What George Washington Could Teach Us About Social Media

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

You get out what you put in, like everything else in life. There are many levels of relationships and degrees of connection. We all respond and are available to different dynamics.

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It's wonderful what we can do if we're always doing.

Social media isn't a quick fix: it takes continuous work. And it's worth the payoff. The best way to have a voice in the larger inter-blog conversation is to participate in one. There are only finite hours in a day, yet setting aside some time to seek out the work and ideas of others will be worth your time.

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I cannot tell a lie.

This saying is probably apocryphal. But its message isn't: in social media, transparency is key. Remember that part of the definition of transparency in addition to openness and communication is accountability. Transparency means also always being on.

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It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.

Take the plunge, stop putting it off. We are all procrastinators in different ways. There is really no magic formula except for participation. To the degree in which you feel comfortable, in the media that suit your style and allow you to develop your voice, jump in. Success is 90% showing up.

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To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

Great advice for corporate bloggers. It is a good idea to review all the potential issues that could arise and be ready to address them.

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Happy Presidents' Day.

Comments

[CK]

Valeria: I thoroughly enjoyed and really benefited from this most presidential post. Thank you :-).

Oh, you asked my fave? Hands-down:

"It's wonderful what we can do if we're always doing."

Perfect.

[Valeria Maltoni]

Until I revisited the definitions of the Myers-Briggs I had not realized that extraverted meant person who delights in action.

There are some rare instances where action means choosing not to do something obvious, too. As in the best move was making no move at all - in that direction. I could go in so many directions with that one!