Maybe this 2012 stuff is of some interest to members of our group.  Mayans,
Hopis, even Nostradamus have some sort
of prophecy pertaining to 2012.  Just visit http://cycles.cc/2012.htm for more
on this.
thanks
anthony




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all -

If you're like me, you often find yourself forever digging up and sendingbasic
PM distinctions and concepts to PM newbies. I just found a great website to
which you can direct these newbies for this kind of info in succinct, executive
summary form:

Significant Data Systems Project Management Overview --
"...information and resources in the area of project management. The focus is on
introductions and primers. Articles seek to introduce a topic in a couple of
pages then give links to other sites and books where detailed information can be
found."

URL: 
http://www.significantdatasystems.com/ProjectManagement/ProjectManagement.html

This may be the best collection of PM overview info you will
ever find! Simple & Clean... Check it out!

Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi everyone!
I just published my 25th Inspired Project Teams podcast/blog post! Each includes
Challenges that will help you take the "big ideas" of some great philosophers
and business leaders and apply them to your project teams or to teams in
general.

Here are the most recent publications:
* Be the Change You Want to See - http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=806
* Take the Risk -- http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=779
* Practice Mindfulness -- http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=766
* Accept What Is -- http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=752
* Just Do It! -- http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=724

These are also available on iTunes. I hope you find them to be valuable!
Enjoy!
Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi everybody -

Here are some new podcasts/posts available on the Inspired Project Teams blog
(also on iTunes). All include Challenges (guided questions & suggestions for
applying the concepts) that project managers, coaches and team leaders can use
with their teams. Each post also has many links to other resources for further
study. 
URL:  http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/

* Practice Mindfulness [22 min.]

Focus: It is, in the words of Jon Kabat-Zinn, “paying attention, on purpose,
to the present moment, without judgment.” This is mindfulness.  What’s in
it for you, as a project manager or creative project team member? Better
decisions. Clearer distinctions and analyses. More powerful judgments. Less
stress.  Includes links to many other resources as well as links to free audios
of guided meditations.

* Accept What Is [17 min]

Focus:   ... to make clear-eyed, effective decisions about this moment you
must stop struggling against reality and stop wasting energy wishing things
weren’t so. Only then will you make the best choices and have the strength to
carry out these choices.

* Trust Your Judgment [15 min]

Focus:   To achieve anything great you must trust that voice which lies deep
within you and is trying to be heard.... Whether you call it a “hunch,” an
“intuition,” a “gut feeling,” or simply the unspoken nudging of your
heart, you’re talking about pretty much the same thing: that inner voice of
wisdom that we all possess, but we all too often stifle. [Includes the amazing
"Kitchen Strainer" analogy!!]  Practical examples and specific Challenges
included.

I hope you find these to be valuable!

Mike

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Manik -
FYI: One of the main functions of a PMO is to establish and manage a porfolio of
the organization's projects. In this regard, I've provided an overview and a
bunch of links that might help you answer many of your questions in this article
at my website titled: "What's Project Portfolio Management (PPM) & Why Should
Project Managers Care About It?" It includes links to "case study" articles
profiling IT and other operations who are applying the concepts. The article is
at: http://www.michaelgreer.com/ppm.htm

Also, check out a related post titled: "Too Many Projects? Prioritize Them!" It
includes a sample grid you can use as a springboard for setting up your own
project prioritization approach. It's at:
http://www.michaelgreer.com/prioritization.htm

I hope this helps!
Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops.
* Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com
* Inspired Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.
* The Best Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer

--- In PM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, manik sanadi <maniksanadi@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>  
> Recently I have been made incharge to set up PMO office in IT division of a
financial services company. Senior management has asked to identify some
critical projects and start & show how PMO can be beneficial.
>  
> Would appreciate your suggestions, some refernce material and most importantly
some of your key learnings if any which can either make it more effective or can
alert me to be aware of certain pitfalls.
>  
> Thanks a lot in advance,
> MGS
>
>
>
>       Connect with friends all over the world. Get Yahoo! India Messenger at
http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/?wm=n/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi all - Just published the following new free podcast (or text post) on
Inspired Project Teams blog:
* Trust Your Judgment - http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=691
Includes powerful quotes, practical examples, and team Challenges. Also
available on iTunes. Have a great weekend!
Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear All,
 
Recently I have been made incharge to set up PMO office in IT division of a
financial services company. Senior management has asked to identify some
critical projects and start & show how PMO can be beneficial.
 
Would appreciate your suggestions, some refernce material and most importantly
some of your key learnings if any which can either make it more effective or can
alert me to be aware of certain pitfalls.
 
Thanks a lot in advance,
MGS



       Connect with friends all over the world. Get Yahoo! India Messenger at
http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/?wm=n/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

See 10 different options:

Getting Data From Microsoft Project to Excel


   <http://www.pmconnection.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=57>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all! Join us online at the new eduFire live video training platform for this
free class:
5 Strategies To Create More Inspired Project Teams (Tuesdays, April 7 & 21)
URL:  http://edufire.com/classes/1353

Here's a list of all my upcoming classes at eduFire:
http://edufire.com/search?q=Michael+Greer&commit=Go!

Fellow trainers: Whether you go to one of my classes or not, you really ought to
check out eduFire. ( http://edufire.com
) It's is a fun, powerful, and easy-to-use live video training platform
and it's FREE for you to use. (I'm not compensated in any way for this
opinion. I just think these guys are revolutionizing online training!)

Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all - Just published the following new free podcasts (or text posts) on
Inspired Project Teams blog:
* Do What You Fear & Grow Stronger - http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=645
* Act As If -- http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=666

Each includes powerful quotes, practical examples, and team Challenges. Also
available on iTunes. Have an inspired week!

Mike

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I’m pleased to announce that my Inspired Project Teams blog is now
available in podcast form at iTunes! To date, there are 16 episodes
posted. Go to:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=307055288

Also, I'm teaching the following FREE live video class on eduFire on Tuesday,
Mar 24:
* 5 Strategies To Create More Inspired Project Teams

-- This is a new direction for me... I know, the touchy-feely stuff isn't
exactly in character. Then again, we all gotta grow, right?
-- It's
absolutely FREE... So there's no risk except your time!
-- URL: http://edufire.com/classes/1045


Finally, I'm teaching the following paid class on eduFire on Friday, Mar 20:
* Intro to Project Management: 10 Key Actions to Assure Project Success
--
This is the nuts & bolts basics of PM for absolute newbies... lots of practical
tools and
handouts from my book, The Project Manager's Partner
-- URL: http://edufire.com/classes/1044


Best wishes!
Mike

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you so much for the kind words, Bob! And I'll both pray for your
quick recovery and visualize healing light coming your way! Hope you
recover soon.
Mike

--- In PM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, Tyla Veris <bobveris@...> wrote:
>
> Dear  MIke,
>  
> Just a quick note from the Lahey Clinic Hosp [after latest cancer
procedure] to thank you for perhps the finest email received in quite
some time!  ... If I'm able, I still hope to finally launch
the PMcommunity.org bes.  [Wish me luck.]
>  
> Thanks again,
> Bob
>  
> Bob Pierce, Director
> Projects Planning & Procurement
> Commonwealth of Massachusetts
> EOHHS, MIS Group, 3rd Floor
> Boston, Massachusetts 02111
> [target return date 4-15-2009]
>  
>  
>  
>  
> --- On Thu, 1/29/09, Michael Greer <projmgtguy@...> wrote:
>
> From: Michael Greer <projmgtguy@...>
> Subject: [PM-Talk] Free 170 Pg Ebook Reviews Best Free Business &
Professional Training
> To: "PM-Talk" <pm-talk@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 1:10 PM
>
> Enough is enough! Given the miserable job market, I figure there are a
> lot of people out there looking to retool themselves & their skills
> or perspectives. So I've decided to make The Best Free Training's First
> Annual Business & Professional Collection e-book (PDF) available as
> a free download. It contains 75 reviews and articles (over 170 pages)
> focusing on free training and educational resources for business &
> professional people. Reviews include "hot links" that you can click to
> go directly to the resource's website. The categories in this
> collection include:
> * Basic Skills & Business Knowledge - 24 reviews
> * Writing & Languages - 7
> * Basic Computer Skills - 11
> * Research Tools & Skills - 10
> * Broaden Your Perspective - 23
> * Total Number of Reviews: 75 !!
>
> Get it at this
>  URL:
> http://www.bestfreetraining.net/?p=675
>
> And feel free to send this ebook to anyone you want! I just hope it
can help
> someone.
> Best wishes!
> Mike G.
>
> Michael Greer
> Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM
> workshops. * Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at
> www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired Project Teams -
www.inspiredprojectteams.com for
> PM wisdom & heart.* The Best Free Training, at
> www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
> * LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
> * Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
> * Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: PM-Talk@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    PM-Talk-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  PM-Talk-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   PM-Talk-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/PM-TalkYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Dear  MIke,
 
Just a quick note from the Lahey Clinic Hosp [after latest cancer procedure] to
thank you for perhps the finest email received in quite some time!  I always
knew you were a class act and the free ebook is just the latest example.
 
It's always a pleasure finding project good guys who are willing to add value
w/o looking for a return.  To me, this is the essence of netweaving which our
small group strongly embraces. If I'm able, I still hope to finally launch
the PMcommunity.org bes.  [Wish me luck.]
 
Thanks again,
Bob
 
Bob Pierce, Director
Projects Planning & Procurement
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
EOHHS, MIS Group, 3rd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
[target return date 4-15-2009]
 
 
 
 
--- On Thu, 1/29/09, Michael Greer <projmgtguy@...> wrote:

From: Michael Greer <projmgtguy@...>
Subject: [PM-Talk] Free 170 Pg Ebook Reviews Best Free Business & Professional
Training
To: "PM-Talk" <pm-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 1:10 PM

Enough is enough! Given the miserable job market, I figure there are a
lot of people out there looking to retool themselves & their skills
or perspectives. So I've decided to make The Best Free Training’s First
Annual Business & Professional Collection e-book (PDF) available as
a free download. It contains 75 reviews and articles (over 170 pages)
focusing on free training and educational resources for business &
professional people. Reviews include “hot links” that you can click to
go directly to the resource’s website. The categories in this
collection include:
* Basic Skills & Business Knowledge - 24 reviews
* Writing & Languages - 7
* Basic Computer Skills - 11
* Research Tools & Skills - 10
* Broaden Your Perspective - 23
* Total Number of Reviews: 75 !!

Get it at this
  URL:
http://www.bestfreetraining.net/?p=675

And feel free to send this ebook to anyone you want! I just hope it can help
someone.
Best wishes!
Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM
workshops. * Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at
www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for
PM wisdom & heart.* The Best Free Training, at
www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


------------------------------------

Community email addresses:
   Post message: PM-Talk@onelist.com
   Subscribe:    PM-Talk-subscribe@onelist.com
   Unsubscribe:  PM-Talk-unsubscribe@onelist.com
   List owner:   PM-Talk-owner@onelist.com

Shortcut URL to this page:
   http://www.onelist.com/community/PM-TalkYahoo! Groups Links








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Enough is enough! Given the miserable job market, I figure there are a
lot of people out there looking to retool themselves & their skills
or perspectives. So I've decided to make The Best Free Training’s First
Annual Business & Professional Collection e-book (PDF) available as
a free download. It contains 75 reviews and articles (over 170 pages)
focusing on free training and educational resources for business &
professional people. Reviews include “hot links” that you can click to
go directly to the resource’s website. The categories in this
collection include:
* Basic Skills & Business Knowledge - 24 reviews
* Writing & Languages - 7
* Basic Computer Skills - 11
* Research Tools & Skills - 10
* Broaden Your Perspective - 23
* Total Number of Reviews: 75 !!

Get it at this
  URL:
http://www.bestfreetraining.net/?p=675

And feel free to send this ebook to anyone you want! I just hope it can help
someone.
Best wishes!
Mike G.

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/michael_greer





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm pleased to announce the release of my first 4 of 12 Inspired Project Teams
posts to be made available in MP3 (audio podcast) versions. My goal is
to release all 12 of my previous online text posts as audios in the
near future. After these are released, all further Inspired Project
Teams posts will be released in both audio and online text form.

Each audio will contain the same content as the printed posts, namely:
* Quotations that might inspire project managers or project team members.
* Reflections to think about… as project manager or project leader.
* Team Challenges – Questions and suggestions to challenge your teams to grow.
* Project Manager Challenges – Specific actions for project managers or team
leaders.

Here are the 1st four titles:
* Celebrate the Chaos Within [Time - 5:41, File Size - 5.3 MB]
* Let Go of
  Perfectionism [Time - 7:49, File Size - 7.3 MB]
* Embrace the Work Itself [Time - 4:08, File Size - 3.8 MB]
* Train Yourself to be Happier [Time - 8:40, File Size - 8.1 MB]

URL:  http://www.inspiredprojectteams.com/?p=319

Enjoy! (And feedback is welcomed! I am new at this podcasting stuff!)

Mike

Michael Greer
Author, The Project Manager's Partner & PM Basics customized PM workshops. *
Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com* Inspired
Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best
Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.
* LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/greerspmresources
* Facebook Profile: http://profile.to/michael_greer




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I you would like a listing of the Top 5 most visited items from each category
within our PM Connection Research Center
<http://www.pmconnection.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links> for 2008, please email
me at:
weller34@...
and ask for the list.  If you missed any previous newsletters, this is a great
way to catch
up!!

P.S. -- And here is the top 5 of 2007
<http://www.pmconnection.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=41>

Mike,

My favorite quote is one I found in US News and World Report a very long
time ago.  It was in an article called something like "What the Military
can teach us about Leadership".  The quote was attributed to a Major
Stephen Davis - US Marine Corp.  I liked it so much I called it "Project
Managment in 10 Seconds".  It goes like this:

1. Concentrate on doing a single task as simply as you can
2. Execute it flawlessly
3. Take care of your people
4. Go home

If you think of the implications of these statements you'll get the
idea.  I now have it hanging in a frame wherever I work.

Happy Holidays to all you PM-Talkers!

et


E. Travis, PMP

--- In PM-Talk@yahoogroups.com, Michael Greer <projmgtguy@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all -
> I'm looking for great quotes that can inspire project teams or project
managers who are trying to lead teams.  Does anyone have any
favorites... powerful inspirational thoughts to get people through tough
projects?
> Thanks!
> Mike G.
>
> Michael Greer
> * Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com
> * Inspired Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom
& heart.* The Best Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great
free training.
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all -
I'm looking for great quotes that can inspire project teams or project managers
who are trying to lead teams.  Does anyone have any favorites... powerful
inspirational thoughts to get people through tough projects?
Thanks!
Mike G.

Michael Greer
* Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at www.michaelgreer.com
* Inspired Project Teams - www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.*
The Best Free Training, at www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi folks! For many of us, the holidays are about family and craziness... So I
thought it would be a good time to share these free ebooks. There are 2
PDF/Acrobat files... One can help the kids find free, challenging, & interesting
stuff and one can help the grown-ups deal with the family stresses.

Happy Holidays!

1. The First Annual Kids Stuff Collection - 62 reviews and articles (more than
140 pages!) focusing on free training and educational resources for kids of all
ages, from pre-school through college. Reviews include “hot links” to each
resource’s website.

2. The First Annual Mental & Spiritual Health Collection - Holidays make you
crazy? Try this: 40 pages of reviews of items that can help
  improve your
mental and spiritual health. (”Spiritual” is used here in the broadest
possible sense; no religious perspectives are advocated.)

Get these FREE DOWNLOADS AT:
http://www.bestfreetraining.net/?p=476

And pass this on to anyone who you think might like it!

Happy Holidays!
Mike

Michael Greer
(530) 688-6613 [24 hr voice mail & fax]
Author of The Project Manager's Partner and creator/presenter of on-site,
customized PM workshops. * Michael Greer's Project Management Resources at
www.michaelgreer.com for freebies and links. * Inspired Project Teams -
www.inspiredprojectteams.com for PM wisdom & heart.* The Best Free Training, at
www.bestfreetraining.net/ for great free training.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all -

As a PM trainer and consultant, I'm finding that these days most of my client
organizations are under tremendous stress. And project teams that are mentally
and spiritually miserable simply can't do their best! So, I thought it might be
valuable to share some "mental health" oriented stuff I've been discovering in
my part-time-hobby blog, The Best Free Training.

I've put together a free PDF book, The First Annual Mental & Spiritual Health
Collection, that
includes over 40 pages of reviews of free training & education
items that can help improve your mental and spiritual health. Go to:
http://www.bestfreetraining.net/annual-pdfs/friends&family-freebie.html

If you like it, feel free to forward the link to someone you care about. There's
a bunch of good, free stuff in here that might inspire your project teams in
some way.

Also, my colleague Brian Johnson
is celebrating the holidays by giving away subscriptions to his
PhilosophersNotes collection -- no strings attached. When you
subscribe, you can then, in turn, give away an unlimited number of
subscriptions to those you care about. In this collection (39
PhilosophersNotes, including 13 Hours of MP3/iPod Downloads & 200
PDF pages) you'll get Cliff Notes-like summaries of works by Stephen Covey,
Ghandi, Emerson, Wayne Dyer, Deepak
Chopra, Viktor Frankl, Byron Katie, Eckhart Tolle, Martin Seligman, Rumi, Marcus
Aurelius, and many more.

This is great stuff for trainers, team coaches, or anyone trying to keep in a
positive frame of mind! Download and listen on your iPod or MP3 player while
driving to work, exercising, or waiting in line and get inspired and a little
wiser!  To subscribe for free, go to:
http://philosophersnotes.com/bestfreetraining

(To see what's in the entire collection, click on "Titles" in the main
subscription screen.)

I know it may seem like this stuff is a long way from the usual PM nuts & bolts
we talk  about, but the pressure-induced misery I'm finding out there in the PM
world might just require a response that incorporates a little broader
perspective. So check this stuff out and see if it might be able to ease some of
the pain.

Mike G.

Michael Greer
(530) 688-6613 [24 hr voice mail & fax]
Author of The  Project Manager's Partner and creator/presenter of on-site,
customized PM  workshops. Visit Michael Greer's Project Management Resources  at
http://www.michaelgreer.com for freebies and links. And visit  my blog, The Best
Free Training, at http://www.bestfreetraining.net/ 




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

PM Audio
<http://www.pmconnection.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=21\
>   is a collection of over 400 free audio files (MP3's, Podcasts)
dealing with Project Management.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lakshmi,

Thank you for your offer. Should I write an article not to be published
elsewhere or listed on my web I will submit. Normally I retain
copyright with full use rights for my articles and I publish them on my
web and many other locations. What I will do is distribute this email
thread to our PMI chapter discussion group and a couple of other groups
(BCC), you may find someone who wishes to submit for publication under
your conditions. Good luck and thank you again for the opportunity and
discourse.

Darrel Raynor

   _____

From: Narayana [mailto:projprofits@...]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 4:41 AM
To: 'Darrel Raynor'
Subject: RE: Invitation -- Icfai University Press



Dear Sir,



Thank you for your mail.



Regarding your queries,



1.Any contribution to us for consideration of publication should be
original work, should not be published anywhere else or not be under
consideration for future publication anywhere else, and should have due
acknowledgements.



2. We  do not pay for the authors and contributions are voluntary
based. However, we provide two complimentary copies in return to each
contribution.



3. Online issue of the magazine is available at
http://www.iupindia.org/projects.asp

Complete version is subscription based. You may view abstracts and
table of content.



4. we do publish a brief author info. (around 100 words).



5. We will be interested in publishing series of articles provided they
are original (unpublished/sited) articles.



6. Since the said article has been already published/sited on your
website (www.DataAnalysis.com <http://www.dataanalysis.com/> ), we
regret that we may not be able to publish.



Kindly, find the attached sample article for your perusal.



Looking forward to hear from you.



With Regards,

Lakshmi Narayana



From: Darrel Raynor [mailto:DARaynor@...]
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:14 PM
To: 'Narayana'
Subject: RE: Invitation -- Icfai University Press



Lakshmi,



Thank you for your inquiry. A couple of questions.



*       Do the submissions have to be previously unpublished in a
physical periodical or never have been distributed in any form?

*       What is the payment and timing of payment?

*       Is the periodical available online?

*       Will you print full contact information?

*       I am planning a series of 14-18 columns addressing many topics
in modern PM. Is this of interest?

*       Would you consider using my paper cited below as-is with
contact and other branding information?



Thank you,

Regards,

Darrel A. Raynor, PMP, CCP, MBA


Managing Director, Data Analysis & Results, Inc.

Program Director, Project Management & Business Analysis Programs

      - St. Edward's University Professional Education Center

      - Alphaware Training Centers


Founder, Austin PMO Roundtable with the ATC


512-968-0770   www.DataAnalysis.com <http://www.dataanalysis.com/>
DARaynor@...


Increasing your Project and Operations Productivity worldwide



Click to subscribe to The Project Management AdvisorT column
www.DataAnalysis.com <http://www.dataanalysis.com/>

Referrals Greatly Appreciated!

_________________________________________________



NOTE: The information transmitted is intended only for the person or
entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential material.
If you received this in error, please contact the sender and destroy
all copies of this document.

   _____

From: Narayana [mailto:projprofits@...]
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 5:19 AM
To: DARaynor@...
Subject: Invitation -- Icfai University Press



To,

Mr. Darrel A. Raynor, PMP, CCP

DARaynor@...

Data Analysis & Results, Inc.



Dear Sir,



I am Lakshmi Narayana working as Research Associate with the Icfai
University Press (IUP), a constituent of India's premier academic
organization, Icfai University. Icfai University Press publishes wide
range of magazines and journals.



It gives me immense pleasure to invite you to contribute your views in
the form of articles in one of our magazines, "Projects and Profits."
The magazine offers cutting-edge articles on contemporary issues in the
field of project management. It also provides PM professionals a
platform to share their knowledge and experiences with others in the
field of project management. In the past, several eminent PM experts
from India as well as abroad have contributed articles in the magazine.




We came across your presentation, "Reducing the Document and Process
Load in Project Management."  The presentation is really insightful and
we strongly feel that this kind of contributions can add immense value
to our magazine. In this context, we invite you to contribute an
article on project management. You can pick up any topic related to
project management to share your valuable insights and views.



Your articles may be mailed to lakshminarayana.kari@...
<mailto:lakshminarayana.kari@...>  or projprofits@...



We look forward to your contribution. A word of confirmation would be
highly appreciated.



With Best Regards,



Mr. Lakshmi Narayana Kari

  Research Associate,

Icfai University Press,

6-3-354/1.Stellar Sphinx,

Road no.1, Banjarahills,

Panjagutta, Hyderabad-500 082

India

Tel - +91-40-23430448-51

Fax - +91-40-23430447

www.iupindia.org

projprofits@...



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi everybody
I new to the group I just got job for web project manager and I'm looking
for ms office template for develope web site and I need some resources or
tutorial for the same reason

thanks
Bassam


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fred,

Well said!  For senior project folks, software wasn't an important part of the
PM process before the 1980s...if at all!  (Henry Gantt was dead over 50 years
before his task bars & milestone markers could finally be automated.)

A quick historical perspective: PC's didn't appear until the early 1980s.
Happily, they were a terrific augment/complement to organizing historical events
& records and, to a lesser extent, to get a grasp on project financing.  Who can
forget how great VisiCalc really was (forerunner of Lotus 123)?  It wasn't until
the mid-1980 (after 123 really caught on) that PMs could finally start tracking
larger projects with respectable near-term accuracy--but little to do with the
future. Typically, they could only point to the obvious: projects were way
behind and money was rapidly running out.  As alarming as they were, the
earliest Chaos Reports were correct!  This said, pro formas started to rule the
day--and it didn't take long for cash flow lending to appear. Soon banks,
business advisors and deal makers figured out how to manipulate the system
(showing greater growth and leverage that could yield phenomenal returns).

Naturally, what goes up...came down with a thud as we entered the 1990s.  Banks
went bankrupt and the economy tanked.  Toward the middle of the decade the
Internet arrived, quietly at first.  By the late 1990s, the market was
rebounding nicely with technology driving the bus.  MS Project appeared and
despite its early raves, old-timers--busy running projects--were somewhat slow
to embrace the tool.  In part, we were too busy converting from 123 to Excel,
and barely had time to experiment with the glut of software flooding the market.
(Personally, I looked at Primavera before electing to go with Project Workbench
(Niku bought them later).  And, since timing was/is everything, the then
impending "Y2K-disaster" swallowed up incredible an amount of time and IT
resources.  Shortly thereafter, the dot.com bubble burst.  And, the rest as they
say, it history.

Sorry for the history lesson.  Your point about brainware vs. software really
can't be understated.  I'd be willing to bet that more than half of today's
(younger) PMs rely on MS Project to get what they believe is a "jump start" on
any new project ... even before requirements are fully known/scoped.  (And, 80%
of these probably use templates, don't they?!)  As Mike Greer and most other
seasoned vets will tell you, this can be deadly! It's also the reason why, going
on 100 years, Henry Gantt is still rolling over in his grave.

If a PM has to use software--because company culture dictates it, do yourself a
huge favor, start with a product like MindManager.  It can stimulate "brainware"
before the fact--when it really matters most.

Bob Veris, Director
PM Community.org



----- Original Message ----
From: Fred Nickols <nickols@...>
To: PM-Talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 7, 2008 9:10:01 AM
Subject: [PM-Talk] Software vs Brainware


Over the years I've managed many projects, ranging from small,
one-person operations for a few thousand dollars to large team efforts
costing millions.  Not once in all those years did I make use of any
project management software, mostly because it wasn't available for
many of those years.  Even when PM software became available, I did
not use it.  It seemed to me that too many projects bogged down in
what I call "management overhead" (i.e., reports, schedules, and other
administrivia) .  I've always thought that, in far too many cases,
software (PM or otherwise) substitutes for "brainware."  In other
words, reliance on software takes the place of thinking, communicating
and actually staying on top of things.  I'm curious, do others see
software as substituting for brainware?  Does reliance on software put
on a good show but not really make a significant difference in project
performance?  More important, perhaps, how do you really stay on top
of things?

Regards,

Fred Nickols
Managing Partner
Distance Consulting, LLC
nickols@att. net
www.nickols. us

"Assistance at a Distance"






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dears,
     I am Rachana from Kerala, working in computer training institute.
My dear cyber friends, if you intrest to see a virtual tour to my
beautiful native country and small ayurvedic township known as
Kottakkal please click here www.kottakkal.net to visit our new
web site. Please dont forget to sent your comments to
kottakkalnet@...
                                         Thanking You, Rachana

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fred, this is a great topic for discussion! And you're right-on about the
administrative overhead of PM software and its potential as a substitution for
thought.

Over the years, I've had a lot of "first contacts" with people seeking PM
workshops that go like this:
Prospect: "We need MS Project training."
Me: "What makes you think so?"
Prospect: "Our projects are all screwed up! We're always running over budget and
behind in our schedules. And people are frequently frustrated."
Me: "Hmmm... So let's think about this analogy: Your company's annual reports
are sloppy and hard-to-read and sometimes contain inaccurate projections. So
what you need is a good desktop publishing package maybe? To make them
prettier?"

The point: In the analogy, what is
  needed is better research and writing
  skills. THEN, when you get content that is trustworthy and worth publishing,
you make it pretty and well-organized as a final document by using desktop
publishing software.

PM software is similar to desktop publishing software in this regard: It is a
means of effectively (even beautifully!) organizing and displaying a project's
details: Allotted people and other resources, deliverables, time, milestones,
task relationships, and so on. In fact, I think the main two benefits of PM
software are:
* Selling the project (Wow! Look at all these charts & graphs! This looks like
they got our act together! I TRUST them!"
* Coordinating (communicating) key elements of the project by making their
relationships immediately comprehensible and easy to grasp.

The bad news, however, is this: PM software (and particularly outputs such as
lovely colored charts and graphs and detailed tables) has the ability to make
the most ill-conceived,
  bone-headed project plans look great! People who would
  otherwise argue your strategy if you presented them with rough notes on a flip
chart will simply accept what you tell them as well-designed strategy when its
depicted in a beautifully detailed chart and set of subtasks.

In my Project Management Basics class, we work in small teams to work though
exercises brainstorming project deliverables, project tasks, etc. The object of
the game is to create a "high resolution" project plan that everyone can
visualize and support.

Every once in a while, someone on one of these teams wants to "capture" their
teams' thoughts in MS Project during these exercises, so they whip out their
laptop. In contrast, the other teams in the room are using flip charts with
markers and yellow stickies, pasting stuff on the walls, etc. I've found that
the loose, free-wheeling nature of people working with flip charts, markers and
stickies stimulates creativity and encourages participation by everyone. In
short, this is "brainware" at work! This contrasts sharply with the PC-based
teams who are focusing on PM Software fields, document formatting, squinting to
see the screen, and figuring out how to get he ideas squeezed into a form that
the MS Project will accept.

My bottom line: When I plan a project, I don't crank up the PM software until
I've allowed the team time to argue, doodle, scribble, slop-up flip chart pages,
and paste stickies all over the place. Then I use the software to capture and
display the resulting best ideas. In this way we create a more meaningful
"shared vision" that everyone helped create and "owns."

One final thought: One of MS Project's strong points related to "doing the work"
is that you can easily create weekly schedules, sub-schedules targeting
particular team members, schedules focusing on only one deliverable, and so on.
On big, complex projects, this really helps me keep everyone "on the same page."
I have the master schedule (all tasks) and they have sub-schedules that focus
them on their specific tasks and hand-off points.

One FINAL final thought: If you want to learn to use MS Project, DON'T take a
class! Instead, get one of the $30 "MS Project: Step-by-Step..." books from
Microsoft Press. These are really quite well-designed, self-study training,
complete with disk-based exercises. And, unlike participating in a class full of
students, when you use the book you may go at your own pace and repeat or skip
modules as you see fit. It's the only training I ever had for MS Project before
I immediately went to work building a client's MS Project-based website! It's
good stuff!

Mike G.

Michael Greer
(530) 688-6613 [24 hr voice mail & fax]
Author of
The Project Manager's Partner and creator/presenter of on-site, customized PM
workshops. Visit Michael Greer's Project Management Resources
at http://www.michaelgreer.com for freebies and links. And visit
my fun blog, The Best Free Training, at http://www.bestfreetraining.net/





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Over the years I've managed many projects, ranging from small,
one-person operations for a few thousand dollars to large team efforts
costing millions.  Not once in all those years did I make use of any
project management software, mostly because it wasn't available for
many of those years.  Even when PM software became available, I did
not use it.  It seemed to me that too many projects bogged down in
what I call "management overhead" (i.e., reports, schedules, and other
administrivia).  I've always thought that, in far too many cases,
software (PM or otherwise) substitutes for "brainware."  In other
words, reliance on software takes the place of thinking, communicating
and actually staying on top of things.  I'm curious, do others see
software as substituting for brainware?  Does reliance on software put
on a good show but not really make a significant difference in project
performance?  More important, perhaps, how do you really stay on top
of things?

Regards,

Fred Nickols
Managing Partner
Distance Consulting, LLC
nickols@...
www.nickols.us

"Assistance at a Distance"

This forum is all but dead.  Probably need to find another one that
has activity.


On Aug 13, 2008, at 5:10 PM, mgillis999 wrote:

Hi, i'm a pmp in search of pm opportunities. really interested in
gaining additional expertise in oracle or other erp implementations;
any suggestions re: specs that require extensive IT and/or
implementation experience? thanks for the help.






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi, i'm a pmp in search of pm opportunities.  really interested in
gaining additional expertise in oracle or other erp implementations;
any suggestions re: specs that require extensive IT and/or
implementation experience?  thanks for the help.

Dears,
     I am Rajana from Kerala, working in computer training institute.  Please
click here to see my ayurvedic
township and Bus station.Please dont forget to sent your comments to
kottakkalnet@...
                                         Thanking You, Rajana

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]