Archive for the ‘PM for the “20-Something” Crowd’ Category

Alaskan Square Foot Garden Produces Prize Winning Broccoli!!!!

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Michelle LaBrosse, PMP

Best in Division, Best in Class, First Place - does it get any better than this????

Best in Division, Best in Class, First Place - does it get any better than this????

Okay I must admit, broccoli is not my favorite vegetable, but my gosh does it grow well in my alaskan square foot garden. My daughter encouraged me to enter one of the heads into the Southeast Alaska State Fair. So, the morning of the competition, I took knife to plant, and beheaded it. Yes, whacked it there on the spot. Then with lovely broccoli bouquet in hand, went to the exhibit hall at the state fair grounds and entered it into the competition. They even supplied the lovely vase. I’m not sure what division it was in or why it won best in division – but here it is in all it’s glory. The first of the bounty from my first alaskan square foot garden.

Was it the automatic watering system, the extensive wind protection, the uncharacteristically warm summer, the thousands of worms from Uncle Jim’s worm farm, the seaweed I mixed in with the vermeculite, composite, manure planting mix? It certainly wasn’t my attention as I was not even here all summer. I am more inclined to think it might be the lack of other competitors. No one else entered broccoli. I’m not sure if this town has many broccoli fans as the main reason I grew broccoli was because it was one of the few starts left at the nursery. Late to the party and what happens – I WIN!!!!!!! YEAH. I am so proud of my head of broccoli. I might even start to like this vegetable.

Flu Remedies – 7 Tips That Help You Heal

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Michelle LaBrosse, PMP

I had the lovely fortune to have the flu in late february. Several family members and I caught it after attending a cousin’s wedding in Philadelphia. Even the ones who had the “flu shot.” Since no medical personnel thought it was necessary to see what type of flu it was, it was just the “flu.” But it was the exact same symptoms as this latest ‘swine” flu – complete with the 5th day relapse after feeling fine on the 4th day.

I had recently finished reading a book called “Anti-Cancer” and did some of the same remedies suggested in that book plus several others I knew about. So here is how you can minimize the severity of the flu:

1. Medical Professionals tell you to drink plenty of fluids – but the type of fluids make a huge difference.

A. Avoid sugar – according to the Anti-Cancer book – sugar feeds cancer cells. I figured it might help feed the flu virus as well. I am not a medical professional or a researcher but I figured it couldn’t hurt me to avoid sugar and it didn’t.

B. Drink a LOT of ginger root tea. I slice up fresh ginger root and boil it in water. I made a large pot of this and drank at least a cup every hour. I mixed it with decaffeinated green tea. Ginger root is a natural anti-inflammatory. Since the flu virus causes inflammation as your immune system does battle with the virus – this is very good for helping your body cope with the flu.

2. Stay positive – watch funny movies. DO NOT WATCH THE NEWS. Stay away from the work stress too. If the flu could kill you what will the work stress matter anyhow. Your job with the flu bug is to survive to go back to work.

3. Get lots of sleep – if you have small children or pets – get someone else to watch them – this is very important. When I had the flu, I was on a trip back east so my pets were under someone else’s care out west and the children were on their own trip for school. I was supposed to travel to meet the kids on their trip but the doctor implored me to just stay put for at least two weeks to make sure I got over it. The night time cold and flu over the counter medicines do well to ease the coughing symptoms so you can sleep.

4. Eat chicken noodle soup. Yup there is something that is released when they are making the chicken broth from the bones of the chicken that is anti-viral. I make my own – it is very simple. You first roast the chicken. Then you take most of the meat off and refrigerate, and toss the carcass in a large pot of water. Put in several tablespoons of whole pepppercorns and a couple stalks of celery. Let it simmer all day (you’re home and sleeping anyhow). Strain out all the ingredients. Chop up the refrigerated meat, put in a whole chopped onion and a the top half of a stalk of celery coarsly chopped. Put in about a cup of whole wheat pasta noodles and salt to taste. Eat this several times a day.

5. Eat a fresh berry salad. Fresh berries are also recommended to prevent cancer so I figured these couldn’t hurt either. I mix up strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and toss in some chopped walnuts and sprinkle the whole thing with cinnamon. The cinnamon helps to regulate your blood sugar so you don’t feed those nasty flu viruses.

6. Go out for a short brisk walk in the fresh air (and stay away from other people). This might seem counter intuitive as all you want to do is sleep. But in the anti-cancer book he showed how a low level of exercise boosts your immune system. If it’s cold out, bundle up. And only walk for 15 to 20 minutes.

7. Take a hot bath – at least once a day. Put epsom salt in it as well. I had a friend who was trained as a medical professional in India and he recommended sitting in hot water to all his patients when they presented with a virus as it was his experience that elevating your temperature more helped kill the virus faster. This is what a fever is doing anyhow. I’m not sure if that works, but it does make you feel more relaxed.

The flu is not to be taken lightly – no matter what the strain. Even the “normal” flu kills over 35,000 people every year in the US alone. I made the mistake the 4th day of thinking I was all over it and could gut out an aggressive work day. It set me back another two weeks. If you have a fever and a dry hacking cough – it might be the flu. It gets worse. You then get a headache that feels like your head is in a vice. Then on about the third day your eyes start to water like you’ve been chopping onions. As it moves into your lungs, you cough like you’ve smoked three packs of cigarettes a day for decades. And all you want to do is sleep. I was all alone when I had the flu on a trip back east. I was thankful for that as usually I have pets and children to care for. I was only supposed to be there for a week – I ended up just staying put for three weeks. I started to feel completely back to normal about a month after I first came down with the flu.

I had the good fortune of being alone and not having to take care of anyone but myself. If you live with other people and they come down with the flu – STAY AWAY FROM THEM. It’s not hard for people to take care of themselves with this. And the solitude is good for their recovery. You can drop off the essentials they need but the less you can be around someone who has the flu, the less likely you will be to catch it.

Cheers- to Earth’s Health

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

by Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM
How do you celebrate Earth Day? To celebrate Earth Day, my roommate and I volunteered at the Citizens Climate Lobby booth at the annual Earth Fair held at Balboa Park in San Diego.

I became interested in the Citizens Climate Lobby last summer while I was a mentor for an intern at Cheetah Learning. One of my tasks included helping her write weekly articles that pertained to environmental issues, such as global warming, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and other horrifying and interesting realities that many people do not think about on a day to day basis.

During a summer of mentoring and being exposed to the calamities that were happening to the planet, I was simultaneously exposed to a group who was hell-bent on doing something about it: The Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL). A woman in my Toastmasters group heard me give a speech about the environment one evening, and invited me to a CCL meeting. I agreed to go and was immediately impressed by the breadth and dedication of the group.
CCL operates by training volunteers to speak with confidence to their local and national elected officials in order to get important environmental issues on the Congressional radar. Members of CCL can make a difference by meeting with Congress members, launching letter-writing campaigns (to Congress or letters to the editor), and create editorials that promote various issues regarding climate sustainability. If you are interested in starting your own CCL group in your community, click here.

I have become even more intrigued in how I can capitalize on becoming green for not only altruistic reasons, but financial reason as well, through the knowledge that I have gained as a co-researcher and writer the Cheetah Power Newsletter, which encourages individuals to “Take Power of Your Power” (that is, take power of your power usages and supply), and to use alternative energy in a way that makes sense both financially and environmentally.
So, how do you celebrate Earth Day? Wear green? Ride your bike? Start a sustainable energy lobbyist group? Take a shorter shower? Research your energy rights and options? Whatever you choose to do, remember that no effort is too small.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Earth Day.

Kristen
GREAT POST Kristen!!!!!!!   When thinking about being “earth friendly” do what makes sense in multiple realms.  When I started Cheetah Learning, I didn’t like how when you went to conventional training, you got these huge binders filled with the instructor’s power point presentation.   First off, presenting a presentation off power point slides is not teaching and not much learning happens, second off, it’s a tremendous waste of paper and binders to hand out those presentations that were extremely low on content.   I set up the courses at Cheetah learning so people left with the actual skills they needed to accomplish their goals – whether it be to pass the PMP exam or to launch and run a successful project.   No binder full of paper ever helped anyone do either of those two things.   And surprise, surprise, surprise, my solutions were earth friendly too.   Most if not all the time, the right solution is the earth friendly solution as well.
Michelle LaBrosse, PMP

Project Management Fundamentals Certificate Program

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

by Michelle LaBrosse, PMP

My blog sidekick, Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM opened my eyes to the fact that the Generation Y folks really are the Y-Not generation.  Why not just go for it young and get all the education and credentials you can to be as successful as you can as soon as possible.   She is meeting all types of generation Y types who live by this credo.   So I decided to give them an extra boost and created a certificate program for people just starting their careers to give them a boost into higher levels of management faster.   I was lucky when I started my career – I was an Air Force ROTC graduate and the Air Force tossed me right into a management position overseeing multimillion dollar testing programs.  I got to deal with people at high levels of industry from around the world in a unique position – as their customer.   I learned VERY fast how to move in those circles, the lingo, the look, the tools.    By the age of 25, I had enough guts and know how to set out on my own and hit a block buster success with my first business.    Yes, I had subsequent failures as I spread my wings into areas where I did not yet know how to fly – but once I learned the solid foundation of project management, I was able to easily soar with my business pursuits.    Had I known at the age of 25 what I know now, I would’ve prevented the sputtering stalls I had in my mid-30’s.   I want to give the Gen Y folks the tools to surpass my success story and that is why I created the PM Fundamentals Certificate Program that helps people just starting in their career the tools to have very fast and enduring success.   It’s a five part course that teaches you how to leverage your innate strengths, how to get your projects done fast, teaches you how to pass the certified associate in project management (CAPM) certification exam so you have a credential that shows you have the requisite knowledge for PM, and then you learn how to use your PM skills to get your foot in the door and move up the career ladder fast.   I put together the program I wish I had in my 20’s.   And best of all, it passed the Kristen test.   She liked it.  (believe me she would let me know if she thought it was lame).

Project Management Certification- It Pays (Literally)

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

What is in a name? Would your rather take medical advice from just any Joe Shmoe, or would a DOCTOR Joe Shmoe have a little more influence on you?

In our society, a title does matter, because not only does it represent a certification and a knowledgebase, but also a dedication to a profession that is quantifiable and meaningful.

So what do the letters PMP after a name mean to you? To many employers who are actively seeking to hire, these letters can mean the difference between a second look at a resume and a shuffle to the bottom of the stack. PMP Certification, which if offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), provides a clear message to potential employers of competence and a foundation of knowledge that is crucial to be a successful project manager. Due to the extensive requirements established in obtaining and maintaining this certification, the letters PMP signify much more than just a test. Prospective PMP’s have to have a certain amount of education/work experience in order to sit for the exam, and after they have received their PMP, they must take Continued Certification Requirements in order to maintain their PMP status.

So, now that you know the benefits of having a PMP, you may be more inclined to consider obtaining this certification if you have not already done so. But what if I told you that some companies today not only prefer their Project Managers to have their PMP, but REQUIRE it? This is the reality for many organizations. Requiring PMP certification makes sense for many companies who want the assurance that their employees share the PMBOK knowledge base and are committed to staying current with their project management skills.

While I have not found a list that reveals the exact number of employers who are requiring the PMP credential (if you know of such a list existing, please share!), and cannot quantify the trend throughout the years, there is a general consensus among the Project Management community, both job seeker and employers, that the PMP is becoming the new standard. So if you have your PMP credential and are maintaining it, publicize it! If you are working towards your credential, well done, your efforts will be well worth the payback.

Thanks for reading,

Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM

Volunteering

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

By: Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM

Last week I attended the PMI San Diego Chapter’s February Component Dinner Meeting, where the theme was celebrating the 2008 volunteers… OSCAR STYLE! This was an evening dedicated to honoring the people who had given back to the chapter in the form of donating their time and hard work.
     
My friend Sarah was one of the head volunteers at this event, and as her cohort I jumped in to provide as much help as possible. Her duties included putting together gift bags for the 150 guests that would be attending, and not just any gift bags, but Oscar style gift bags. Since the budget did not provide for fancy watches or Safari trips to Africa, creativity was a necessity.      

The gift bags that resulted were a fun mixture of popcorn, chocolate bars wrapped with Oscar Award emblems, fun-fetty (which was just the right mixture of glamour and  annoyance as it exploded out of the gift bag upon opening), and the famous gold Cheetah Learning caps. Creating these gift bags may have been a daunting job for one person, but with the promise of wine and hors d’oeuvre we found our friends could be easily persuaded to attend a gift bag making soirée.

Sarah and I arrived early to the event to help set up the Oscar themed room and to get on our best “red-carpet-interviewer” game faces. As the guests arrived, we approached them, microphone in hand, and slammed them with questions, such as “WHO are you wearing this evening?” or, the very important question, “Team Aniston or Jolie?!” Some guests were thoroughly delighted by the attention, while others were confused, but everyone’s face lit right up when we pointed them in the direction of the bar. And so the night at the Oscars- PMI style- began.  

The night was dedicated to celebrating and thanking volunteers. What I took away from this event was just how important volunteering is, a message that rings especially true for people who are employed-challenged at the moment and are looking to find not only their next job, but their next career in a field that is meaningful to them and matches their skill sets.

San Diego Chapter PMI Dinner- Oscar Style

San Diego Chapter PMI Dinner- Oscar Style

Volunteering is a very powerful tool that should not be overlooked when considering expanding your network in order to enhance your job search. Three-fourths of people find jobs through personal contacts, which means that 75% of jobs are already filled before they ever hit the job boards. Volunteering provides the opportunity to come in contact with a wide variety of people, which can never hurt when you are on the job hunt.  Another great reason to volunteer is to avoid that gap in your resume, so that when you do apply to your next job you have a slew of experience (experience is experience, paid or not) that will aidindemonstrating your skills.

So if you do find yourself with some free time on your hands, you could hole yourself up in your house and catch up on the Lost series, or you could grab your friends, your skills, and career by the bull horns and get out there and volunteer.

Thanks for reading,

Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM 

“Generation Y”- Yes, this is you!

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

by Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM

Hard at work..

Hard at work..

I recently sat down with an old boss from when I worked in the Small Business Development Center at my alma mater. I make a point to visit this particular person when I am in town to update him up on my life and career, and to get his helpful tips on my current projects. During our conversation, he brought up the term “Generation Y” numerous times. I finally asked him – “What is this Generations Y you speak of?” His Reply: “YOU!”

If you’re in your 20-somthings (or early 30’s as well if we are being picky) and are reading this article, let me inform you that you are one of 70 million to be considered “Gen Y” (most acceptably recognized as the generation born between 1978 and 2000).

I felt the need to do research on this Gen Y as I am inadvertently a part of said group. I found that there have been studies, research, test groups, polls, and a whole other slew of analysis on this specific generation. My Gen Y research resulted in some interesting findings.

First of all, some not-very-nice things are being said about this generation, including:
  • They are too demanding at work
  • They are a.k.a. “Generation Whine”
  • Distracted due to multitasking
  • Are lacking in their cultural contributions to society (music, movies, reality TV)
  • Have an over inflated sense of entitlement
  • iPods are surgically attached to their ears
  • In defense of Gen Y, there are reasonable explanations to some of these unsavory descriptions. For one, education costs have risen significantly in the past decade, making it harder to receive the same ROI as our older counterparts, thus leading Gen Y to expecting more from their employers to make up for this gap. Secondly, iPods come in so many fun and flattering colors these days, how can one help but to not have it surgically affixed?

    There are also reportedly nice things said about this generation as well, including:

  • They have financial smarts (37% start saving for retirement before 25)
  • Are flexible and ready for change
  • Are great at multitasking
  • Are comfortable with technology
  • Speak their mind
  • Are very entrepreneurial
  • Independent attitudes 
  • Value creativity and independence
  • Believe in their self worth.
  • There are many other characteristics used to describe Gen Y (negative or positive connotation implied at reader’s discretion), a selection of those are as follows:
  • Affinity for casual dress
  • Expect regular communication and feedback from their superiors
  • Are attracted to flexible work schedules and telecommuting
  • Work-life balance is a must
  • Less responsive to traditional command-and-control management style
  • Don’t know how to shut up
  • Affinity for email/phone communication over face-to face meetings.
  • Expect more benefits and perks than our older counterpart
  • Have aspirations of self employment (1.9% of workers under the age 25 are self-employed, while 5.3% between 25 and 34 are)
  • The overlying message in all research pertaining to Gen Y, whether shed in a positive light or not, was that this generations’ talents will be very important in today’s business climate.  (Who are afterall going to cover the rising social security costs of their aging parents.)

    My message to Gen Y: Keep coming to your place of work with your Independence, Tech-Savvy, Self Worth, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and iPod in hand – the US economy needs a healthy dose of Gen Y cocktail right about now.

    Thanks for reading,

    Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM

    Networking for the 20-something PM Professional

    Friday, January 30th, 2009

    I went out to a Professional Development Dinner Meeting, courtesy of the Project Management Institute- San Diego Chapter, this last Wednesday. I love networking events- the reason being that I have a propensity to talk to complete strangers in social gatherings, and networking events such as these allow me to fully capitalize on this characteristic instead of trying to suppress it. 

    I took off for this networking event with a full arsenal of business cards, notepad and pens, and a cheerful disposition (which was partially due the unseasonable nice weather we have been having here).

    I have been making more of an effort to go to PM networking events as of late, as I think it is important to tap into the local community of peer project managers for inspiration, collaboration, and support. Attending these events I have noticed that while there is a handful of other young professional Project Managers, there is not as many as I would have expected. I think as the Project Management Profession grows increasingly popular amongst the 20-something crowd, networking events will eventual reflect this. The leap is making young project managers aware of events and for them to realize the benefits associated with networking. 

    I interviewed one young PM Professionals at this dinner to get a gauge on what her motivation was to attend PM networking events, and this is what I found out..

    Name: Sarah Elizabeth Aronsohn

    How did you here about the PMI networking event: I’m a member of PMI, so I look on the monthly calendar on their web site for events like this. I actually heard about PMI from my friend’s boy friend that is in it.  He took me to my first meeting.

    What are you hoping to get out of this PMI dinner and networking events such as these: I want to meet people in the San Diego community so I have an idea of what’s going on in this town.  It’s not that I can’t meet people on Garnett (local street that is popular with the college crowd, but not what you would call a “professional oriented” scene); it’s just that those people aren’t necessarily going to help me get my PMP one day.  It’s great to get to know people who aren’t in your daily routine, especially because I’m still pretty new to San Diego.  Even though I love my job and am not actively looking for another job, you never know when something even better might come along.  I also really want to get more involved in PMI for experience and a resume builder. Oh yeah, and building your conversation skills and learning how to handle yourself at dinner with strangers is always a great skill to have.

    What are your feelings about networking, particularly networking as a young professional, at these events: It’s so much easier for us 20-somethings to get career advice and guidance at events like these than at longboards (popular local bar). It’s nice to be able to step away from your own peer group for a few hours and meet people who you want to mirror professionally.  At every event I’ve gone to I’ve collected a few business cards and have actually kept in touch with those people.  They’re really a great resource.

    Looking around, I don’t see many people here under 30. Why do you think that is, and what would encourage more young PM professional to come to these events?  Because it’s intimidating for a 20 something to walk into a room with older, serious looking, professionals and strike up a conversation with just any Dick, Jane or Harry.  Eleanor Roosevelt said you should do one thing a day that scares you.  Going to these meetings was that one thing for me at first.  The funny thing is though, once you start going, you meet so many people that you forget that you came alone. 

    What are your goals in obtaining your CAPM? What obstacles are you facing in taking this test? My first goal is for my company to pay for it!!  They stopped all tuition reimbursement and programs that would pay for these tests, so I’m going to wait until I can get their money to take it.  I’m an assistant trying to become a PM someday, so I’m really hoping that taking the CAPM will edge people to taking me more seriously at my goal.  I wish there was a really cheap class to study for the CAPM too, I learn best in a class setting, but they are all way too expensive!

    Are there any other perks you find in coming to these events?  

    I must also say that the 20 something people that do show up at these events are quite the lookers.  I’d so much rather meet a guy here than at PB Bar and Grill (yet another popular local bar).

    Well there you have it folks, straight from the mouth of a real live young PM Professional who is using some her best assets-intellectual and social capital-to give her career a significant boost.

    Thank you Sarah or sharing your thoughts. And to the young networkers out there everywhere- PM or otherwise- in these times where financial capital is not of great abundance, networking is a great activity to boost your career and strengthen the assets that you do have.

    Thanks for reading,

    Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM    

    Obama’s Inaugural Address and… Project Management?

    Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

     

    Barack & Michelle Obama

    Barack & Michelle Obama

    On Tuesday, January 20th, Barack Obama gave his Inaugural Address to an audience of 37.8 million TV viewers, which was the largest audience for an inaugural speech in decades. This speech marked an extraordinary event in that it was the Inauguration of the first African American President, and also in that it was the initiation of one of the most important projects of the century: Reviving the country from a severe economic depression.

    Barack’s inaugural speech demonstrates how his Presidential term is, in fact, a project.  PMI defines a project as “… a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.” Obama’s inaugural speech reveals many key aspects of his Presidential term that are characteristic of a project and how he plans to implement project management tools and techniques.

    The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), is created by the Project Management Institute (PMI), and states the five basic Project Management Processes, which are: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Control, and Closing.

    To illustrate Barack Obama’s presidential term as a Project, and his application of Project Management tools and techniques, I have selected key quotes from his inaugural speech that demonstrate the five basic Project Management Processes.

    Initiation- “I thank President Bush for his service to our nation as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.” – This signifies the end of Bush’s presidential period and the beginning, or initiation, of Barack’s presidency.

    Planning- “Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.” This excerpt shows the need for adequate planning in order tackle the obstacles that the current President faces.

    Execution- “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.”  To execute a successful presidential term, Barack will need to direct and manage project execution, perform quality assurance, and acquire develop a project team.

    Control- “The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, car they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.” Barack and his team will use work performance information and performance reports to provide resolutions of issues for the nation.

    Closing- “America, in the face of our common dangers, in the winter of our hardships, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generation.”  The deliverables of Barack’s presidency are stated here as the gift of freedom being delivered to future generation, which will signify the closing of Barack’s completed and fulfilled presidential term.

    Barack Obama is undoubtedly a brilliant person, an eloquent speaker, and a charismatic leader. I am hopeful and confident that his Project Management skills are reflective of his many other positive attributes.

     

    Kristen LaBrosse, CAPM