Erika Flora's Blog

Don't let your PMP certification expire! Easy ways to get lots of PDUs fast.

Erika Flora — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:55:00 GMT

A colleague recently asked me how to get 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) in a few short weeks without breaking the bank. Here are some of my favorites:

PMI's IS Specific Interest Group (SIG) has lots of free webinars (1 PDU per webinar) available to SIG members ($35/year to join). This is a category 3.
You can write an article on any area of expertise you have and submit it to your local chapter of PMI. This is a category 2B and earns 15 PDUs.
For each 12-month period you work as a Project Manager, you can claim 5 PDUs. Over the course of three years, you can earn 15 PDUs. This is a category 2H.
You can claim up to 15 PDUs for category 2-SDL, Self Directed Learning. This includes articles, books, instructional manuals, videos, CD-ROMs or other material resources. Podcasts are a great way to earn 15 PDUs under this category. Here are two popular ones: www.pm-podcast.com and http://www.controllingchaos.com
Attend local PMI chapter meetings! Many chapters have breakfast, lunch, and or dinner meetings that will give you 1+ PDUs under category 3 per event.
If you already volunteer for a non-profit organization, you can claim 5 PDUs per year. Thus, you can get up to 15 PDUs under category 5 for giving of your time.
Last, you can take a "hot topic" course (Agile / Scrum, Six Sigma, ITIL/ITSM, etc.) that will earn you lots of PDUs and give you a certification that looks great on your resume. Look for Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s) with PMI to earn PDUs under category 3. Here is an example of one for ITIL v3 Foundations certification that gives you 18 PDUs under category 3.

Once you sign into PMI's website, you can submit PDUs online. The PDU site has been recently redesigned and is really easy to use. So, you now have ideas on a total of over 80 PDUs that you can get in a few weeks time. No more excuses on maintaining your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification!

Do you praise your teams enough?

Erika Flora — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:01:00 GMT

Years ago, I heard this great quote that has really stuck with me and become somewhat of a mantra. It is as follows:

There is no limit to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.
General of the Army George C. Marshall

What a fabulous concept! Often, we are so worried about our own jobs and careers that we don’t take the time to think about those around us and make sure we help them get what they want. Ever since I started making a conscious effort to really “let go” of who gets the credit, my work attitude has completely changed. In addition, the way my team and others around me view my work has completely changed. They realize that I am their champion, and they work hard to perform to the best of their abilities. Rather than spending time worrying about whether executive management sees all the great things I am doing, and position myself accordingly for that next great promotion, I focus on mentoring others and helping those around me get recognized for their hard work. I actually spend part of my work week thinking about how I can bring visibility and kudos to the efforts of my teams.

Too often, when employees are surveyed in their companies, many of them say that they feel their work is not valued or that no one has told them in the last six months that they appreciate them. How terrible! The best thing we can do for our coworkers, direct reports, colleagues, and project teams is to find creative ways to show them our thanks and make sure everyone in our company knows that they are making a valuable contribution. We all love to get praised for our hard work. Make sure you are taking the time to proactively do that for others.

Many companies have put great examples of this concept in place. When I worked with Pfizer, they implemented something called a Pfish program where you could send a Pfish card to a colleague for a variety of reasons (being a team player, going the extra mile, or even just making your day). Every week, the people that had received a Pfish card were entered into a raffle for a gift card. However, the very best thing about the Pfish card program was that the recipient’s boss was copied on the email that they received. It was a really fun program and one that made employees feel special and appreciated.

However, you don’t need a company program to show your appreciation for others. Here are some really easy things you can do to make a big difference in the lives of those around you – Submit your project team for an internal company award, external “Project of the Year”, or other award. There are lots of professional organizations that look for a variety of award submissions and, many times, are excited to get new submissions from companies or people they have not heard from before. Log onto LinkedIn and write unsolicited recommendations for people you have enjoyed working with. Send a short email to a coworker’s boss thanking them for going the extra mile on a difficult project. Start a “Thanks a latte!” newsletter that thanks your team members by name and post it up at work, maybe even leave a small Starbucks gift card on their desk before they get into work. The more creative and silly, the better! You will be surprised by the results. It seems counter-intuitive, but we as managers end up shining the brightest when our teams shine. What other examples have you seen or done to brighten the day for those you work with and help them get the kudos they richly deserve?

Are you amongst the learning or the learned?

Erika Flora — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:01:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I listened to Dr. Jackie Freiberg, the opening keynote speaker at itSMF's Fusion conference in Dallas. During her presentation, she gave the following quote from author Eric Hoffer:

In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.

I have found this to be true in my own experience. Today's learners are the ones that get the new job opportunities, the sought after promotion, and the next client. They are the ones that are not afraid to try (and even fail at) new things. Do you consider yourself to be a learner or one that is learned? Has your learning stopped? Right now, more than ever, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels and stop learning and trying new things. Those that do will be quickly passed by those that chase after knowledge. If you have let yourself become learned, think about ways you can join those that are learning. Your career depends on it.

Work with Microsoft Project software? Essential tools for every Project Manager!

Erika Flora — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:42:00 GMT

People often ask me for recommendations on working with Microsoft Project software. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Eric Uyttewaal's "Dynamic Scheduling" is the best book I have seen on Microsoft Project and is a must read for any Project Manager. IIL's web-based Orange Belt course on Microsoft Project teaches the concept of "Dynamic Scheduling" and, at the time, used Eric's book as the foundation for the course. It radically changed my perspective on working with MS Project; and many years later, I still frequently reference this book.

Another great book is "Ultimate Learning Guide to Microsoft Office Project 2007" by Dale Howard and Gary Chefetz. Both the "Ultimate Learning Guide" and "Dynamic Scheduling" are easy to read and packed full of helpful pictures, tips & tricks, and practical advice (my copies are dog-eared, flagged, and highlighted throughout).

Do stuff that scares the heck out of you

Erika Flora — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:28:00 GMT

My husband has raced in triathlons for many years, and I have been content playing the role of race "sherpa". On race day, I help pack and carry my husband's race gear, so he can concentrate on the race itself. Racing always looks like a lot of fun, and a few months ago, I unwittingly made the comment that I could do one. My husband suggested I attend a Traithlon101 meeting that the San Diego Tri Club was putting on, and I realized that, with a little determination and some equipment, anyone could finish a triathlon. I see 80-year old grandmothers do triathlons all the time. I thought to myself, "How hard could it be?" I made the decision then and there to try it. Little did I know what I was getting myself into...

That next week, I bought a woman's road bike and wet suit and started training. If I'm being completely honest, it was a lot harder than I expected. I had never really ridden a road bike before, and it did not come naturally to me. All of the steering, gear changes, and clipping my feet in and out of the pedals was really stressful. Swimming was not much better. I had to learn how to swim with good form and, most importantly, not get tired out after only a few meters. Once I had somewhat mastered swimming in a pool, I tried my hand at ocean swimming. That first experience was terrifying; and I cried, hyperventilated, and swallowed seawater most of the way through. There were definitely highs and lows through my workouts, but I kept trying.

Two weekends ago, I showed up to race my first triathlon (400 meters in the water, 7 mile bike, and 2 mile run). I did not have a particularly fast race (in fact, I came in nearly dead last), but at least I finished. The whole time during the race, I kept thinking, "Why did I sign up for this? What was I thinking?"; however, when I finally finished the race, it felt pretty good. I always tell others to try things that they are scared of, and this has been an experience where I have had to "eat my own dog food". I have learned a lot though...I've learned that we can sometimes surprise ourselves in what we are capable of doing. I've also learned that you meet the most amazing people when you try something different. My husband and I have met some great friends over the past few months, people I would never have met otherwise. During the Triathlon101 meeting, one of the guys warned us that most people get hooked after doing their first one, and I am getting hooked. My husband and I signed up for our next triathlon on October 4th...

What have you done lately that scares the heck out of you...but you're glad you tried it?

When was the last time you WOWed someone?

Erika Flora — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:05:00 GMT

At the recommendation of a friend, I recently read Jeffrey Gitomer's, "Little Black Book of Connections". Though not my favorite of the networking books out there, there are some good pearls of wisdom contained within. In chapter 6, Jeffrey talks about the importance of "wowing" others to make a lasting impression. He writes:

When's the last time somebody said "WOW!" to you about something you did for them, or someone else? Have you ever had "WOW" done to you? If you have, you'll never forget it.

I will never forget the day I checked into the Burbanl Hilton Hotel and found that the staff, instead of giving the traditional fruit basket, had called my office, found out I collected sports memorabilia, and placed a baseball in my room - autographed by thirty plus members of the hotel staff.

When will I throw that ball away? Answer: Never. Who will I show that ball to? Answer: Everybody. What did I say when I got that ball? I said, "WOW!" And I continue to say "WOW!" every time I retell the story.

WOWing others definitely helps you differentiate yourself in business, in your career, and in your personal life. What have you done lately to WOW a customer, colleague, or friend?

San Diego's first ever Toastmasters club for Project Managers!

Erika Flora — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Want to improve your public speaking and communication skills?
Get involved with PMI San Diego’s FIRST EVER Toastmasters Club for Project Managers!!

Meetings take place every Tuesday 6pm-7pm
Webster University – San Diego Campus
6333 Greenwich Drive, Suite 230
Below is a link with driving directions:
http://www.webster.edu/sandiego/documents/directions.pdf

Sign-up to attend the next meeting!
RSVP to outreach@pmi-sd.org with any questions.

A huge “Thank You!” to Webster University for donating the meeting room!!

Super cool site for finding Project Management jobs

Erika Flora — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:30:00 GMT

The other day, a colleague turned me onto a LinkedIn group and website for the "Project Manager Networking Group" also known as PPMNG that provides social networking opportunities specific to Project Management professionals. What's REALLY cool about the PPMNG website is that they regularly search dozens of online job sites (Monster, Dice, etc.) and post all project-related jobs in one, central place. Here is a link to the "Jobs" section of the PPMNG site.

Project Managers listed as a strong job despite the downturn

Erika Flora — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:40:00 GMT

Today I stumbled upon an article on MSN that lists Project Managers among 6 strong jobs despite the economic downturn. Check out what it says:

#6: Project Managers
Advertising agencies and Marketing departments need project managers who can ensure that projects come in on time and within budget. Those with experience managing digital projects are especially valued.

Career cues: Because these professionals often serve as a liaison between creative staff and clients, and ensure customer satisfaction, quality control and timely delivery of final products, excellent communication and multitasking abilities are a must. Diplomacy also is helpful when assisting internal and external clients with production-related questions and concerns.

Exciting news in today's uncertain times.

You can read the entire article here: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1864-Job-Info-and-Trends-6-Strong-Jobs-Despite-the-Downturn/?sc_extcmp=JS_1864_home1&SiteId=cbmsnhp41864&ArticleID=1864&gt1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=e0e486135e234f2492b3c159938dfab1-294165042-JV-5

Great books on networking!

Erika Flora — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:55:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, Pattie Vargas and I gave a presentation at National University on Networking101, and I brought some great books on networking with me. Here is a list of my favorites:

“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi
“Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty” by Harvey Mackay
“The Fine Art of Small Talk” by Debra Fine (awesome audiobook!)
“How to Become the Obvious Expert” by Elsom and Mark Eldridge
“Brand You 50” by Tom Peters

Definitely worth the read (or listen). Does anyone else have other favorite books or tapes on networking? Leave me a comment - I would love to hear from you!

Check out this fun radio feature on an upcoming "Networking101" event in San Diego!

Erika Flora — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:03:00 GMT

Pattie Vargas, project management author, speaker, and all around networking/job search expert, and I were asked to speak at National University's "Networking 101:Skills and Best Practices for Meeting Professional and Job Search" event on Friday, February 20th in San Diego. Here is a link to our recent radio feature on MyTechnologyLawyer. It was a ton of fun to put together. Lots of good information and more to come at the February event!

My very first Project Management webcast! Woo hoo! Check it out!

Erika Flora — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:25:00 GMT

A few months ago, I partnered with a training company in Carlsbad, ZBGlobal, to record my very first webinar - "How to Get Started as a Project Manager - Tips and Tricks". It's basically just a bunch of my ramblings thrown together in a cohesive manner.

Take a look, and feel free post any feedback or topic ideas you would like to see. I hope to record another session in a few weeks, and I desperately want to get better and bring value to others. Any and all feedback is much appreciated! Thanks!! Woo hoo!

Three Ways to Stand Out as a Project Manager in Today’s Economy

Erika Flora — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:32:00 GMT

With the current economic conditions, an increasing number of people are either scared of losing their jobs or desperately searching for work. Just like it’s a buyer’s market for housing, it also seems to be a buyer’s market for employers. For those that are hiring, they are able to be extremely selective in who they choose. That’s why smart Project Managers plan today for tomorrow’s “what if”. We need to be smart about managing our own career “risks” and have a mitigation plan firmly in place now. There are three simple, cheap, and super smart things you can start doing now to avoid any unneeded worry and panic if you do, in fact, find yourself looking for other career opportunities.

#1 Invest in yourself
First, make time to invest in yourself. No more excuses! If you do not currently have your PMP certification, now is the time. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. A PMP exam prep course can range from about $800 (for a PMI chapter sponsored course) to upwards of $3,000; All told, your total required investment is small compared to the rewards (significantly better pay and more visibility as a job candidate). Further if your current company pays for training, you really have no excuse – that’s a benefit you can’t afford to pass up. Nothing in life is a guarantee, and that includes the job you have today. Take the time to invest in your career now, so you do not end up having to scramble if things take a turn for the worse.

If you already have PMP certification, look into some advanced training that is complimentary to project management. There are a number of topics that employers are looking for (i.e. Six Sigma, ITIL, CMMI, etc.). There is a strong emphasis on “doing more with less” these days, and employers are looking for people that can help improve how they run as a business. Broaden your skill set and differentiate yourself by being a Project Manager that understands the world outside of just managing projects.

#2 Create a buzz
Now is the time to start to make a name for yourself! Start a course of action to position yourself as an expert in your field. One way you can start to create a buzz is to write articles on what you know. You can do this a number of ways: First, try submitting articles to your local chapter of PMI or another local professional organization. Groups like this are always looking for new content and will often be more than happy to publish your work in a newsletter or online.

Another way to get your ideas out there is to start a blog. WordPress, for example, offers free blogs that take only a few minutes to set up. You can write as often or as little as you like. Write about whatever you are passionate about, and you may be surprised at how many readers you end up with!

If you’re feeling adventurous, book a speaking engagement or two! This will provide you with credibility in your industry, and you will undoubtedly become a better speaker as a result. Plus, it’s a great way to meet influential people in your industry.

Demonstrating your communication skills, both written and verbal, is a great way to make you a better project manager and get the word out there that you are an expert in your field. Start building your reputation by putting your thoughts and ideas out there.

#3 Make a difference
If you are busy making a positive difference in this world, you will be rewarded. Volunteer your time! If you are not doing so already, get involved as a volunteer with your local PMI chapter, or work with another non-profit organization in your area. By giving of your time and talents, you will likely find you get tremendous satisfaction in mentoring others around you. You will also strengthen your own skills and maybe even pick up a few new ones. It’s also another great way to meet good people in your area. I personally know a lot of people that have found great new jobs as a result of becoming a volunteer. Make a difference in the lives of others, and your life will positively benefit as well.

Let your new year’s resolution be to take an interest in these three areas, and you will undoubtedly have an amazing 2009, both personally and professionally…regardless of the ups and downs of our economy.

Business Cards - NEVER leave home without them!

Erika Flora — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:11:00 GMT

A few years ago, I attended a professional organization's monthly dinner meeting. That month's presentation was on "Networking" by Tim Davis, and I ended up sitting next to him at dinner. We chatted a bit and he asked for one of my business cards. I said the all too common, "You know, I don't have any on me tonight". He was kind of surprised and said I should always make sure to have them with me. After dinner was over, Tim (also being a professional comedian) proceeded to get up and make fun everyone there that hadn't brought business cards with them. He did it to make a point - You should NEVER leave your house without business cards - and Tim was adamant about this. It didn't matter if you were leaving the house for a jog. The bottom line was - You just never know who you will meet when you go out each day; and if you don't give the people you meet a way to get in touch with you later on, you lose out on so many things (a possible friendship, job opportunity, client, etc.).

I have taken this lesson to heart and always make sure I have a few cards on me when I leave the house. I also try to tell everyone I meet that they HAVE to carry business cards on them at all times. Even if you're still in college, the same rules apply: NOW is the time to network, and you need business cards to do so. If you exchange business cards with the people you meet now, you will have a much easier time job finding jobs when you graduate!

If you're between jobs, you REALLY have no excuse not to have business cards on you. It's easier and more effective than carrying around copies of your resume, and it doesn't require a lot of effort. All you need are a few cards with your name, email address, and phone number (maybe even a link to your LinkedIn profile!). There are a number of online companies that can print a few hundred cards for less than $20 (Check out www.psprint.com or www.vistaprint.com).

My challenge is to you that if you have business cards, put an extra 10 or so into your purse or wallet TODAY. If you don't have cards, get some printed TODAY. Consistently practicing this tiny little habit will positively affect your life in a big way.

Ways to become a better networker!

Erika Flora — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:01:00 GMT

Stumbled upon this fun article the other day entitled, "75+ Tips on Becoming a Better Networker." Good, basic ideas to keep in mind when networking.

Microsoft Project presentation

Erika Flora — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:56:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation at Pfizer in La Jolla on, "Improving Drug Development Schedules Using Microsoft Project 2003/2007". Here is a link to the presentation (along with a photo of meeting attendees). The presentation webinar is coming soon to the PharmaLIG site!

Check out this site on "Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn"!

Erika Flora — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:03:00 GMT

Stumbled upon this great site today: http://www.linkedintelligence.com/smart-ways-to-use-linkedin/

Confessions of a LinkedIn addict

Erika Flora — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:28:00 GMT

I joined one of the Toastmasters chapters in San Diego and gave speech #2 the other day. I had a really hard time deciding what I wanted the presentation to be about (as it could be on anything) and decided to talk about one of my current addictions....LinkedIn. I have included the presentation here. As part of the speech, I discussed how you could tell if you had an addiction to LinkedIn. My symptoms are as follows:

You spend more than an hour each day on the site
You experience withdrawals when you don't get to the site for a few days
You know the exact number of connections you have (today it's 715)
You have tried every feature and regularly send feedback to LinkedIn (How else are we supposed to improve the site?)
You were mad when LinkedIn limited the number of groups to 50 (I had to get rid of a bunch. darn.)
You have purchased LinkedIn clothing (as seen above)

I also talked about how I got addicted and why I continue to be addicted. For me, it's the ability to stay in touch with coworkers and business contacts, reconnect with friends and colleagues, meet new people in my area and around the world, and both share and gain knowledge from others. LinkedIn is not only great for networking, but also for finding jobs, building your business, and much more.

Are YOU a LinkedIn addict? How many of these or other symptoms do you have? If you are not yet an addict, you will be soon. As the New York Times says, “Increasingly, if you ’re not LinkedIn, you’re left out.”

Kick-butt PMP class! Now is the time to get certified

Erika Flora — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:34:00 GMT

Last week, I started teaching PMP classes again. I really enjoy teaching this class! My students are awesome, and our new courseware is GREAT. The course walks project managers chronologically through a project, and we use templates for each of the documents throughout a project's life cycle (Things I REALLY wish I had when I first started out as a project manager). It not only gives practical context to PMBOK concepts, but the templates are incredibly useful in real life!

Why is a PMP prep course important, you ask?

Well, here's my two cents on the matter. I have found the PMBOK Guide to be a very "user un-friendly" book (lots of good information, but at the same time, a great book for insomniacs). Thus, trying to study it alone before taking the PMP exam is an extremely daunting task. The PMBOK Guide covers topics by subject or knowledge area, and this isn't always a great way to really understand how things happen sequentially. Further, the PMBOK Guide is a descriptive text, which means that it tells you generally "what" to do, but not "how" to do things during the life of a project.

A really good PMP prep course helps demystify the PMBOK Guide and puts all of the terminology you have to learn for the exam into context, which means less cramming and memorization of unfamiliar terms. A great PMP exam class also introduces you to lots of other Project Managers - their experiences and challenges, exam study tips and tricks, and much more. I tremendously enjoy talking about my experiences as a project manager during class, as well as learning from the experiences of others (how to apply concepts within the PMBOK Guide to real life, what works and what doesn't in a business environment, the differences and challenges of managing projects in different industries, etc.) Here is a link to the PMP exam prep course I teach (http://www.beyond20.com/pmp.php).

With today's economy, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take the time to get certified (whatever your profession). A little planning today can take away some of the worry of an uncertain tomorrow. Plus, you may even have find that you have FUN and meet some really cool people. I know I have.

Finding, Developing, and Leading Volunteers

Erika Flora — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:58:00 GMT

This past Saturday, I gave a presentation on the "10 Keys to Finding, Developing, and Leading Volunteers" at PMI's Leadership Institute Meeting in Denver. What a cool experience. I learned a ton from those that attended my session and, in turn, tried to present as much practical information as I could to help other volunteers and volunteer leaders be successful.

I have included the presentation along with the "Value Add Ideas" document presented during the session here. The "Value Add Ideas" document is something we created last year for the PMI Phoenix chapter that lists cool project ideas from PMI chapters and specific interest groups (SIGs) all throughout North America. If you are a volunteer for any non-profit organization, you may get some good ideas from this list. Happy reading!