CEO Column

I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one.

I’m talking about Wordle, of course. In late March, we asked SWANA members through a survey in this newsletter whether they play Wordle. The overwhelming majority answered in the affirmative. 

For those who don’t know, Wordle is a simple web-based word game that can be played once each day. Players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word, with feedback given for each guess in the form of colored tiles indicating when letters match or occupy the correct position. Wordle became very popular in January 2022, shortly before the New York Times purchased it from Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle (get it?) for an undisclosed seven-digit sum.

Each morning, before I get out of bed, I spend 5 to 10 minutes figuring out the daily Wordle, and then share the results with family members who also play daily. I typically figure it out by the fourth word. Last Friday, the word was “trash,” and fortunately, I figured it out in two words. A member of #TeamSWANA got it on their first guess!

I spoke at a corporate event last month and over lunch, other attendees began to discuss Wordle. At SOAR in Kansas City, several members discussed the word of the day with me. I’ve overheard Board members and seatmates on flights discussing it over the past few months. According to the most recent data, millions of people in the United States and Canada play Wordle every day.

Why is Wordle so popular?  

I think there are several reasons for Wordle’s popularity. First, it’s free, and everyone likes free. Second, it’s relatively simple, and usually only takes a few minutes each day (ok, I once spent 30 minutes between words. Don’t judge). Third, figuring out the daily word provides a sense of accomplishment. Finally, and importantly, it’s social – it’s something you can share with others via text/email or on social media.

As we recover from the past two plus years of the pandemic, being part of a community is more important than ever. Many of us have been purposely avoiding in-person interactions with people for several years, and things which build connections and relationships with others during these challenging times can be helpful in restoring a sense of normalcy in an increasingly crazy world. I find being part of the Wordle community to be oddly comforting. I see references to Wordle in my social media feeds each day, and My Lovely Wife and I usually compare notes on that day’s word over breakfast. I appreciate the fact that many of you play Wordle.

Like Wordle, SWANA creates a community of individuals with a common interest. The SWANA network is something that can be accessed daily, for a few minutes each day, and on those lucky days when you attend a chapter event, webinar, WASTECON®, or SOAR, for a longer period. And although it’s not free, SWANA provides a wide variety of information, resources, training, networking, and leadership opportunities that further your career and can improve the operations of your agency or company.

Wordle provides a daily opportunity to have a shared experience with others at a time when many people are feeling disconnected from others. So does SWANA. Over the next few months, take full advantage of our growing menu of membership services and benefits, and plan on being an active participant at WASTECON® in San Diego on December 5-8.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a SWANA Wordle in the San Diego Convention Center.