Wow, I like the sound of that. It's official - I passed my exam this morning and am now an officially certified PMP!
It was a tough road getting here, and I'm extremely relieved to have it completed. Now it's time to go forth and celebrate my milestone accomplishment like a good project manager should!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Exam Tomorrow
Tomorrow's PMP exam is really starting to make me nervous for some reason. It's difficult to explain because I know the material well, I have solid experience, and I always do well on standardized tests. I've studied and studied, and there's just something that's nagging at me...
No matter. Tomorrow is the day! I'll do a quick review of my flash cards tonight and get plenty of rest. 9 AM tomorrow is the culmination of six months' focused effort. Sweet.
No matter. Tomorrow is the day! I'll do a quick review of my flash cards tonight and get plenty of rest. 9 AM tomorrow is the culmination of six months' focused effort. Sweet.
Monday, June 11, 2007
July 3 = Happy PMP Day!
On Friday, I received my authorization to test letter from PMI! I've now scheduled my PMP exam for July 3 at 9:00 AM. I think this timing is perfect, as it will give me a little something extra to celebrate as we head into the long Independence Day holiday weekend.
I'm now very focused on studying for the exam. My copy of the PMBOK has enough Post-it flags and highlighter marks and dog-eared pages that it is almost unrecognizable. Dr. Kerzner's book (especially the quality chapter) is the next to receive this treatment.
PMP or Bust!
I'm now very focused on studying for the exam. My copy of the PMBOK has enough Post-it flags and highlighter marks and dog-eared pages that it is almost unrecognizable. Dr. Kerzner's book (especially the quality chapter) is the next to receive this treatment.
PMP or Bust!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
PMP Update
Wow. Don't ever let anybody tell you that getting a PMP Certification is easy! I've finally completed and submitted my application and resume, and I've received an email that says I'm now allowed to pay for the exam. Not take the exam, mind you - just pay for it. After I submit my payment PMI has the option to audit my application, which I'm told can take a while. I still plan on getting this completed by mid-summer though, so hopefully they'll pass on that option and allow me to go ahead and schedule the exam.
Now the studying begins! Truthfully I'm not really that worried about the exam. I took a certification prep course earlier this year, and I've been around project management for many moons, so I'm sure I'll do fine. I'm more excited about finally accomplishing this goal than I am nervous about taking the test. Anyway, stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Now the studying begins! Truthfully I'm not really that worried about the exam. I took a certification prep course earlier this year, and I've been around project management for many moons, so I'm sure I'll do fine. I'm more excited about finally accomplishing this goal than I am nervous about taking the test. Anyway, stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Derby Week
Hard to believe, but the first Saturday in May is already upon us! This Saturday will mark the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby, and there's no better time to be in Louisville than during Derby Week.
Dust in the Wind
I'll be at the track tomorrow (and possibly Friday as well). Tomorrow is the Festival in the Field, where a big stage is set up in the infield. What better way to enjoy a day of racing then to hang out with friends, knock back a mint julep or two, and enjoy some live music. Previous year's bands have included SilverLoop and The Violent Femmes. This year's blast from the past is none other than Kansas - so Carry On, My Wayward Son.
Saturday = Derby Parties
Friday is Oaks Day at the Downs. Oaks is a big day of racing, and a day of huge crowds at the track. This is my favorite day at the infield - the crowd is (just a little) tamer than on Derby day, but big and raucous enough for everybody to have a good time.
I won't be at the track for Derby this year. Instead, I'll be making the rounds of Derby parties. Usually I attend one or possibly two parties, but this year I have three good friends that are hosting parties plus my grandparents have invited everyone out. Sounds like Saturday is going to be quite busy for me. No matter, though - I can recover on Sunday!
Dust in the Wind
I'll be at the track tomorrow (and possibly Friday as well). Tomorrow is the Festival in the Field, where a big stage is set up in the infield. What better way to enjoy a day of racing then to hang out with friends, knock back a mint julep or two, and enjoy some live music. Previous year's bands have included SilverLoop and The Violent Femmes. This year's blast from the past is none other than Kansas - so Carry On, My Wayward Son.
Saturday = Derby Parties
Friday is Oaks Day at the Downs. Oaks is a big day of racing, and a day of huge crowds at the track. This is my favorite day at the infield - the crowd is (just a little) tamer than on Derby day, but big and raucous enough for everybody to have a good time.
I won't be at the track for Derby this year. Instead, I'll be making the rounds of Derby parties. Usually I attend one or possibly two parties, but this year I have three good friends that are hosting parties plus my grandparents have invited everyone out. Sounds like Saturday is going to be quite busy for me. No matter, though - I can recover on Sunday!
Monday, April 30, 2007
PMI Member; Soon to be PMP
Alrighty then. After about eight years of managing projects in one capacity or another, I finally joined PMI last week. This is in support of my goal to become PMP certified by June of this year.
Right now I am hard at work on preparing my PMP resume. This is proving to be a pretty arduous task, as I am required to list details including the knowledge areas that I've worked in on every project for the last eight years. Sometimes I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast, so details of projects eight years (and two employers) ago are hard to come by. Nevertheless, I will persevere and have my application completed by mid-May.
On a parallel path, I am taking an exam preparation course to help prepare for the test itself. My final session of that course is May 15-17, which aligns nicely with the timeline for my goal. I'll get my application in, finish my course, take a practice exam or two and study, study, study! Whew - I'll be glad when that's over. Fortunately, I've got a week of vacation scheduled in beautiful Destin, FL for the third week of June!
Right now I am hard at work on preparing my PMP resume. This is proving to be a pretty arduous task, as I am required to list details including the knowledge areas that I've worked in on every project for the last eight years. Sometimes I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast, so details of projects eight years (and two employers) ago are hard to come by. Nevertheless, I will persevere and have my application completed by mid-May.
On a parallel path, I am taking an exam preparation course to help prepare for the test itself. My final session of that course is May 15-17, which aligns nicely with the timeline for my goal. I'll get my application in, finish my course, take a practice exam or two and study, study, study! Whew - I'll be glad when that's over. Fortunately, I've got a week of vacation scheduled in beautiful Destin, FL for the third week of June!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
New Blog Focus - Project Management
As promised, I've decided to repurpose the Journal This! blog. I've decided to channel my passion at work into my writings in this humble forum, and as such I will be focusing primarily on the topic of project management.
Still here?
Good, because I promise not to make a boring rehash of the same old PM stuff that you've already read in a dozen places. While I do happen to manage projects for my job (which I enjoy very much), I also use project management skills in every facet of life - from home maintenance to personal finances to kids' school work - it all comes down to planning and executing.
I think we're going to have some fun with this. I'll continue to journal important personal events because, well because it's my blog and I want to. Just a few of the upcoming topics that I'll put a PM spin on in the future are GTD, automobile purchases, home improvement, and family event planning.
Still here?
Good, because I promise not to make a boring rehash of the same old PM stuff that you've already read in a dozen places. While I do happen to manage projects for my job (which I enjoy very much), I also use project management skills in every facet of life - from home maintenance to personal finances to kids' school work - it all comes down to planning and executing.
I think we're going to have some fun with this. I'll continue to journal important personal events because, well because it's my blog and I want to. Just a few of the upcoming topics that I'll put a PM spin on in the future are GTD, automobile purchases, home improvement, and family event planning.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Back in the Game
Wow, it's been a while. Welcome back to the Journal This! blog. It's been quite some time since I've posted here, and quite a few things have changed - as you can well imagine. I'll fill you in on a little bit in this post, and then close some more gaps in future posts. In addition, I've decided to focus this blog a little more on a topic that's pretty important to me. Stay tuned for details.
I haven't been totally absent from the blogging scene, I've been posting at my poker blog Cracked Aces. Unfortunately, I don't have too much to say on that blog any longer. Online poker has been a relaxing (and quite profitable) hobby of mine for a few years and I've deeply enjoyed playing and writing about it. Unfortunately, Big Brother has declared that I don't have the right to use my leisure time and disposable income as I see fit. So, for now, I've said good bye to online poker.
Over the last month or two that I've not been playing poker, I've picked up a much more nefarious habit - World of Warcraft. Funny how thing change, eh? I used to spend an hour or two a night playing poker and being rewarded with a couple hundred dollars a month of extra scratch and some nice swag. Now I spend far more time online getting lost in and around Azeroth, and get to pay $15 a month for the privilege.
OK, that's enough for now - I don't want to bore you to death. Welcome back - I'm looking forward to rekindling the conversation.
I haven't been totally absent from the blogging scene, I've been posting at my poker blog Cracked Aces. Unfortunately, I don't have too much to say on that blog any longer. Online poker has been a relaxing (and quite profitable) hobby of mine for a few years and I've deeply enjoyed playing and writing about it. Unfortunately, Big Brother has declared that I don't have the right to use my leisure time and disposable income as I see fit. So, for now, I've said good bye to online poker.
Over the last month or two that I've not been playing poker, I've picked up a much more nefarious habit - World of Warcraft. Funny how thing change, eh? I used to spend an hour or two a night playing poker and being rewarded with a couple hundred dollars a month of extra scratch and some nice swag. Now I spend far more time online getting lost in and around Azeroth, and get to pay $15 a month for the privilege.
OK, that's enough for now - I don't want to bore you to death. Welcome back - I'm looking forward to rekindling the conversation.
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