by Mike Ososki, PMP, Public Relations Committee
Not bad for an introvert. From Accountant to Engineer to Project Manager, and presenting to us as a Motivational Public Speaker, Mr. John Stenbeck encouraged the room full of PMI folks that we, too, can be leaders. As John proclaims, “If I can do this, so can you!”
Mr. Stenbeck’s credentials are impressive: PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, CSP, Founder of GR8PM, teacher, Agile practitioner, best-selling author of 3 books, Keynote speaker with 50+ dates/year, a big name client list, plus guesting on Good Morning America, the Today Show, and Oprah Winfrey, all combine well for a highly credible first impression. He also had one of the coveted “Manage This” coffee cups.
In Monday’s Dinner Meeting, John cited F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real), acquired before age 10 (the “age of reason”), as a primary culprit inhibiting us from being all we can be. He encouraged everyone to step into that kind of fear, to grow and get through it, and to persistently challenge ourselves to keep stepping out. Success is deeply personal, and magic begins where comfort ends.
John’s two biggest heroes are his dad and Jim Rohn. Mr. Rohn virtually invented the modern category of personal and professional development. One of his students was Anthony Robbins. And his dad, a very successful businessman, asserted, “If you’re afraid of it, do it twice!” Aristotle shares relevant wisdom, too: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”
The recommended goal is not perfection, but rather a statistically significant shift, thereby significantly enhancing the probability and likelihood of success. As a business analogy to your project management, the oft-cited Southwest Airlines is an excellent example how to align frameworks and improve processes. After a Gap Analysis, they determined to reduce on-ground turn-around time and to improve being on-time. Then the magic happened: Less cost + more sales = higher profit.
Dario Lizcano (pictured left) and Michelle Mayes had a wonderful day at Meadowcreek High School’s Career Day. It was a 4-hour event that focuses on creating a critical link between the classroom and the workplace by allowing students to explore various career options so they can make informed educational and career choices. The Education Team had the opportunity to interact with about 40 students introducing them to the wonderful world of Project Management. The students gained exposure into the profession as they learned about Project Management career paths, Project Management degrees, and Project Management certifications. The Education Team also provided the young men and women insight into their day-to-day work and discussed the importance of education as they prepare for their careers.