Why writing a guest post can be hard

I have to admit, doing a guest post for PMStudent was harder than I thought it would be.  I've been wanting to do it for a while but haven't because I couldn't think of the perfect topic and then wound up posting all of those topics on my own site.  What would be good enough for this guest post?  Clearly, the answer was whatever is good enough to post on my own site!   I've done a guest post before, writing about the challenges to task prioritization at the Personal Kanban website.  Still, pondering a topic and writing about it are two very different challenges.   I finally followed through and completed my guest post.  After I let go of my anxiety, it was really quite easy. I've been following Josh Nankivel, and his PMStudent blog, since I first logged onto Twitter and started PM blogging.  Josh is an excellent resource for anyone in the PM industry. Particularly, he is passionate about helping new and aspiring project managers succeed.  It shows!  Since I aspire to do the same thing, you can understand my trepidation in choosing a topic for my guest post on his blog.

My topic of choice was on "Contract type: Here’s the best one…"

Unfortunately, there is no ONE best type of contract because the risk the vendor and customer share is determined by the contract type.  The best thing to do is understand who bares the risks or benefits of each.  Being I don't know if you (the reader) are a vendor, a customer, or a project manager, I offered an objective description of each contract type to help shed some light on the subject.

Please check out Josh's blog and let me know what you think of the post.  Scathing reviews are welcome.  OK, that's a lie. No scathing reviews, please.  I hope this is the first of many guest posts I will be doing.  If you want me to write something for your site, please send me an email or direct message me on Twitter.

Now that I published some information on the PMStudent site, I think I'm going to add a little more content and provide it for download, as an informative product.

Give the Gift of Communications

I'm really disappointed that, for the second week in a row, a key communications meeting was canceled.  Though I review the slide deck hours before the meeting, I look forward to the interaction with everyone.  I'm sure some across the table from me don't agree.  Some may be relieved they don't need to look me in the eye and answer questions from me or my colleagues.  Unfortunately, regardless if it temporarily relieves their anxiety, it just complicates matters in the long run.  You can't get all of the information you need from a PowerPoint slide deck.  You need to read body language and engage with people.  In an age of PowerPoint slide decks, conference calls, and Go-To-Meetings, there is still a need to interact with people one-on-one. Do you want a better relationship with a customer, vendor, or colleague?  Then talk to them!  Get your butt out of that chair, walk down the hall, drive across town, and engage them.  Though you may actually have a need to talk to them about a given subject, take a moment and try to interact with them on some topic other than business.  We're all human.  Reach out and communicate!

My analogy is like bringing your wife (or loved-one) flowers (or some other gift).  Don't bring do it because of a birthday, an anniversary, or some other holiday.  They expect that.  Bring the gift because it's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or because you thought of something that reminded you of them.  Now, realize that gift is communication.

image by lrargerich

To PMP or not to PMP That is the question

My first exposure to the PMP® (Project Management Professional) certification was several years ago when I was dealing with a stakeholder over at National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Though I had worked in technical consulting before, I hadn't worked strictly as a PM until this point.  I remember seeing this stakeholder had this "PMP" at the end of her name and I also recall how she was horrible to deal with.  She was demanding, rude, and exhibited no control over what she did.  In retrospect, she didn't follow the PMBoK at all.  My boss at the time made things very clear to me.  He said talk to her a lot.  She liked to feel important and in charge.  I didn't have formal PM training at the time so I treated her like I would any customer.  I was polite and engaged her, listening to not just her needs but her wants.  Wow did she had a lot of wants.

Oh did I say I wanted that button in blue?  That's not the blue I wanted.  Be specific?  Bluer then that.  Make it bluer than that but not too blue.  No, I won't sign a change request.  Just do it.

I tried to understand her motivations.  But let's face it, sometime people are just miserable and mean and you have just let it go.  Because she had a PMP credential, she was suddenly justified in her actions.  I compare this with the age old question, "What do you call the people who graduate last in their medical-school class?  That answer is "Doctor".

This person clearly was hiding behind her credential.  As far as I was concerned, she gamed the system.  She passed the test but didn't learn the lessons.  That's not how I operate.  But, I saw the trend.  The PMP was getting the hype from stakeholders and hiring managers.  It suggests a PMP is a prerequisite to being able to manage a project.

My motivation was different from this "paper" PMP and many others I've met since.  I wanted to be a great project manager.  I wanted to create things and solve problems.  I wanted to be both disciplined and personal.  So, I studied and studied, with the hope of becoming a PMP and I did it.  For those out there who think they can go get the certification and be great project managers, think again.  That's like saying all great cooks are great chefs.  They aren't!  Great cooks can follow directions.  Great chefs can create something remarkable out of whatever they are given.  Just because you've been to culinary school doesn't make you a great chef.  If you don't have that creativity and passion, it's just not going to happen.

Don't get me wrong.  I am not so arrogant that I think I am a great project manager.  I am merely a student of project management who wishes to refine his craft and teach others to do it as well.  If you think getting the PMP is what you'll need to be taken seriously, do what you have to do.  I don't write the rule book.  I just try to play the game the best I can.  If I can help others out there, I will.

This post was inspired by Geoff Crane and the comment he made here on The Critical Path.

(Image by officiallifebydesign.com)

January PMP Numbers Up Over 6000 In One Month

Every month I get a copy of PMI Today and I annotate 3 data points: New PMPs for the month, New PMPs YTD, and Total PMPs.  You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see PMI is certifying a volume of PMPs with no end it sight.  In January, there were 3,714 new PMPs.  Since they've only reported January (2010) numbers, YTD totals match.  What is the shocker is the total number of PMPs.  We're looking at 367,619, up from 361,238 in December.  That's right, numbers are up overall 6,381 in one month. I did a quick compare to January of last year.  The overall total of PMPs is up by 45,369 in 12 months.  Average that out and you're looking at 3,780 a month.

Some of you out there with other credentials curse the PMP®.  I have to admit, some of the worst project managers I have EVER met, were PMPs.  I guess the same could be said for any profession.  Certifications don't guarantee quality, but like it or not, a lot of people drank the Kool-Aid.  If you want to exceed in project management, many of you find yourself going after one certification or another.

I do think there is merit in the PMP certification, though I would feel more comfortable if I thought PMI wasn't in it for the money.  That's kind of hypocritical of me, since I do make money in the support of the PMP certification.  My prediction of 2010 is PMI will hit 400,000 PMPs by June and close to 450,000 by year end.

Though not all of these current 367,619 PMPs are currently PMI membership holders, if they were (at $119 each) you'd be looking at $43,746,661 in annual membership fees.

Isn't math fun!?

The Critical Path Week Ending February 28

Due to working crazy off hours in preparation for my v1.0 launch, I not only forgot to do a week in review on the 20th, I also missed meeting my writing commitment on the 24th and 25th.  Whatever the excuses, I was feeling a little burned out.  I have to remember this is a marathon and not a sprint.  Writing a daily blog takes a lot of discipline.  Though I have so much to say, it can escape me if I don't get the idea captured quickly.  Wow, it's hard to believe it's almost March.  At least there should be viewer posts about snow removal.

2/26/2010

Putting Things In Perspective

I had mild chest and shoulder pains this morning. I am in the ER waiting to see the doctor. I’ll let you know the outcome and my status shortly...

2/23/2010

Satisfying Needed Scope Versus Wants

There are many templates and means to ensure your project meets the requirements.  But I can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure you’re working to satisfy the requirements (or scope) first...

2/22/2010

The Hateful Cycle of Apathy Hits a Nerve

Have you ever stuck your neck out and get no support?  Did the trust among that team start to break down? I’ve seen it happen first hand and Geoff Crane wrote an awesome post over at Papercut Edge about it...

2/21/2010

How To Prevent Your Project From Hemorrhaging

This post is in response to a post written by Jennifer Bedell on the PMStudent blog about goldplating. Goldplating is very common in application development and can be very expensive...

2/20/2010

How Owners Managers and Leaders Differ

I was asked a very interesting question today, requiring me to stop and think. How do I believe being an entrepreneur and a business owner differ? It’s a very good question because...

2/19/2010

What You Need Is Some Kaizen

While sitting in a governance meeting the other day, I heard how (before I joined the team) a vendor brought in some high paid six sigma black belts to...

2/18/2010

How to Thank a Managed Camel

I was informed I am the winner of the very first Freedom of Speech February (FOSF) giveaway from How to Manage a Camel.  My comments last week on a blog post by Gary Holmes earned me a free copy of the Method123 Project Management Methodology (MPMM™) Professional from their partners at Method123...

2/17/2010

Creeping Ever So Closer To Closure

As my startup project is creeping ever so closer to its closure and the actual launch of the product happens, I’m feverishly completing activities late into the night.  It’s not easy working crazy hours to get this done.  My family goes to bed, I drink a pot of coffee, and get to work...

2/16/2010

Interesting PMI Perspective On Claiming PDUs

...Based on the telephone conversation I had, if you’ve worked as a PM for at least 6 months, you can claim 5 PDUs.  Otherwise, if you are able to say you spend more than 1,500 hours per calendar year in that roll, you also qualify to claim the 5 PDUs...

2/15/2010

Getting Exactly What You Want

I just wrapped up a week long logo design project at 99Designs, with an intellectual property transfer agreement.  Flash back to August 2009, when I was watching Episode 13 of This Week in Startups...

Putting Things In Perspective

The last few weeks I've been focusing on numerous things.  I've been working 3-4 hours a night, preparing to launch a product to the Project Management community.  I've been writing at least one blog post every day.  I engage my client for at least 8 hours a day.  Lastly, I've been reading a lot more blogs, in the hope to understand the perspective of others.  That's just the work list!  Time I get to spend with family is limited to a brief few hours a night and on the weekends.  I thought I had figured it out.  Sleep less, drink more coffee, work harder, engage more. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I love this roller-coaster I'm currently on.  Yesterday the roller-coaster stopped, at least momentarily.  I received an email from my work counterpart yesterday morning.

I had mild chest and shoulder pains this morning. I am in the ER waiting to see the doctor. I'll let you know the outcome and my status shortly.

I can't remember a time when I stopped and just thought what would happen if we lost her.  I'm not saying that in a selfish way, in relation to the program.  She's what Seth Godin would define as a linchpin.  Though yes, she is a very passionate and intelligent leader. I mean personally.  This is someone's daughter,  someone's wife, and many a someone's friend.

I don't think my vantage point has changed.  I'm still as stubborn as I was 2 days ago.  I'm just as determined to sleep less, drink more coffee, work harder and engage more.  But, it really did make me take pause, put things in perspective, and appreciate the people I interact with.

Your life is like a project.  It is a temporary endeavor.

Satisfying Needed Scope Versus Wants

traceability

What is the definition of Requirements Traceability Matrix? It's a table that links requirements to their origin and traces them throughout the project life cycle.  Not everyone uses them. There are many templates and means to ensure your project meets the requirements.  But I can't stress enough how important it is to ensure you're working to satisfy the requirements (or scope) first.  I reviewed a vendor's progress report today and realized the very last task they had on their activity list was requirement mapping.  When asked why it was the last item on their list, their response was the activity wasn't on the critical path.  So, how on Earth were they going to know they were done, if they didn't map the requirements first?  Here they are, at the end of a development cycle, and we're being told the requirement mapping activity is just basically a clerical process. Imagine the frustration I suffered, knowing all too well they may have missed something.  Imagine how expensive it could be, to fix at the end versus the beginning of the development cycle?  I'm not saying the vendor didn't do a lot of work or deliver a lot of product.  Unfortunately, they spent way too much time satisfying the daily wants of a stakeholder and took their focus off the needs of satisfying project requirements in the process.

What do you think?  I'm a being too much of a control freak?

The Hateful Cycle of Apathy Hits a Nerve

Have you ever stuck your neck out and get no support?  Did the trust among that team start to break down? I've seen it happen first hand and Geoff Crane wrote an awesome post over at Papercut Edge about it.  He called it the too-common cycle of apathy. The post hit a nerve with me. At my previous engagement, the Engineering Department was used to being railroaded by management. Promises were always made on their behalf and they found themselves working long hours and weekends. If they didn't make the goals, those who made the promises would never take ownership. If goals were miraculously accomplished, the same person(s) would jump into the spotlight. After I was brought on board, I didn't have a problem looking a Director or CIO right in the eye and telling them I disagreed with them. Sometimes they backed down and sometimes they didn't. But everyone at that company knew I was honest and would speak up if I didn't agree with something. Everyone knew I was looking out for my people, my department, and my company. I believe positive change rolls up hill, just as sh*t rolls down.  Though I'm no longer with that team, I have no regrets for backing them up and providing support when they needed it most. Those who bullied so many are no longer there either.  Though there was an attempt to silence my voice by decapitating my team, others in the organization saw through the ruse.

I think sticking your neck out is worth the risk. If I think you're right, I'll support you.  By doing that, I build trust with my teams. With trust, my teams will do anything for me. With that, anything is possible. What can I say, everyone is happy but the party you had to confront in the first place. Yep, it's certainly worth it.

Thank you Geoff for getting me fired up.  Now go check out his site!

image courtesy of Papercut Edge