Two rules:
1. Give a crap.

To do this job well, you have to give a crap. You have to give a crap about community. You have to give a crap about connecting with people. You have to give a crap about providing relevant information, blogging, helping people, knowing everything about the industry and answering some of the weirdest questions ever. Above all, you have to give a crap about our end users. They’re the ones that matter. If you’re not serving them, you’re doing it wrong.

2. Stand up for yourself.

You know what you’re doing. Be vocal. Stand up for our end users when you’re asked to contribute. If you don’t, no one else will.

I think it applies to just about everything, no?