Roosevelt and Warhol had it right. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor the President stood before the Congress and told the American people, "This is a day that will live in infamy." The artist Andy Warhol said, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes"

This may seem like an odd pairing of quotes until you reach the logical confluence...

Facebook

Yes, that fun way to see what all your casual acquaintances had for dinner. It seems to be filled with people either using their outdoor voice to tell everyone what they're angry about or angry people telling everyone that they should stop talking about what they are angry about. Is it just me or does this line of thought also make you dizzy? It has its good features. Like the message I received from my son Andrew after the Boston Marathon bombing, or the message I received yesterday about the tornado. Knowing John and Andy are alright is priceless. Other than that, I'm finding less value in my time spent on Facebook, I think I'll focus on social listening. If you find value in your Facebook investment, let me offer some tips.

Personal Brand Reputation

Everything you say, every personal opinion you share, can be seen and read by everybody. You knew that right? Maybe you just forgot. Emotion over events tends to produce temporary amnesia. You can use that defense in a court of law but it won't fly in the court of public opinion. Be advised, we may seem to be ignoring you, but we can still hear you. All of it becomes part of your permanent record. People experiencing grief need to talk about it. If an organization makes a decision that is perceived by a group of loyal members as a death in the family, they are going to talk about it. You may think it's gone on for too long, but it's not your call. Let them talk, when they are done and ready to move on, we will all move on together. Personal attacks, including calling people names, become part of your personal record. It's more than 15 minutes of fame, it's a character flaw that will live in infamy. Maybe the Facebook police will expunge your post, but it still happened. Social is not a weapon, it's a tool. It's a way to capture the hearts and minds of those with which you want to connect. Keep your tools sharp, don't abuse them and they will serve you well. Thanks for reading. You may now return to your inspirational quotes.