Marty Nathan Nemko (b.1950) is an American career coach, radio talk host, and columnist.
Born in New York City’s Bronx to Polish Holocaust survivors, Nemko got a PhD in the evaluation of education from the University of California, Berkeley. He has since lived in Oakland, California, and is among the nation’s most sought-after experts on both career and education issues. He has authored Cool Careers for Dummies (2018,) How to Do Life (2012,) What’s the Big Idea? (2012,) and seven other books on career, education, and life philosophy.
Nemko hosted the Work with Marty Nemko radio show 1987–2019 on an NPR affiliate in San Francisco. As a pastime, Nemko is also a playwright, theater actor, director, pianist, and rose breeder.
More than 500 of Nemko’s articles and chapters of his books are available on his website and his blog.
More: Website • READ: Works by Marty Nemko
Your goal must not be to impress but to accomplish. That usually demands bringing out the best in others.
—Marty Nemko
Many people can do well in school, even get PhDs, yet are unhireable in the real world. The degree is US’s most overrated product.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Repentance, Forgiveness
For many people, before age 60, it’s business before pleasure. After 60, pleasure before business.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Luxury, Wealth
Sometimes, a problem has both a rational and an irrational component. It may help to try to solve those separately.
—Marty Nemko
Unefficacious people can’t or CHOOSE TO not bounce back—it’s a good excuse to avoid facing their inefficacy yet again.
—Marty Nemko
Teamwork is deified. Don’t forget the pluses of individualism: more motivation, bolder/less compromised solutions, speed.
—Marty Nemko
To disagree without creating enmity: “I can see why you’d X. (explain.) And (not but) I’m wondering if Y. What do you think?”
—Marty Nemko
Far more of life’s pleasures are in the process than in the outcome. Be in the moment.
—Marty Nemko
Before making an argument, ask a likely opponent to lay out the counterargument. Your argument can then incorporate that.
—Marty Nemko
It worked for me, it can work for you books aren’t helpful because typical readers are less smart & driven than book authors.
—Marty Nemko
A desire to “give back” needn’t imply giving to the neediest. It could mean giving to those with the most potential to benefit.
—Marty Nemko
It’s hard to change people’s work style: aggressive vs passive, hardworking vs moderate. So it may be wise to praise their status-quo.
—Marty Nemko
When you think you can nail someone with your argument, take a breath & see if you can phrase it as a face-saving question.
—Marty Nemko
Successful, productive people fuel themselves with their work & accomplishment, unsuccessful people through recreation.
—Marty Nemko
Everyone needs hope, often desperately. Look for honest ways to give it.
—Marty Nemko
We hear stories of persistence rewarded yet for each of those, hundreds have pressed on only to end up broken and/or broke.
—Marty Nemko
Be tough where you must be, kind where you can be.
—Marty Nemko
To boost motivation: what’s your next 1-second task? It feels good to get even a tiny task done, make progress, and maybe learn something.
—Marty Nemko
Talking too much is a career killer. Keep all utterances to <45 seconds &, in dialogue, speak a bit LESS than 50% of the time.
—Marty Nemko
If someone smiles at you with pursed lips, they’re generally forcing the smile—either because they’re shy or don’t like you.
—Marty Nemko
Whatever bad awaits, don’t let it spoil the present moment.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Information
If you have a clearly good idea, to avoid getting talked out of it, get input only on how to better execute it.
—Marty Nemko
In your desire to stand out from the horde, beware of hyping yourself, your ideas, or taking inappropriately extreme positions.
—Marty Nemko
Don’t confuse tact with cowardice. Sometimes, it’s wise to speak up boldly.
—Marty Nemko
A mantra to cure procrastinators: It needn’t be perfect; it needn’t be fun; it just has to get done.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Procrastination
The desire to be right usually trumps the desire for truth.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Equality
If you’ve been beaten up in Rounds 1-9, it’s hard to come out for Round 10.
—Marty Nemko
Giving advice makes the recipient feel less efficacious, so weigh that against the benefit your advice will likely yield.
—Marty Nemko
Just because you can prove someone wrong, doesn’t mean you should.
—Marty Nemko
When overwhelmed, after doing any needed planning, just stay in the moment and put one foot in front of the other.
—Marty Nemko
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Carl Reiner American Comedian
Larry King American TV Personality
Abbie Hoffman American Political Activist
Louis Farrakhan American Religious Leader
Daniel Kahneman American-Israeli Psychologist, Economist
Charles Krauthammer American Political Columnist
Jerry Seinfeld American Comedian
Carole King American Singer
Josiah Royce American Philosopher
Clark Kerr American Educator