Will Any Road Get You There?

"If You Don't Know Where You're Going, Any Road Will Get You There." --The Cheshire Cat, Alice In Wonderland

But you know where you're going and this strategy will help to get you there.

Greetings PMP candidates! I hope that you’ve taken the first step towards earning the PMP certification.  Specifically I’m referring to a written plan.  The benefits of committing your study plan to a written document are so significant it is critical that you do so as soon as possible. Consider a few of the benefits of a written study plan:

1.   A written plan provides clarity. Writing down your plan forces you to think about how, when and where you will study for the PMP certification exam.

2.   It will motivate you to take action. Articulating your intention is important, but it is not enough. Writing down your plan and reviewing it regularly encourages you to take the next step.

3.   A written plan will help you overcome disruptions (PMBOK constraints). Every meaningful project or goal encounters disruption(s). From the moment you commit your plan to paper, you will begin to experience disruptions. I often describe this phenomenon as “life getting in the way”. If you focus on the disruption, it will only get stronger. The way to overcome it is to focus on the goal…PMP certification.

4.   It will enable you to track your progress. As you reach milestones (do you remember that term) you will be able to see how far you have come and how far you need to go. And don’t forget, a written plan provides opportunities to celebrate along the way toward attaining your goal, PMP certification. 

Okay, I know what you are thinking…why be so formal.  I have a plan “in my head”.  Ask yourself one question, would you manage an important project on the job using a plan that’s only “in your head”.  The obvious answer is NO! This plan is for an important project that will impact your career. It deserves the same if not MORE attention than a project on your job.

An example of a written plan schedule is in the Joseph Phillips Book - ALL-IN-ONE CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification Page 12.  Use it as a template, a starting point and create a plan that works for you. Remember that you need to commit to a designated time and location as well. So get busy and put pen to paper and don't stop until you have a plan.

I welcome you comments.

Ed Green, PMP

PS – Don’t forget to incorporate time to apply for the exam into your plan.