Busy life
It has been a while since my last post. I apologize for that. Project-Aria is still definitely alive and well. I have many ideas for the future, and am still very dedicated to Project-Aria.
I got very busy. Too busy. And to make it worse, I did initiate contact with some authors to write on Project-Aria. However, the timing did not work for them.
Emergency project management
So what happened? I got too busy at work, and on a Board that I am a member. This is what happen when you are a CPA, which I am in addition to my PMP. People volunteer you (or as some say “voluntold”) on board to be the financial expert. In both cases, I had to do some rescue or emergency project management. Always an interesting exercise. When you are managing such projects, you have to be very focused on results. You cannot hide behind methodology or what the ideal conditions should be. Yes, methodology and project management knowledge are useless, but I’d say that you must know how to use them very strategically, in a very skillful way.
Because I tend to get involved a lot in special or difficult projects, I put this book on my wishlist:
Professional objectives
I also gave myself an objective in March 2013 to achieve the following professional goals within one year, by March 31, 2014:
- Deliver successfully important and interesting projects
- Acquire three additional certifications, in addition to my CPA, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Complete a leadership development program
- develop Project-Aria
As of March 31, 2014, I can say that I achieved all goals but one. I was still missing one of the three certifications. So in the midst of the busyness of these 2 emergency projects, I also accelerated my study for the exam.
It is amazing what can happen when you dare to dream and put some hard to reach goal out there. It was an intense year of both performance at work and professional development. I don’t think I would have achieve these results without being very dedicated and intentional.
The extra: a website for my father
I also helped my father who recently published his 9th books. I am proud of him, and offered to develop a website for him. He didn’t ask for it and didn’t refuse the offer. He just said nothing. Maybe he thought I would not deliver and was just joking. It took a bit more time than I thought but I am happy with the results. It is in French but if you are curious, you can visit his site at
The end of the tunnel
I finally took the plunge and did the exam for my certification in mid-June and passed. I must admit: it feels to good to have completed all these objectives. It is inspiring, and I should repeat the exercise and have a new set of goals, or dreams.
Over the last weekend, I was able to resolve most issues with the project for the Board. Accounting issues. I’ll let you guess why I had to fix this,… As a CPA, I also could not tolerate being on a Board without having reliable financial information available to support decision-making. I think financial information is also very important in project management. You must understand your cost to manage a project, a program, or a business. There is no escape.
The other project I have been doing at work is also progressing well. I am actually right now in business travel for that one. I am writing this post from my hotel room. It has been way too long since last post.
Delta Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Many interesting posts coming
Anyway, I am back and happy to be back. And I do want to promise myself, and to all of you, that I will be back and posting frequently. I should probably establish an editorial calendar.
I have many interesting posts, and ideas for Project-Aria. I hope you will enjoy them.
Now, it is time to go write a first new regular post: how to manage your time in busy period.
Please keep reading. It will be fun.
And thank you for your understanding.
And also time to get back to regular training schedule for the Montreal half-marathon. September 28, 2014 will go fast enough.
