George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
My therapist has asked me to abstain from posting on the subject of AI for two weeks to provide his team with transparent access to the essential nature of my thoughts, which he states will be on full display in our next session due to the heightened state of withdrawal.
Although a seemingly borderline ethical request to ask of a patient, I recognize it’s for the better good of society, as this will provide the final clinical observation, enabling the team to submit the paperwork for a new series of AI-centric medical diagnosis codes. So, I hold on to the therapist’s stirring words, “Mr. Freeman, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
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Hence, if you are willing, I would like to solicit your “satirical expressions or humorous anecdotes” that, if you dig deep, should flow from your experiences as a project professional.
Although you can structure it any way you want, for instance, by stating something funny that happened to you in your practice, I have provided example subject areas below with an expression to get you started.
Don’t just do one; ponder it over time, then return and do another. Again, you do not need to follow my template.
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[A] You know you are a seasoned project manager when: - You can assign “each and every” grey hair to a past project event. - … [B] Interpretations of agility - Software developer: NO --> Project Manager, Documentation, Estimations or Planning - … [C] Project management advice - The sparse use of “no” is often frowned upon as a leader; the abundant use of “no” allows you to pursue other career opportunities - … [D] Deadlines and Estimating - Deadlines do not get the respect they deserve, so be sure to salute them as they pass you by - … [E] Change management - A management change is the quintessential expression of change management - …
Let’s have fun with this, or conversely allow it to “fall below the fold,” never to be seen again.
When I was young and naive, I learned and believed in the old saying that you can't polish a turd. After many years in the business world, I learned that is anything but true. It has become a critical core competency of corporate culture.
People become experts in the art. Processes are developed and refined for how to polish turds with official grading standards for the quality of luster. Organizations and communities of practice are spawned to promote industry leading turd polishing technology. Spin-off companies are formed to take advantage of the vast commercial market for polished turds.
It's really not a matter of "can you" at all, but rather "should you". Just my 2 cents on a Friday.
...
1 reply by George Freeman
May 03, 2024 4:18 PM
George Freeman
...
Keith Novak, that is a heap of sound wisdom at only 2 cents!
Based on your last sentence, it would appear to me that the first skill in this art form is the ability to assess the turd, putting it under varying forms of stress and measuring the physics of the response to the given stimuli. If it vaporizes or becomes malformed, you have your answer—don’t polish; instead, initiate flush protocols.
I would love to see another round of wisdom, but increase the ante to a nickel. :)
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
George, here are two humorous ones for you coming from a structural engineer:
A- You know you're a dedicated Structural Engineer when you reassure your partner that your relationship is as sturdy as reinforced concrete.
B- If you've ever told someone that your love life has more support beams than a high-rise tower, you just might be a structural engineer.
...
1 reply by George Freeman
May 03, 2024 5:05 PM
George Freeman
...
Hi Rami,
My father was a masonry and concrete man, well known in his time, who wanted me to follow in his footsteps, so he nicknamed me “mudslinger” and initiated me through years of hard labor, believing I would fall-in-love with the profession as he did.
Although I learned the value of reinforced concrete, especially in Southern California earthquake country, I tell folks:
- I studied concrete for a while, but it was really hard, and I could never breakthrough—the pain.
Good thoughts!
George
Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
May 03, 2024 2:44 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
...
When I was young and naive, I learned and believed in the old saying that you can't polish a turd. After many years in the business world, I learned that is anything but true. It has become a critical core competency of corporate culture.
People become experts in the art. Processes are developed and refined for how to polish turds with official grading standards for the quality of luster. Organizations and communities of practice are spawned to promote industry leading turd polishing technology. Spin-off companies are formed to take advantage of the vast commercial market for polished turds.
It's really not a matter of "can you" at all, but rather "should you". Just my 2 cents on a Friday.
Keith Novak, that is a heap of sound wisdom at only 2 cents!
Based on your last sentence, it would appear to me that the first skill in this art form is the ability to assess the turd, putting it under varying forms of stress and measuring the physics of the response to the given stimuli. If it vaporizes or becomes malformed, you have your answer—don’t polish; instead, initiate flush protocols.
I would love to see another round of wisdom, but increase the ante to a nickel. :)
George Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
May 03, 2024 4:12 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
George, here are two humorous ones for you coming from a structural engineer:
A- You know you're a dedicated Structural Engineer when you reassure your partner that your relationship is as sturdy as reinforced concrete.
B- If you've ever told someone that your love life has more support beams than a high-rise tower, you just might be a structural engineer.
Hi Rami,
My father was a masonry and concrete man, well known in his time, who wanted me to follow in his footsteps, so he nicknamed me “mudslinger” and initiated me through years of hard labor, believing I would fall-in-love with the profession as he did.
Although I learned the value of reinforced concrete, especially in Southern California earthquake country, I tell folks:
- I studied concrete for a while, but it was really hard, and I could never breakthrough—the pain.
Good thoughts!
George
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
May 03, 2024 5:31 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
Hi George, thanks for sharing this personal info. Since you went down the nicknames path, then I will disclose something too: When I used to manage construction projects on-site, I was extremely strict and my boss used to call me: Sledge Hammer :-)
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
May 03, 2024 5:05 PM
Replying to George Freeman
...
Hi Rami,
My father was a masonry and concrete man, well known in his time, who wanted me to follow in his footsteps, so he nicknamed me “mudslinger” and initiated me through years of hard labor, believing I would fall-in-love with the profession as he did.
Although I learned the value of reinforced concrete, especially in Southern California earthquake country, I tell folks:
- I studied concrete for a while, but it was really hard, and I could never breakthrough—the pain.
Good thoughts!
George
Hi George, thanks for sharing this personal info. Since you went down the nicknames path, then I will disclose something too: When I used to manage construction projects on-site, I was extremely strict and my boss used to call me: Sledge Hammer :-)
...
1 reply by George Freeman
May 06, 2024 6:06 PM
George Freeman
...
I like it, Rami “the Sledgehammer” Kaibni!
In honor of that nickname and being that we are all project professionals, I made the following attempt at a pun (with an emphasis on the word attempt).
What did the Stake-holder say to the Sledgehammer? – How good are you at hitting your targeted objectives? – – I don’t know; let me take a swing at it, and we will find out.
If you are looking for anecdotes rather than antidotes, here's one I can offer: A few years ago when I first started teaching project management courses, I had a learner in my class who claimed to have quite a bit of experience in project management. When we got to the scheduling portion of the course, this learner insisted quite loudly that Gantt was actually an acronym standing for:
- Goals
- Analysis through
- Network Diagramming of
- Tasks &
- Tracking
I (almost) didn't have the heart to correct him...
Kiron
...
1 reply by George Freeman
May 03, 2024 6:17 PM
George Freeman
...
Well, that’s an interesting one. Grammarly’s “so-called AI” missed that contextual faux pas, so I googled the wrong form, “humorous antidotes,” it has 5,500 exact hits, and the proper form, “humorous anecdotes,” has 472,000 hits.
So, it appears that the threshold of hits on the wrong form (5,500) provided a “pass” rating for Grammarly. But I digress and find myself in the AI-ionosphere once again.
So embarrassed am I, although probably not as much as your student was in the class setting. Thank goodness for the "Edit" function.
George
Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
May 03, 2024 5:39 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
George -
If you are looking for anecdotes rather than antidotes, here's one I can offer: A few years ago when I first started teaching project management courses, I had a learner in my class who claimed to have quite a bit of experience in project management. When we got to the scheduling portion of the course, this learner insisted quite loudly that Gantt was actually an acronym standing for:
- Goals
- Analysis through
- Network Diagramming of
- Tasks &
- Tracking
I (almost) didn't have the heart to correct him...
Kiron
Well, that’s an interesting one. Grammarly’s “so-called AI” missed that contextual faux pas, so I googled the wrong form, “humorous antidotes,” it has 5,500 exact hits, and the proper form, “humorous anecdotes,” has 472,000 hits.
So, it appears that the threshold of hits on the wrong form (5,500) provided a “pass” rating for Grammarly. But I digress and find myself in the AI-ionosphere once again.
So embarrassed am I, although probably not as much as your student was in the class setting. Thank goodness for the "Edit" function.
George Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Since I’ve already embarrassed myself in this thread, I might as well keep it going – but I’ll ask you to join.
What funny or embarrassing things have occurred to you (or around you) while conducting business as a project professional?
Here’s my contribution: I may provide more if others jump in.
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In my pre-gray years, I took a newly formed project team from the US to Europe to kick off an international project for a one-month team-building exercise with our counterpart team. Although I prepared myself for the project side of the equation, I did not properly apply my PM skills otherwise; here’s an example:
- Driving for the first time in Europe, I took a few members of my team to dinner all scrunched up in a small car, and by the end of the evening, I was pulled over twice by the local police and had a taxi driver give me a greeting at my driver's side window. I learned two things: don’t listen to those in the backseat who have so-called European driving experience, and secondly, learn how to point at yourself and state the phrase, “stupid American” (don’t worry, it is globally understood). Oh, one more thing: Read the driving laws of the country you are a guest of—Duh.
George Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
May 03, 2024 5:31 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
Hi George, thanks for sharing this personal info. Since you went down the nicknames path, then I will disclose something too: When I used to manage construction projects on-site, I was extremely strict and my boss used to call me: Sledge Hammer :-)
I like it, Rami “the Sledgehammer” Kaibni!
In honor of that nickname and being that we are all project professionals, I made the following attempt at a pun (with an emphasis on the word attempt).
What did the Stake-holder say to the Sledgehammer? – How good are you at hitting your targeted objectives? – – I don’t know; let me take a swing at it, and we will find out.
George
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
May 06, 2024 6:11 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
This is hilarious, George. Here is my answer: ""Every problem looks like a nail when all you have is a sledgehammer-word".
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
May 06, 2024 6:06 PM
Replying to George Freeman
...
I like it, Rami “the Sledgehammer” Kaibni!
In honor of that nickname and being that we are all project professionals, I made the following attempt at a pun (with an emphasis on the word attempt).
What did the Stake-holder say to the Sledgehammer? – How good are you at hitting your targeted objectives? – – I don’t know; let me take a swing at it, and we will find out.
George
This is hilarious, George. Here is my answer: ""Every problem looks like a nail when all you have is a sledgehammer-word". Saving Changes...
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