In my final official experiment of 2017, I went a little crazy. I pulled out all the stops! Threw caution to the wind!
I took an exam!
I decided early this year to attempt Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the Project Management Institute, which requires a bunch of training hours and a 4-hour test. My studying was going slower-than-desired, so I folded it into an experiment to accelerate the process. For 2 weeks I immersed myself deep into project management and test prep.
Podcasts. I replaced my normal queue with as many PMP-related podcasts as I could find. I landed on these three, continuing to listen to them well after the experiment.
- PM Point of View (PMI Washington, DC Chapter)
- The Project Management Podcast (OSP International)
- Scope of Success (Long Island PMI)
The Dip. After the initial excitement the first few days, I struggled to keep my energy up for continued studying. One day I completed four 1-hour study sessions. Brain fried and drooling a little, I fell into the waiting arms of Parks & Rec.
I was still behind the pace of the group, but gaining steadily. (And crying, again, over Li’l Sebastian.)
The Experiment Pays Off. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”
Before this experiment I was well behind pace on these employer-provided study sessions. After diving in the first week, I was selected as a “Top 25 Performer” in our company’s PMP prep class. This afforded me an opportunity for additional training reserved for the “top students” (cough, cough).
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
All’s Well that Ends Well: Eventually I completed the application process, scheduled the 4-hour-running-clock exam, and passed it (all while peeing twice and eating a snack – take that, running clock). Now I can call myself a PMP into infinity (well, as long as I pay annual dues) and live happily ever after.
Photo Credit: www.iamclosetgeek.com
During 2017 I conducted 10 different 2-week experiments and wrote about each one here:
Brian Chandler 