Category Archives: Planning

Four Fears That Can Block Creative Problem-Solving

Recently, I attended a workshop on Design Thinking, an unconventional approach to innovation and problem-solving developed by the Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University. Design Thinking seeks to apply the mindset and methods of designers to develop products, improve … Continue reading

Posted in Accomplishments, Knowledge Areas, Learning, Motivation, Planning, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

What If They Don’t Have Mouths?

Big news last week. Huge. Epic. (not that Epic) Out of this world. Or at least out of our solar system. Astronomers discovered another solar system with seven planets the size of Earth, three of which could sustain life due … Continue reading

Posted in Communication, Knowledge Areas, Planning, Risk Management, Team | 6 Comments

Holiday Priorities

Holidays and the coming new year are a time of family, events, reflection, and new beginnings. If your life is anything like mine, it was busy before the extra holiday parties, dinners, and other events were added in. This year, … Continue reading

Posted in Planning, Productivity, Work Life Balance | 1 Comment

There’s No Crying in Project Management

Many of us have seen the movie A League of Their Own, where Tom Hanks plays the usually inebriated and always disinterested coach Jimmy Dugan of the WWII-era Rockford Peaches women’s baseball team. At one point during a league game, … Continue reading

Posted in Accomplishments, Communication, Knowledge Areas, Learning, Lessons Learned, Planning, Team, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Relay Race or Just Another Project?

What happens when you put 12 friends in two vans for 36 hours? Did I mention these friends will collectively run roughly 200 miles over the 36 hours? In my opinion, you have the time of your life. Others may … Continue reading

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How to Do the Impossible

Recently, I read the book “The Fight” by Norman Mailer that chronicles the 1974 heavyweight boxing match known as the “Rumble in the Jungle”. Set in Kinshasa, Zaire in Africa, this fight saw the imposing brute champion George Foreman challenged … Continue reading

Posted in Lessons Learned, Motivation, Planning, Productivity, Risk Management | 1 Comment

Why is your floor lumpy?

Why is your Floor Lumpy? Home-improvement projects are by far my favorites. In these projects, I’m one of the major stakeholders but also the project planner, budget approver, and end user. Problem Identification: This February we embarked on a laundry … Continue reading

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I Hate Change

I Hate Change Every weekday morning for as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten up in the morning, made coffee, toasted a bagel, put peanut butter and jelly on it, and placed it in a plastic container so I … Continue reading

Posted in Knowledge Areas, Planning | 2 Comments

Brain Power vs. Tools

Life is busy. We all juggle work and families while attempting to have a social life. As we approach the holiday season, the pace picks up. It seems like every day there are new things to do, websites to read, … Continue reading

Posted in Learning, Motivation, Planning, Productivity | 1 Comment

What type of vacation planner are you?

The instructor asked our class on personality types to divide ourselves into two types of travel planners: 1) Those who are compelled to plan everything in advance including each day’s activities. 2) Those ok with just reserving flights and the … Continue reading

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