Marty Nemko's Blog, page 242

Merit: A now undervalued value?

Not so long ago, it would have seemed absurd to describe merit as “undervalued.” Merit has, for time immemorial, been venerated.

Alas, today, demographic factors sit aside merit in allocating taxpayer and non-profit spending as well as in hiring, promotion, and college admissions.

My PsychologyToday.com article today makes the case for why decision-making based on pure merit, of course, fairly considering people of all races, genders, etc, is ultimately wisest.

Becoming Much More Efficient...In three minutes. Efficiency: a vilified virtue

Efficiency has moved from lauded trait to something negative, vaguely corporatist even militaristic. Yet that vilified virtue is crucial to productivity. And from where I sit, productivity is core to the life well-lived.

I feel on safest ground if I tell you the things I do to be efficient. I know they work, at least for me, and no one can accuse me of not walking my talk. At minimum, my PsychologyToday.com article today should only take you three minutes to read—an efficient use of your time.

A Capable Teen Wants to Drop Out: A mock career counseling session

My PsychologyToday.com article today presents a mock career counseling session with a very bright teen who wants to drop out of high school.

Should You Make Your Living as a Creative: A Debate

My PsychologyToday.com article today offers a mock debate between someone who wants to make a career as an artist and a person who thinks it wiser to limit it to a serious avocation.

Community: Potentials and Limitations

"Community" seems to be an increasingly commonly used term and concept. Indeed, it seems ever more lauded versus individualism. My PsychologyToday.com article today offers a few of its potentials and limitations.

“I Don’t Want My Child to Grow Up Unemployable!” A mock career counseling session

She’s just a high school junior but her parents want to do what they can to ensure she’ll be self-supporting. So they sent her for career counseling. My PsychologyToday.com article today presents the core of session 1.

Forced into Self-Employment: A mock career counseling session

Unsuccessful in the workplace, a person feels she must start her own business. My PsychologyToday.com article presents a mock career counseling session that amalgamates many elements from my real-world clients who have contemplated or actually started a small business.

My Radio Program, Work with Marty Nemko is Being Cancelled

I am sad to report that the station manager is removing my career-advice NPR-San Francisco program Work with Marty Nemko. It is being replaced by one-off shows by the station's trainees. I have two shows left, one next Thurs and one tonight, with my wife Barbara Nemko: a debate: Is work-life balance always worth striving for?  Plus you can call in for a Workover: 415-841-4134, 7 PM 91.7 in San Francisco or KALW.org.

Is Work-Life Balance Overrated?

So much has been written urging us to strive for work-life balance. An offshoot of that is the exhortation to meditate, do yoga, etc.

There is an under-discussed counter-position. So my PsychologyToday.com article today offers an ego/alter-ego debate on the issue.

A Nervous Middle Manager: A mock career counseling session

I've had many a middle manager nervous about keeping his job, let alone getting promoted. My PsychologyToday.com article today offers a composite career counseling session with such a person.