Lesson Learned from "The Social Network"

So, I'm reading the credits to the film The Social Network when it dawns on me that I just received a lesson on connecting passion to purpose. As you all know, Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder of Facebook, was considered a nerd during his brief stint at Harvard University before being named Time magazine's 2010 Man of the Year for his philanthropy work and social networking innovation. But the thing that seemingly separates him from detractors and supporters alike is his passion for writing computer code that brings people together rather than tears them apart.

When I first heard the word "Facebook", I didn't know what to think. But this confusion didn't last long, as I wasted no time opening up a Facebook account. By opening this account, I have been able to connect with family and old friends. I have also been able to make new acquaintances from the worlds of freelance writing and socially conscious blogging. And, to tell you the truth, posting status updates and hyperlinks on Facebook has become, let's say, quite addictive.

This is what I learned from my viewing of The Social Network:

• If you want to grow your passion and make it more purposeful, you must be willing to bring others along for the ride. Where you are weak, these others are strong.
• If one or more of these others starts using words and engaging in behaviors that make you less passionate about a goal or dream, you need to cut them loose. You can't be successful if your passion is waning.
• Online social networks are great. But if you fail to develop meaningful, long-term relationships with people offline, your life will be miserable and meaningless. We were created for the benefit, not the detriment, of others.
• Social networking plays a critical role in bringing people together. But that should not blind us computer users to the fact that there are a number of people who lack the tools (i.e., computers) to make online connections. The digital divide is real, and it must be closed. It must also remain affordable and accessible.
• It is great that social networking sites are used to bring people together. The question we need to ask is what do we do when we find ourselves in the same space. I say we exchange ideas and then get down to the business of creating what slain Civil Right leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called "The Beloved Community".

What do you think?

I look forward to reading your responses.

Here's a link that may interest you:

Report: Blogging Falls to Facebook and Twitter