Inspirational Quotes by Marty Nemko (American Career Coach)

To broaden your horizons, mix with people other than people from your own background (professional, cultural, social, academic, racial, ethnic, etc.) Most people prefer the company of other people from similar backgrounds. Birds of a feather do flock together.
—Marty Nemko

Winners do not let themselves succumb to anything. They distract themselves by immersing themselves in their most engaging work.
—Marty Nemko

Some people are nice to compensate for not being good.
—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

Might you be wise to focus more on self-acceptance than self-improvement? That might even motivate you to self-improve.
—Marty Nemko

Everyone needs hope, often desperately. Look for honest ways to give it.
—Marty Nemko

The key to a well-led life is maxing your contribution. Happiness, less key, is most likely found in simple pleasures.
—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

It all comes down to this: Do good.
—Marty Nemko

Good conversationalists choose a topic that enables each participant to contribute.
—Marty Nemko

As we age, there’s a creeping bitter wisdom we accrue.
—Marty Nemko

Scratch the surface of any thinking ideologue and you’ll find doubts. Ask, “Ever wondered whether the other side might be right?”
—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

Your goal must not be to impress but to accomplish. That usually demands bringing out the best in others.
—Marty Nemko

Before making an argument, ask a likely opponent to lay out the counterargument. Your argument can then incorporate that.
—Marty Nemko

I fear we’ll make everything equal until everyone has nothing.
—Marty Nemko

Telling people I can’t lose weight may make me eat more—to prove myself right. Perhaps if I told people, “‘I’m gonna lose 20.”
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Leaders, Leadership

Sometimes, a problem has both a rational and an irrational component. It may help to try to solve those separately.
—Marty Nemko

The pursuit of happiness is often the pursuit of emptiness. Far wiser is the pursuit of contribution.
—Marty Nemko

No matter how brilliant you are, if your style is too intense, most people will dismiss you.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Biography

I used to think most people are intrinsically motivated to work hard. But I’m finding that many if not most people need monitoring.
—Marty Nemko

A resume rarely helps—it’s too filled with chemistry-inhibiting cliche. Write & tell the “resume” that’d reveal your true story & self.
—Marty Nemko

How feeble are we that we’re swayed more by dubious flattery than by valid suggestions.
—Marty Nemko

If the risk/reward ratio of taking an action is good, even if you may fail, it’s usually wise to follow Nike’s advice: Just do it!
—Marty Nemko

You can do everything right and still fail, not just once, but overall in life. Luck is more important than we acknowledge.
—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

Just because you can prove someone wrong, doesn’t mean you should.
—Marty Nemko

To boost self-esteem: accept you’re flawed like everyone, do what you’re good at, & accomplish: Even little wins boost self-esteem.
—Marty Nemko

You’ll likely learn more of enduring value from an hour of wise googling than from any course.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Learning, Education

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

Key to being liked: While retaining integrity, do more agreeing, amplifying, empathizing. do less arguing, one-upping, yes-butting.
—Marty Nemko

The desire to be right usually trumps the desire for truth.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Equality

The most valuable way to spend a dollar? A memo pad. Keep it with you at all times. Think of ideas. Write them down. Implement them.
—Marty Nemko

In managing & parenting, praise when you can, & when you can’t, try invoking guilt, e.g., “I know you’re better than this.”
—Marty Nemko

Some people are nice as a way of compensating for their not being good.
—Marty Nemko

Facing our parents’ aging forces us to confront our own mortality. It reminds us to appreciate and live each moment wisely.
—Marty Nemko

If your self-esteem is low, perhaps focus on finding work you can succeed at. Real self-esteem comes from accomplishment.
—Marty Nemko

What skill of yours has given you the must success? Use it more.
—Marty Nemko
Topics: Failure

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

Be tough where you must be, kind where you can be.
—Marty Nemko

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