Inside and Outside

 

In 1999, I joined a nascent gantthead as its "ruthless" editor--at least that's what the ad said. Having no ruth whatsoever, I figured I qualified. I didn't really understand "project management" as a profession or an industry, but I had been running a print magazine for several years, so I knew about managing projects. I just didn't know that there was a name for it, or any kind of standardized way of doing it. Many years later, I've learned that lots of people seem to stumble into project management that way. Or they did...It seems that more and more people in business are recognizing PM as a legitimate (and crucial) function in their organization--rather than just this vague idea that someone should be keeping track of stuff and there seems to be someone in the company with a knack for that.

Since I've been here, I see project management everywhere (and I don't JUST mean because I spend a lot of time at gantthead). I see it in my life as a parent, as a community theater actor, as a customer and client to any number of businesses. I see it in television and sports and other forms of entertainment. Mostly, I see where it's failing, but occasionally, I see some beautiful, poetic example of project management working magic where you least expect it.

I intend to use this space to comment on the project management I see around me. I'm a bit of an "outsider", as I've never really trained as a project manager, and I've never had to "be" a "project manager" (aside: ALL respect to EVERY project manager out here--I am continually amazed at the pressure you people work under). I'm also a bit of an "insider" since I have been living among you for a decade now, listening to your conversations, watching your movements--I have an idea of what makes you frustrated and furious and defeated and elated and proud to be a PM...and I think I get it. I'm sure you'll let me know if I don't. :-)

So let me know what I'm getting right; let me know what I'm missing. What are the unlikely places where you find project management? How would you improve the world around you with your project management knowledge and skills? Talk to me, people!