Tell us your pm love story! Why do you love project management?
Kristin JonesSocial Media Specialist III| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
We want to hear from YOU!
Tell us why you love being a project manager, About a project you loved working on, OR Why you love being part of project management
All posts published between 1 February and 15 February 12:00 am will be considered for a feature in a future ProjectManagement.com publication!
Want to take it up a notch? Send us a video of yourself sharing your love story for project management via the dropbox link below and we’ll share it on our YouTube channel.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
My current relationship status is: In Relationship with Project Management !
It is true that PM is complex and challenging, but it is also a great adventure full of memories and so is LOVE so yes, I love PM !
I started at the age of 15, I had so much responsibility thrust on my shoulders due to personal circumstances so I had to manage my life properly in order to succeed so my first project was: Future Success. Responsibility and leadership became part of my life (I actually can't live or function properly without them).
At the age of 17, when I started university, my choice was Engineering and specifically Civil Engineering because it is a wide subject and usually in construction, civil engineers are the project starters and leaders. When I graduated, I preferred to go and experience the practical side of the engineering instead of sitting in an office and doing design.
I worked overseas on large complex projects, very challenging and I figured out from the first year that this is what I want to do, I love doing that. Why:
1- YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. You are not just a number, NO - You absolutely can make a difference and that alone makes me feel great. 2- Part of why I love being a project manager is that I always like to coach people, teach people, work with people, listen to people, build with people and lead the team by example. 3- It is challenging and motivating at the same time. Unique complex passion. 4- There is always room for being creative. 5- You interact with many people (Different backgrounds and nationalities). 6- Project Management is a very diversified field as everyday you learn something new, everyday you can improve on something. 7- Everyday you go to work to build on where you reached the previous day until you end up with a fruitful end result which make you feel proud because it will serve generations.
Many times, when I pass by some projects I was in charge of, I stop and feel really proud and I feel prouder when I see how much it was beneficial to the end users, how many additional jobs it created and the list goes on.
Give me one reason not to love project management or being a project manager ... IMHO, it is the best job on earth because the limit is the sky in this field ! Saving Changes...
I love being a PM, because as I heard years ago in a PMI event, project management is power:
- power to make good things
- power to create products and services that will make people's life better
- power to help growing your team members
- power to make good future project managers.
And the opportunity to grow as person and as profesional in multiple disciplines, and the best of all, face challenges on each project, learn from each experience and celebrate with my team each success. Saving Changes...
Kristin JonesSocial Media Specialist III| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
Feb 01, 2016 3:28 PM
Replying to Mike Frenette
...
Love the video of you two! Well done and well shared (at least on my part)!
Thank you! Saving Changes...
Mike FrenetteManager, IT PMO| Halifax Water (retired)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
A Story about the Accidental Project Manager
Once upon a time, there was a young man who began his career in technology – writing computer programs, analyzing business needs, designing and implementing computer software. He worked on things called projects, as a member of a team, or sometimes as a lone ranger on a tiny project. He loved working in technology, because he could exercise his creative cleverness and amaze the town folk with technological magic.
One day, a company with whom had just started working asked if he would move 3,000 kilometers away to manage a project to create and install a computer system for court staff so they could record offences, schedule trials, record results, collect fines, and … well.. you get the picture. Never one to say no to an opportunity, this young man, who had never managed a project in his life, said, “Yes! I’d love to do it!” Some might call this attitude foolhardy. He called it good fortune - and so began his career in project management.
He and his small team worked hard to figure out client needs, design and create a system a piece at a time, confirm it with the client, and then implement it. The project was very successful, providing what was required, and maybe a little bit more (which he later learned was called “gold plating”), within the expected budget and on time. Since then, the subject of our little story managed many projects, always successful.
Then came a time when he noticed there was a professional organization called the Project Management Institute that had a body of knowledge called the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. He realized that his past success had been a matter of common sense (not so ubiquitous he always thought for a term with such a name) and to some extent, good luck and friendly clients. He was often heard talking to himself while holding the guide close to his chest, muttering “Where have you been all my life!” [OK… not true, but added for comedic effect]
Thus began the professionalization of our friend. After managing projects for fifteen years, he immersed himself in this warm body of knowledge, researched, studied, wrote and passed the exam known as the "PMP exam". He enjoyed rubbing shoulders with other beings who also managed projects or had an interest in the same. He liked what he read and experienced so much that he decided to volunteer with the professional organization locally and globally, never looking back, even another fifteen years later. In fact, he is still volunteering today. He has also been spreading the good PM word within his organization and far and wide.
I heard about this person one day through a sort of telepathic connection. He obviously loved what he was doing. Otherwise, why would he continue? I asked him what he loved about project management, and his answer surprised me. He said, “Project management is all about people. People who are your clients, people who are your team, people who hear about the project and are want to know more, people with their own lives outside the projects, people working to provide for their families. People. It’s all about people.” I said, “What? It’s not all about projects?” “No, he said, without people, there would be no projects. There would be no organizations. There would be no important needs being met through projects. Projects are people. Just like life – it’s all about people. And that’s why I love being a project manager. Working with people to understand what needs to be done, to bring the team together to work toward a successful conclusion in a way that makes us proud of what we have accomplished and makes the client want to work with us again.”
And so ends the tale of the accidental project manager. He is still out there, an accident no more. Still being successful. But now, it is not a matter of uncommon common sense or even luck. Now it is a matter of knowledge, experience, making plans, working plans and…. well… most importantly – working with people. It’s all about people! Saving Changes...
Yves CavarecBusiness process solution consultant| DeloitteNogent-Sur-Marne, France
Project success requires that people involved (stakeholders) have a deep understanding of each other's perspective. It requires support, cooperation, kindness, compassion... Project success requires love, as a virtue. Saving Changes...
Johnny MoSenior Project Manager| Mayo ClinicRochester, Mn, United States
I love being a PM because of the many challenges you face and face with the knowledge that at the end of the day you made a difference. I believe that future CEOs, in order to get that edge over the competition, will understand the corporate value PMs bring or better yet, was once a PM themselves. It is just a matter of time before corporate world will realize that you need project management just as important as you need accountants. Saving Changes...
Yves CavarecBusiness process solution consultant| DeloitteNogent-Sur-Marne, France
You know what? I love our project management community! Saving Changes...
Great Website Naomi - I am in full support of Women to Lead: Men and Women should be always equal !
Saving Changes...
Robert McCueProgram manager - external programs| Essential EnergyPort Macquarie, Nsw, Australia
42 Km's of 132kV power line through State forests, crown land, private property, swamp, sugar cane, river crossings, varying weather conditions (two floods over 18 months that isolated whole towns) Private contractors, internal staff, various level stakeholders........ ticked all the boxes and more! Variety is the spice of life and this project had it with all of its challenges and complexities. The way the project staff embraced the challenge of such a daunting project was wonderful to see.The reason why I love Project Management! Saving Changes...
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