout y'all?
Today I want to take a minute to highlight one of the biggest benefits:
Representation. The kind that sparks self acceptance.
Seeing parts of yourself that you usually keep hidden, out there being accepted and embraced and highlighted in the public eye – that someone else posted about themselves – so you don’t really have to be out there at all, but it still makes you feel seen as if you were the one that posted it.
Know what I’m talking about? Maybe not. So I’ll explain further…
As per usual I was peeping around on Twitter for this newsletter, going down one rabbit hole to the next, when I was stopped in my tracks.
It was on an NFT project page that was filled with a bunch of mermaids. 🧜♀️ Cute.
In any normal case, I’d do a few scrolls, maybe retweet a particular post I thought was unique or a special event you all would like, and click on to another artist profile…
But my eyes zoned in immediately, 👀 to the bottom right corner of their pinned post – the image was tiny as heck, but I knew exactly what it was, and boyyy did it light me up.
IDK how I even noticed it that small in a sea of 15 other mermaids, but I guess my subconscious did. Teenage Carly had one of those moments I talked about above. I saw a piece of myself.
This particular mermaid was designed after Winnie Harlow. A fashion model who has embraced and owned her vitiligo – receiving SO much acceptance and love that she now has 9.7 million followers.
Why’s that matter to me?
Welp, I can still recall the fear and anxiety of having to go to my first high school pool party – with mismatched skin colors that were especially noticeable during those summer months. Patches of white cover my ankles, knees, elbows, hips, spine, eyelids… and I had never seen anyone else with vitiligo. Ever.
I felt weird, alien. Like everyyyyone would be staring. (It was high school after all.)
I remember my Dad’s advice: “Just tell them you’re part dalmatian. And if they make fun of you, bark at them.” 🐾
It didn’t really help the situation. 😂 But he tried and I loved him for doing so. #fatheroftheyear
What I also remember – about that age, or any age really – is that there is a turning point in life where we start to accept ourselves wholly, our flaws and all. We start to care less about what others might think and we show up as we are. We start to embrace it – like Winnie did.
This is an aspect of social media that I am SO happy we are bringing into Web3.
If we start this new Web3 world with crazy diverse representation, then those younger than us will likely start loving themselves (their whole selves) a bit sooner.
(Maybe they’ll even bark at their friends and people will think it’s cool? Lol Dad would laugh, so who knows.)
What parts of Web3 are you most excited about? What’s something special you’re trying to bring into this space?
And yes, this all relates to NFTs as well.
It relates to my art and the notion of selling my art being enough. That goes for any artist.
By sharing yourself, by creating, you’re helping someone else see a part of themselves out there in the world.
I paint faces of all emotions, colors, cultures, backgrounds – because if just one person gets to see that, and feel seen – well, that’s enough for me.
Follow me on Foundation and share your photo with me for a chance to get a custom 1/1 PFP – and represent in this new Web3 world.
📰 Start Spreadin' The News
In case you haven’t seen the headline for this week… Jackie B sums it up nicely:
(And yes, Surge Women launching their NFT is huge! $44 billion kinda huge? We’ll have to wait and see. See below in Projects I’m Eyeing 😉)
Cryptocurrency billionaire and FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is trying to get a seat at the Twitter table alongside Musk… (meanwhile, Coinbase NFT Beta has been telling me, “You can’t sit with us!” Hbu?)
…Musk’s predecessor Jack Dorsey seems to be settling in quite well to his new title as Block Head though.
The NBA on the other hand? Did not have the smoothest transition into their new NFT venture.
Other random highlights, of no particular order, that made headlines this week include:
According to CourtAvenue’s evolution of the internet, I’ve been around for all of it! #aginglikeafinewine … but my actual takeaway: It’s a fire deck that has gotten a ton of big names to work with them, and might have to be reposted in my Free Resources/Web3 Education section.
So MoonBirds released a transparency thread around who got free NFTs… #forit – but also, I’m confused why people are so incessant about knowing whether Jimmy Fallon was on that list. Or other celebs for that matter.
If an 87-year-old is getting on the NFT train, you can too.
If you want to build a catalytic community, David Ehrlichman – a man who’s influenced the organizational architecture of some of the largest DAOs – has a few steps you might want to review. (Worth reading, considering within the next 10 years, DAOs will be managing assets of the same value as JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and more. Like $1 trillion worth of assets.)
Something I didn’t even think of before, but that Kayleigh Barber is on top of: Having a secondary market strategy for your NFT project.
I asked my brother if I could start mining ethereum a few months ago. He laughed and to some extent said, “Good luck getting a graphics card for that.” I didn’t know what he meant – till now.
Will small businesses adopt blockchain? And are crypto-compatible devices the future? If so, Steve Jobs’ empire might not live on much longer… Coinbase’s CEO Brian Armstrong explains here.
If you see all your degen friends moving to the Bahamas… this is why.
Metaverse happenings:
First, make it Meta… but IRL. Facebook is now a place you can go. (Though top of my bucket list is MemeLand.) You can catch me walking around in these.
Second, the time has come…
BAYC's the "Otherside" is dropping Saturday at noon.
…you can attempt to join the @OthersideMeta Discord before the big debut, but you’ll be fighting for a spot alongside nearly 50K other anons.
This is what happened when I tried to get in:
If you get the same screen, don’t worry. There’s another metaverse highlight that’ll tug on your heartstrings even more:
You heard it hear first… and I heard it from Nate Bear first. 🐎🧸
This metaverse will also have you feeling some type of way… but I’d say like you’re “flying high” is probably a better description.
And this metaverse is a much better option for kids. (No puff, puff, passing with Snoop here.)
Last up: Would you get married in the metaverse?
👯♀️ Women in Web3
It’s clear that not all women are into Web3. Some may never be. So I want to occasionally highlight the amazing women that are doing their thaaang in Web2. Making an impact on the world – their way.
This week, that’s Kiley Dean.
She’s been a back-up singer for Britney Spears, Madonna, Demi Lovato, Matthew Morrison, New Kids on the Block…
But has taken a new direction.
In a PEOPLE exclusive by Tricia Despres, she shared that she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few days before her daughter’s 3rd birthday. A few days after the diagnosis, she miscarried with their second child. She was allergic to one of the chemo drugs. But she overcame it all.
And gosh, do her new jams give me butterflies.
Listen for yourself:
AND Alyona Mysko.
At just 29-years-old, Alyona is running her startup from a bomb shelter in Ukraine, managing 23 employees spread out across the country, making sure they are all safe, while trying to keep operations running smoothly.
Just, wow.
Now for the Web3 ladies in the back… I see you, I hear you, and I’m about to celebrate you too:
Virtual influencer Rae is dropping NFTs to support women in tech, while Candy Cult is supporting women in music.
Voice and Women Rise are supporting female creators from underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Brie Larson + Paris Hilton have bought into @MyBFF’s new You PFP’s. All I’ve gotta say is – you goooo Jade Purple Brown. Atta’ freakin’ girl.
Meanwhile, two other IRL BFF’s started a tech company in less than 3 weeks. #alphafemale
Mad Realities raised $6M in seed funding – and Paris has her hand in this one too.
Fernanda Boccard + Mel Hearts did an awesome collaboration that made me happy.
Female Disruptors launched $FEMcoin on Rally (we talk with a leading woman from Rally on an upcoming podcast episode #staytuned!)
In other #womeninweb3 news:
Job openings in crypto are up 73% … but women are filling less than one-third of those positions. They’re also lagging behind in investing.
Fortunately, female CEOs are hard-at-work changing the crypto landscape and equalizing the gender gap. (HackerNoon is highlighting some… and men are also in on these efforts, like Nik Kalyani of Decentology.)
🎙 Who I'm Talking To
Meeting new Web3 frens (and catching up with old ones) is my favorite! Shout out to Joe, Mario, Delphin, Sean, Thomas and Jennifer.
I’ll be starting to post a weekly reminder on LinkedIn that while I LOVE meeting each and every one of you… I still got to the pay the bills! As my inbox messages and connection requests flood more and more each day, it’s hard to keep up. So I’m taking a moment in advance to apologize for the delays – and letting you know that I’m thinking of ways we can connect! (Maybe a monthly LinkedIn Live?)
I truly do love to celebrate y'all… like my girl Jennifer and her HUGE news!
Check out the new features: 💳Selling Methods (Buy Now + Auction) 🌚 Dark Mode ⚡️Major performance + SEO improvements…
On the podcast, we’ve got an episode with Vijay Pravin, CEO of bitsCrunch –
LinkedIn’s Top Data Scientist To Follow & Why He’s Bullish on Blockchain
He talks about how he gives women with career gaps in their resume a chance to shine and be top-earners at his company. #lovethatforallofus
*PS we are also working on the release of a TON of new podcast episodes! I’ve spoken with a lot of you and can promise, my podcast editor is hard at work!! We are also taking music suggestions for the intro 😎
😍 Projects I'm Eyeing
Gotta love a free NFT – thanks OneOf.
VeeFriends Series 2 reveal is here. (@MoFiorino, what’s your new Seahorse lookin’ like?)
NFT.com has a blind auction going on right now. I joined in, cause why not?
HUGs were everywhere in Decentraland. #lotsoflove
Zack Deris posted about @metabeatsNFT – so prolly nothing, right?
As Jackie B. mentioned, Surge is minting tomorrow!
Not Your Bro is adding some cool education utilities.
The AllBright Sisters want you to be part of the family.
American Idol is dropping on Theta. That’s new.
And I really like this piece on Foundation.
Lastly: This article claims to list EVERY NFT Collection Worth Knowing About
Beyond Bored Apes, they list out Cool Cats, CloneX, and more… (Though I’ll say it’s not every 😉)
🎨 What I'm Working On: A Step-By-Step BTS Look At A Gal Trying To Make It With NFT Art
Yes, Steve Aoki was part of this… but no, it’s not just for musical artists. They opened it to creators, and boyyyy am I excited! Peep their roadmap here.
In honor of that exciting news, I’m sharing the pink Aoki painting NFT today :)
Another exciting exhibit I'm working on...
The Artist Collective! By some AWESOME folks on LinkedIn – Ken, Victor, Mel and Sean are up to something juicy. 🧃
💼 Web3 Workplace
How you can become a "Dune Wizards"
From college students to VCs – the creators of some of the most popular blockchain dashboards are turning a side-hustle into a career. Or you can just opt for a normal crypto job.
Forget chief revenue officers. Startups are hiring a new kind of CRO: the chief recruiting officer.
I’m veryyyy curious how this talent war will play out adding Web3 in the mix… truth is, it might look different for every company for awhile.
Yes, You Can Be More Than Your Job Title
Rediscover the “I can’t believe I just did that” feeling… without quitting your job.
Chronic illness made me reimagine my career.
#feelingseenagain
How Will Businesses Really Use Web3?
Does anyone really know the answer?
+ Lastly, A Google Drive Full of Web3 Salaries
AKA a goldmine to make sure you’re getting what you’re worth!
🧷 Safety + Security First (Yes, This Section is Pin-Worthy)
What makes a collection a blue-chip… and how to spot a fake.
Learning lessons from an Instagram hack that led to $1 million of #BAYC NFTs being stolen.
An accidental rug pull… on themselves. #whatnottodo
🗓 You're Gonna Want To Pencil These In...
Angel Alliance is hosting a Female Founders Summit on May 7!
Decentraland is holding the first-ever marathon in the metaverse… I nominate Matthew McSpadden as tribute to run for Team WELD.
You can apply to a Web3 Pitchfest at Consensus in Austin. Deadline is this week!
📚 Free Resources/Education
The Insider’s Guide to the Metaverse: How to play, make money and party… what else do you need? 🍹
Crypto slang is apparently a thing now. Here’s how to speak NFT.
…and what is it not.
regia-marinho.medium.com • Share
…In case you’re still saying “What the NFT?” after looking at the chart above, (you’re not alone…80% of the population don’t know about Web3 or NFTs), but you can get ahead & check this out.
Templates to use instead of a to-do list.
146 pages of NFT Mania – the free e-book by Soh Wan Wei.
✍️ Words of Wisdom
That's all for now folks! See you next week. 🤗
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