Sam the Project Manager
Okay, so writing a blog is a first for me, but what better way to share your experiences and think through tough subjects.
Last year I took a job at an app development company called Bottle Rocket (in Addison Texas) as a Project Manager. I didn’t realize when I took the job how much I was going to love being a Project Manager.
My job was to accept a project, build a team, build a project plan, execute the plan, remove blockers and to communicate with whoever the client was (external or internal).
When I started I had only a little experience in it. Sure I have worked with client before, but it is not everyday that you get on the phone with some of the biggest companies in the world (until I started working at Bottle Rocket and then I did). Never had I built a timeline, or a project plan, and never had I lead a team with some of the smartest people in the world around me. Until I did.
Not going to lie to you, it was a daunting task, to take on Bottle Rocket. Experience had shown me that I could do it (just because I believed I could), but I didn’t know how. I know this is about to sound really simple, but I starting being able to do it, by just doing it. I had never built a timeline, so I made one. Checked it against templates I could find online. Asked fellow PMs (Project Managers) for 10 minutes of their time. Done. I had never lead a team that qualified before. So I stood up in front of them and challenged them, encouraged them, made them feel important, raised expectations and gave them the tools they needed to be successful. Done. I had never sat on the phone with a client that huge, but like the other I quickly found myself managing expectation, walking through the project timeline and explaining a negative situation with a twist of positive outlook. Done.
More than anything I found out three things about myself that are way more valuable than anything else I learned at Bottle Rocket:
I am fantastic at the Pareto principle, (or the 80/20 rule) when it comes to learning, I thrive off of leading a team and I Love Project Management.
So I am hoping to share with you what I have learned. Anything I have to say about any subject. I am a quick learner due to two things: 1) I am willing to ask the questions 2) Other people are willing to help. Hopefully I can do the same for you!
Hope everyone has a great day today! Peace!