With his distinctive voice and great tips for finding money and work, Marty Nemko was certain to be a household name — or so I’d thought.

But many people, whom I told that I’d be going to hear him at the Marin Professionals meeting this week, didn’t know him.

So that’s one of many reasons I wanted to share his advice and relate it to “our”  journey down the Social Media Revolutionary Road.

WHEN “FEAR OF FAILURE” IS NOTHING MORE THAN L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

Many people try to work as little as possible, so they have time for family and fun, according to Marty Nemko, but that’s why they are either un- or under-employed. And that’s why they are neither passionate about their work, nor satisfied with their lives.

Marty wanted us to think about this:

The life well-led is lived by the person who spends as many hours as healthfully possible making the world a better place

Too many people are procrastinators, but they’re really just plain lazy. And laziness will NEVER cut it.

Our work is defined by how much we make the world better.

Marty feels that the “vaunted” family is over-rated and the best role models — both moms and dads — are those who work hard and then spend quality time with family members.

People who feel good about their lives are very productive. Focus and effort are key. Dabbling is suicide. Real passion comes from being the Go-To Person, no matter what the job title.

So how do I connect the dots from Marty’s advice to Social Media?

1) Developing an Online Presence, whether personal, professional, or for an organization will take time, focus, and effort.

2) Understanding the unique opportunities we have — as individuals — to connect with family, long-time friends, and brand-new friends through social media platforms can build deeper relationships more easily.

3) Translating these practices from the simply personal venues to the marketplace will bring much needed changes to our business lives– AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

I’m reminded of a golden lesson learned from Margaret Mead’s Coming of Age in Samoa: In her research, Mead learned that for the aborigines, “Work was Play, and Play was Work.”  That was an idea, a message — a mantra, even — that I have never forgotten. And it really has made all the difference.

Next post: Beyond the Hype: a Roadmap for Social Media