Why I Still Got the L.O.V.E. For Project Management After A Forty-One Year Relationship

While rummaging through some old boxes a few years ago, I came across the relics in the pictures below. After only five-years on the job, I left my design engineering position with the Honeywell Information Systems Division and joined the Program Management team within the Communications Division of Motorola’s Government Electronics Group in December 1979.

I recall traveling from Phoenix to Los Angeles to spend a week participating in this Program Management training course in January 1980. Wow! 41 years ago.

You will note from the picture of the Training Certificate that in the 1980’s...Government Contracting and Pricing was an important part of a Program/Project Manager’s responsibilities. Back then…most major technology projects were within the U.S. Government and the Military.

Believe it or not, prior to 1980, at Motorola…like most government contractors at the time… the Engineering Department was tasked with the Program/Project Management responsibilities.

For those of you who were managing programs or projects during this time within Engineering Departments, you will recall the "alleged" defective pricing claims and major cost overruns associated with most major government projects. Of course, as a result, the allegations soon led to the separation of the Engineering and the Project Management responsibilities.

However, 41 years later I am still "married" to Project work.

After decades of years leading or overseeing Project work within major corporations, I now find myself an author of two published books on Project Leadership, a speaker at PMI Chapter meetings and still in L.O.V.E. with the idea of managing and leading Projects.

Someone asked me a few months ago, “Earl, what is it about Projects that have maintained your interest after all of these years”.

Well, it didn’t take me long to respond to that question. The answer is the same now as it was 41 years ago.

The L.O.V.E. I still have for Project Work is steadfast because this kind of work demands and strengthens the following combination of attributes in those who are involved in this unique discipline:

• Leadership - To be an effective Project Manager you must also be an effective Leader.
• Optimism – You must always view the “hill” as conquerable and you must maintain a level of enthusiasm strong enough to carry your team to the top.
• Valor – Without the valor or courage to “live” in matrix environments and deal with multiple “bosses,” failure is always around the corner.
• Emotional Intelligence – All managers need emotional intelligence to be effective. This means having the self-awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy and social skills needed to consistently deliver the expected results.

If you are a Program or Project Manager within any industry or organization and sometimes those around you do not understand why you are so eager to get to work...and...why you enjoy your role and responsibilities so much...let them know that...it's the L.O.V.E.

Also, if at times you need a little reminder, you can find the original 1986 version of Candi Staton's song, "You've Got the Love" HERE.

Even in 2021, knowing that I still got the L.O.V.E. keeps me going.