Marty Nemko's Blog, page 412
April 18, 2014
Fun Ways to Beat Procrastination
My article Wednesday on PsychologyToday.com: Fun Ways to Beat Procrastination. Sounds like hype. My clients know it's not.
April 16, 2014
Marty Nemko on KGO's Ronn Owens Program on April 17, 2014
Tomorrow, from 11 AM to noon, I make my quarterly appearance on KGO's Ronn Owens Program.I suspect he'll ask me about core career issues: What are some under-the-radar careers, not-obvious tips on managing time and procrastination, how to be a good manager, etc. Also, it's a call-in show, so if you'd like some free career advice, you can call in anytime between 11 AM and noon to 415-80-80-810.
April 14, 2014
April 13, 2014
How to Get Interviewed in the Media
Today, both PsychologyToday.com and AmericanThinker.com published my article on how to get interviewed in the media.
It covers both how to pitch the media and how to do well in an interview.
April 11, 2014
I Want to Give $100 to $500 to Three People
I'm wondering whether my charitable donations might do more good if given to worthy individuals than to nonprofits. Like most people, I've donated to nonprofits not individuals so I could get the tax deduction.
But I'm wondering if that's letting the tail wag the dog.
So I'm trying this experiment: If you or someone you care about could benefit from my giving the person between $100 and $500, I invite that person to write me a note explaining why he or she thinks significant good would accrue from it.
I prefer to fund something that has a ripple effect, something that could indirectly benefit more than just that person. Here are three examples:
A recent immigrant is a good scientist but speaks very poor English and so is having a tough time finding a job. He or she could benefit from an English-language tutor or software. If he couldn't financially afford that, I'd feel that helping to fund it would be a good use of my money.A child from a low-income family is intellectually gifted but attends a school that insufficiently meets his or her needs. I'd consider helping fund the child to attend a week-long summer day program or camp for high-ability kids. A person has an idea for a website that would match mentors with proteges. But he or she doesn't have even a modest amount of money to spare. I could see contributing to that website's development. For this experiment, my goal is to fund three people.
My preference is that applicants write their note as a comment on this blog post so others can perhaps be inspired by it or even donate to that person. But the person can email me at mnemko@comcast.net.
I also would like to experiment with a challenge prize. I will give $500 to the first person or group to get a hospital serving a low-income community to make parenting videos available in hospital rooms with moms that have just given birth, for example, on the TV in the room. The videos could have been created by someone else but the award, of course, would be given only if the hospital implemented this because of that person or group's efforts.
Can Anyone Figure Out What Makes Us Tick?
My article Can Anyone Figure Out What Makes Us Tick? is the #1 most popular article on PsychologyToday.com.
It already has 1,900 Facebook Likes, so it might be worth a read.
While I'm at it, I might mention that while I've only been writing for PsychologyToday.com for less than a month, my 14 articles already have 119,000 page views. Feel free to scan the master list to see if there's an article you might want to read.
Update: That article is now #3 in popularity.
April 10, 2014
When Can Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD, ADHD) Be An Asset?
My PsychologyToday.com article is on ADD/ADHD:
When Can Attention Deficit Disorder Be an Asset?
While in most cases, attention-deficit disorder's distractibility, inpulsivity, and disorganization are a net negative on one's life, sometimes they're a net positive and don't require intervention. This article profiles a client of mine for whom that is the case.
April 9, 2014
Alternative Therapies: When talk therapy and/or drugs aren't enough
My just-published PsychologyToday.com article:
Active Therapies: When talk therapy and/or drugs aren't enough.
April 6, 2014
Best Garden Plants for the San Francisco Bay Area
On my radio show today, I had a conversation with Dustin Strobel, nursery manager at a Sloat Garden Center, about careers with plants.
In the course of the discussion, I mentioned my favorite garden plants for the San Francisco Bay Area and a listener asked if I'd post them on this blog. So here we go.
Dustin also mentioned his favorite plants but even though he's the professional nurseryman, I think my picks are better so I'll list mine first.
All my comments pertain best to climate conditions in the San Francisco Bay Area, where there's little or no frost.
Bougainvilla, Spectabilis. 15-20 foot tall, drought-resistant when established, and truly "spectabilis."
Bougainvillea, James Walker. More open form that Spectabilis but the color is super--the hottest pink.
Rose, Black Magic. The best garden rose for cutting. This gorgeous flower (and yes, most of them look that good) lasts almost two weeks in a vase. It's mildew-resistant and so in the Bay Area, doesn't need to be sprayed. It is, however, a tall, gawky plant. And if you want long-stemmed single roses, you need to disbud--that is, pinch out the side flower buds as soon as you see them.
Zinnia, Magellan Coral. (available in six-packs for just a few bucks.) These are annuals but flower machines, blooming nonstop on compact 12"-tall plants from May through November.
Meyer Lemon. These are sweeter than standard lemons but they ain't oranges. In addition to the good fruit, the 5' tall by 8' wide shrub is quite ornamental. That picture is a realistic image of how prolific it is. Do remember that all citrus are very heavy feeders--That means that an orange, lemon, or grapefruit tree with a four-foot spread, it needs about three pounds of heavy-nitrogen fertilizer every year, divided into three doses: perhaps April, July, and September. My guest recommended using Maxsea acid plant food. Other experts recommend using any old high-nitrogen fertilizer, even lawn fertilizer, which is much cheaper.
Poppy, Drama Queen. Surreal 4" flowers on a 4' tall plant. If I were making a movie about a utopian future, this would be part of the landscape. The problem, alas, with poppies is that they bloom for just a few weeks and then look like crap for the rest of the year. So you might want to buy a 4" pot of it and one of Poppy Naughty Nineties mentioned below from Annie's Annuals, let 'em bloom and when seed pods form, harvest the seeds, save 'em in dry place, then plant 'em in 3-4" pots in November or December and come spring, you'll have brand new plants plus plenty to give away.
There are other terrific plants I didn't have time to mention:
Argyranthemum, Comet Pink. These are classic daisies but in clear pink, in profusion, constantly for eight months in a row. Best of all, they completely cover the 2-foot wide symmetrical mound. By November or December, they get leggy, so take cuttings, dump the plants, and in early spring, plant the rooted cuttings.
Geranium, Calliope Dark Red. (sold at Home Depot as Big Red.) These are too big for flower pots. They can get to be 2 1/2 feet in diameter in just months. But if you have the room, this is the best geranium. It is a true brilliant red. Not dark as its name says, just a solid rich red--no orange tones like the usual geranium.
Impatiens, Xtreme Lavender. (if your area doesn't get downy mildew). There are many other great impatiens in the Xtreme series and the Accent series, but I find this color particularly attractive. And the plants are vigorous, quickly growing into a 8"-tall mound.
Bird of Paradise. This is the quintessential tropical plant but it will grow wonderfully in much of the Bay Area. The six-foot-tall and wider shrub is great under an eave as long as it gets lots of sun.
Rose, Day Breaker. This rose is special because it has it all: floriferousness, health, attractive foliage, on a four-foot plant with shiny leaves. And in the Bay Area, roses bloom eight months out of the year.
Tomato, Early Girl. I've tried every darn tomato that's claimed to be the best-tasting: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Big Beef, Better Boy, and Park Whopper, and in the end, at least here in Oakland, Early Girl is always the best-tasting. If you like very small cherry tomatoes that do tend to crack, even better tasting is the yellow Sun Gold.
Kumquat, Fukushu. Whether or not you like the taste of kumquats, this is the most ornamental plant I can think of. In China, it's often grown in pots as seen here, but can, of course, grow in the ground in the Bay Area.
Viola, Denim. This is my winter savior. When everything else is dull, ratty or dead, this is producing flowers like this on a disease-free, 8" plant. Available in six-packs for just a few bucks.
Now, let's turn to the recommendations of the guest on my radio program, Dustin Strober.
Rose, Double Delight. Yeah, it has fragrance but it's gawky and mildew-prone. A bad pick, Dustin.
Poppy, Naughty Nineties. Yes, it's great. Almost as good as Drama Queen.
Alonsoa Meridionalis (Apricot or Red) I hadn't heard of this one but it sounds like a winner--a three-foot tall plant covered with bloom for a long season. Available at Annie's Annuals.
Blueberry, Bountiful Blue. I don't know it but he was real big on it.
Tibouchina. The flower is a gorgeous and unique royal purple, which cover 6-8 foot shrubs for months at a time.
A caller mentioned tuberous begonia. A fabulous plant, many of which trail and so are perfect for a hanging basket--if it doesn't get destroyed by mildew.
And finally, three that I think are overrated
Lilac. Blooms a few weeks and then for the rest of the year, it's a gawky shrub.
Iris. Blooms for two weeks and then, yeah, it has, year-round, decent lance-shaped leaves, even variegated, plus it's drought resistant, but nah.
Primrose. There are thousands of types, but I'm talking about the most common ones, the ones they sell in the supermarket. They bloom for a few weeks in the winter, get damaged by rain or squirrels, and then, it's to the garbage with them. Not worth buying. You want winter blooming on a compact plant? Try the aforementioned Viola Denim.
As always, I welcome your comments and questions.
In the course of the discussion, I mentioned my favorite garden plants for the San Francisco Bay Area and a listener asked if I'd post them on this blog. So here we go.
Dustin also mentioned his favorite plants but even though he's the professional nurseryman, I think my picks are better so I'll list mine first.
All my comments pertain best to climate conditions in the San Francisco Bay Area, where there's little or no frost.
Bougainvilla, Spectabilis. 15-20 foot tall, drought-resistant when established, and truly "spectabilis." 
Bougainvillea, James Walker. More open form that Spectabilis but the color is super--the hottest pink.
Rose, Black Magic. The best garden rose for cutting. This gorgeous flower (and yes, most of them look that good) lasts almost two weeks in a vase. It's mildew-resistant and so in the Bay Area, doesn't need to be sprayed. It is, however, a tall, gawky plant. And if you want long-stemmed single roses, you need to disbud--that is, pinch out the side flower buds as soon as you see them.
Zinnia, Magellan Coral. (available in six-packs for just a few bucks.) These are annuals but flower machines, blooming nonstop on compact 12"-tall plants from May through November.
Meyer Lemon. These are sweeter than standard lemons but they ain't oranges. In addition to the good fruit, the 5' tall by 8' wide shrub is quite ornamental. That picture is a realistic image of how prolific it is. Do remember that all citrus are very heavy feeders--That means that an orange, lemon, or grapefruit tree with a four-foot spread, it needs about three pounds of heavy-nitrogen fertilizer every year, divided into three doses: perhaps April, July, and September. My guest recommended using Maxsea acid plant food. Other experts recommend using any old high-nitrogen fertilizer, even lawn fertilizer, which is much cheaper.
Poppy, Drama Queen. Surreal 4" flowers on a 4' tall plant. If I were making a movie about a utopian future, this would be part of the landscape. The problem, alas, with poppies is that they bloom for just a few weeks and then look like crap for the rest of the year. So you might want to buy a 4" pot of it and one of Poppy Naughty Nineties mentioned below from Annie's Annuals, let 'em bloom and when seed pods form, harvest the seeds, save 'em in dry place, then plant 'em in 3-4" pots in November or December and come spring, you'll have brand new plants plus plenty to give away. There are other terrific plants I didn't have time to mention:
Argyranthemum, Comet Pink. These are classic daisies but in clear pink, in profusion, constantly for eight months in a row. Best of all, they completely cover the 2-foot wide symmetrical mound. By November or December, they get leggy, so take cuttings, dump the plants, and in early spring, plant the rooted cuttings.
Geranium, Calliope Dark Red. (sold at Home Depot as Big Red.) These are too big for flower pots. They can get to be 2 1/2 feet in diameter in just months. But if you have the room, this is the best geranium. It is a true brilliant red. Not dark as its name says, just a solid rich red--no orange tones like the usual geranium.
Impatiens, Xtreme Lavender. (if your area doesn't get downy mildew). There are many other great impatiens in the Xtreme series and the Accent series, but I find this color particularly attractive. And the plants are vigorous, quickly growing into a 8"-tall mound. 
Bird of Paradise. This is the quintessential tropical plant but it will grow wonderfully in much of the Bay Area. The six-foot-tall and wider shrub is great under an eave as long as it gets lots of sun. 
Rose, Day Breaker. This rose is special because it has it all: floriferousness, health, attractive foliage, on a four-foot plant with shiny leaves. And in the Bay Area, roses bloom eight months out of the year.
Tomato, Early Girl. I've tried every darn tomato that's claimed to be the best-tasting: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Big Beef, Better Boy, and Park Whopper, and in the end, at least here in Oakland, Early Girl is always the best-tasting. If you like very small cherry tomatoes that do tend to crack, even better tasting is the yellow Sun Gold.
Kumquat, Fukushu. Whether or not you like the taste of kumquats, this is the most ornamental plant I can think of. In China, it's often grown in pots as seen here, but can, of course, grow in the ground in the Bay Area.
Viola, Denim. This is my winter savior. When everything else is dull, ratty or dead, this is producing flowers like this on a disease-free, 8" plant. Available in six-packs for just a few bucks.Now, let's turn to the recommendations of the guest on my radio program, Dustin Strober.
Rose, Double Delight. Yeah, it has fragrance but it's gawky and mildew-prone. A bad pick, Dustin.
Poppy, Naughty Nineties. Yes, it's great. Almost as good as Drama Queen.
Alonsoa Meridionalis (Apricot or Red) I hadn't heard of this one but it sounds like a winner--a three-foot tall plant covered with bloom for a long season. Available at Annie's Annuals. 
Blueberry, Bountiful Blue. I don't know it but he was real big on it.
Tibouchina. The flower is a gorgeous and unique royal purple, which cover 6-8 foot shrubs for months at a time.
A caller mentioned tuberous begonia. A fabulous plant, many of which trail and so are perfect for a hanging basket--if it doesn't get destroyed by mildew. And finally, three that I think are overrated
Lilac. Blooms a few weeks and then for the rest of the year, it's a gawky shrub.
Iris. Blooms for two weeks and then, yeah, it has, year-round, decent lance-shaped leaves, even variegated, plus it's drought resistant, but nah.
Primrose. There are thousands of types, but I'm talking about the most common ones, the ones they sell in the supermarket. They bloom for a few weeks in the winter, get damaged by rain or squirrels, and then, it's to the garbage with them. Not worth buying. You want winter blooming on a compact plant? Try the aforementioned Viola Denim.
As always, I welcome your comments and questions.
April 5, 2014
A Title for a Soap Opera
AOL will be publishing my written continuing saga about work that I've posted on this blog. I may need to use a title other than my preferred Days of Our Work Lives.
Do you like any of these titles?
Our Work Days
Our Days of Work
It's a Living
Trade Secrets
Work Stories
I'd also welcome any other suggestions.
Do you like any of these titles?
Our Work Days
Our Days of Work
It's a Living
Trade Secrets
Work Stories
I'd also welcome any other suggestions.
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