While working with Stocktwits, I had the privilege of interacting with and working with a number of traders and investors from around the country. I learned many lessons on adaptability, patience, emotional capital, and more. For me, however, the lesson I have tried to internalize the most is this:

It’s okay to be wrong. Just don’t stay wrong.

This applies to your website and your social media strategy. In the 1990s, it was a great idea to have an AOL keyword. In 2011, it’s not. In the early 2000s, it was a good idea to be on MySpace. In 2011, it’s not.

If it’s not working, don’t double down. This burns through your monetary capital, but it also burns through your emotional capital. When your emotional capital is spent and your frustration boils over, not only are you not improving your business, you’re probably inflicting actual harm.

Over the long run, it’s impossible to truly hide your emotions and your personality on Twitter and Facebook. When you’re frustrated and think the return on your time and money investment is lagging, it shows in your engagement with your customer (or your failure to engage, which is even worse).

If you’re looking around and all you see are walls, it’s time to remember the first law of holes: when you find yourself in one, stop digging.

Once you’ve realized something is wrong and you’ve stopped digging, conduct a rational assessment of what’s working and what’s not. Once you’ve decided what is working for you and your business, go with it.

Own it. Invest in it.

Until it stops working. Then, do it all over again.

It’s okay to be wrong.

Just don’t stay wrong.