My First Confession

 

Forgive me, ganttheads. It's time to come clean. 

I am a shameless follower of reality television.

There, I said it. Now, before you roll your eyes and click off to somewhere else, let me explain how GREAT this is for project management. If you take a moment to cruise the cable box, you will see bunches and bunches of PM-based shows. Bravo TV is one of the best sources of real-life project management you'll find (Real Housewives notwithstanding...although, I do keep an eye on the "ladies," just so make sure.) Top Chef, Top Design, Shear Genius, Work of Art...those are all mini-project challenge shows, and may the best PM win. I would even argue (if anyone cares to) that Millionaire Matchmaker and Thintervention (I wish I had come up with that name) are all about repeatable process. And if Jeff Lewis, the bitchy, demanding, obsessive/compulsive and really funny real estate investor/home designer of Flipping Out, isn't the stereotype of stressed out project manager without an internal censor, I'll buy lunch--but NO ONIONS!!

America's Next Top Project Manager.

I'll have more to say about Jeff later. He is a wonderful representative of project managers, because his behavior and ranting is so refreshingly unfiltered. He freely admits that his ideal client is someone who gives him a pile of money and goes away until he's done doing what HE wants to do. He bemoans his work schedule and frustration at juggling projects, and he instituted a working happy hour this year to appease his grumbling team...but I found it interesting that as his work has changed, he recognizes that the people he has may not be the people he needs NOW. Change is coming to the Jeff Lewis team, and I'm curious to see how he manages that. (For those who don't watch--yet--Jeff's not really a "people person."

For now, I'll take Bravo's advice to "Watch What Happens"....so you don't have to. And I'll keep you in the loop.