While perusing an old volume of Greek philosophy, I realized that Socrates, the wise teacher of Plato’s Dialogues, had quite a bit to say about social media.

Let him that would move the world first move himself.

If social media is going to work for you, you have to get involved.  See which social network(s) are right for you and dive in head first. Interact with people. Make mistakes. Learn. 

Even if you’re already involved, there is always room for improvement. Which relationships need more nurturing. How can you better serve your community. Don’t know? Ask somebody, they’ll let you know.

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. 

Be the person you’ve always wanted to be.  Practice what you preach. This new paradigm of social media networking, marketing and promotion demands us to maintain an almost impossibly idealistic stance. One of complete service and devotion to others without ever thinking of personal gain. This balancing act is one of the trickiest you’ll ever have to walk, but if you make your best efforts to stay true to yourself and others it will be noticed, appreciated and respected.

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant. 

You’re social media community is a great place to find clients and it’s also a great place to find others you might want to hire. Flesh out the details and be sure before you enter into a more professional relationship. A bad fit can easily turn ugly on the internets.  Once you take on a project, follow it through to the very end. Do your best to see that the other party is properly satisfied and get ready for that free and wonderfully effective word of mouth.

Beware the barrenness of a busy life.

Many people gripe that social networks are a giant time waster. In fact a recent study suggest that social networking makes you more productive. The more time you invest in your social network the more it will reward you with deeper connections. Of course you should also take this to mean that it’s ok to unplug for a while and take a break. Don’t worry. Your tweeps and fellow myfacers will still be there when you come back rejuvenated. Who knows your absence could just make their hearts grow fonder.

Employ your time in improving yourself by other’s writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.

I hope you’re actually reading all those links that your friends are sending your way. It’s the best way to stay on the cutting edge of the real time web.

One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; and it is not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we have suffered from him. 

About %1 of people on the web are jerks. That being said, it is easy for a message to be misconstrued.  When most messages transmitted are text, it can be hard to decipher the tone someone intended towards you.  Most of the time an earnest reply, or a “thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it” can turn a percieved enemy into a new connection. If that doesn’t work then it is best to just move on. Like Gary Vaynerchuk likes to say “Don’t drink the hatorade!”. You will garner respect for taking the high road.

The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing.

Keep your mind in a constant state of openness.  Be willing to truly listen to what others have to say and don’t hold on to your ideas so strongly that you are unable to see a new and greater truth.  Besides nobody likes a know-it-all.

He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy.

Earnest debate helps the truth to rise to the top for all to see. If you truly believe that you have the right idea about something, keep the courage of your convinctions.  If you debate respectfully while keeping an open mind, you and the person with whom you are debating will be the better for it in the end.

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of – for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but once you extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again.

Keep a watchful eye on what the web is saying about you. If you see an attack, come quickly to the defense. Unfortunately as your reputation grows so will the need to put out these kind of fires. Of course this also means that you should be always mindful of your P’s and Q’s and quick to offer up an apology for any wrong doing, intentional or otherwise.

Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.

One day it seems you are the darling of the web, the next it’s dunce. Most probably neither extreme is exactly true. Remain constantly moving towards your goals, ever evolving. The important thing is that you have taken the initiative and and are moving forward. The fact of this alone separates you from most of the crowd.

Remember what is unbecoming to do is also unbecoming to speak of.

Some conversations just aren’t worth getting involved in. Don’t soil your good name in the dirt of the day.

Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.

A true friend will encourage you when you’re doing well and give you constructive criticism when you really need it.

I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled [poets] to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.

Go with your gut and don’t be afraid to try something new. Many times I’ve presented posts to my community that I thought would be devoured ravenously only to have them meet a mediocre response. Other times an article I wrote on a lark ends up spreading like wild fire. Luckily the harder you work and the better informed you strive to be, the more your intuition seems to pay off. Make your own luck.

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Word up Socrates. Word up.