Lifelong Project

What I've Been Doing Lately

Remember when you were a kid and the day zipped by while you were playing? Or when you got your first computer and you stayed up late playing with all its features? Or when you were so immersed in a book you couldn’t put it down?

That’s how my life has been lately.

It’s not that I’m playing or immersed in a good read all day as of late, I’ve just been so thrilled to crank out a serious volume of pages of the past few months. I’m putting the finishing touches on a new book on business analysis that will be out in July. And I’m wrapping up the third edition of my PMP Study Guide. It’s been so rewarding to just sink into these two titles and focus on quality, content, and fun. That’s right, fun. Business analysis and project management are pretty boring so I try to sprinkle in some fun throughout the reading to break it up, keep the reading involved, and to keep those last one hundred pages really turning.

In a week I’ll be starting another book update, the second edition of my CAPM/PMP Study Guide. What a thrill that book is too! I’m looking forward to digging in, hunkering down, and cranking out pages. There’s something so internally rewarding about typing the last period. It’s like the last puff of a good cigar or the last twenty feet of a marathon. Done is done - and I’m almost there.

One Goal Down. One Goal Launching

It was a hot and hilly run, but I finished Nashville’s Country Music Half Marathon in 2 hours and 23 minutes. There were roughly 35,000 runners and walkers in the race - though officials kept the start time staggered so the runners and walkers were spaced somewhat evenly. The course toured downtown Nashville, Music Row, wandered through some nice, old neighborhoods, and ended at LP Field. While the run was definitely tough it was a nice, fun course. The miles passed quickly thanks to the frequent water stations, crowds cheering us on, and the occasional mist of cool water.

I’m not at all disappointed with my time - it’s seven minutes faster than my Tampa Half Marathon and just five minutes slower than my Champaign-Urbana run. The big difference, however, was the course and the heat together was just brutal. Once the race was over I had a nice lunch and then napped most of the way home to Indy - I deserved it.

My next race is in just a few weeks: the Geist Half-Marathon. This is my second running of this race. I’m looking forward to this as I’ve ran most of this course several times. A chunk of the course cruises past my neighborhood. I’m looking forward to seeing the lake, my friends and neighbors, and this scenic course one last time.

And Now... A New Goal

I really need to get serious about my weight loss. I believed that cutting out the sugars, sodas, and beer from my diet and the race training would really help the pounds come off. To a certain extent these conditions have helped - I’ve dropped nearly 15 pounds since January, but I haven’t really set a measurable goal to lose weight. I’ve learned that I perform best when I have a quantifiable goal to work towards.

While I’m thrilled at the weight I’ve lost, I’m anxious as the Chicago Marathon is not that far away. If I’m going to complete the Chicago Marathon in less than five hours then I need to get serious about shedding some more pounds. This is monitoring and controlling. This is corrective action. This is how you get things done.

I need to shed 20 more pounds. I've always been a sturdy fellow, but 215 is an awful lot of weight for my legs to carry for 13.1 miles, let alone 26.2. I’m setting a new goal, a new requirement, for my Lifelong Project: starting today I’ll lose 20 pounds in 12 weeks. My deadline is July 20 and my weight will be 195. I’ll post my progress here over the next 12 weeks. Let’s see how I do.

Of course, every goal needs a feasible plan and doable actions. I’ll continue my running exercises but I’m going to be more faithful to my cross training by hitting the free weights like I’m supposed to. I’m also going to continue my healthy diet with a renewed pledge to ignore the beer, sodas, and sugars and eat right to keep my metabolism going. I’ll go back to what I know works though it’s tedious: recording what I eat and drink throughout the day. Keeping a log of my intake is an instant accountability check and it helps me stay on track.

So there you have it for now: another goal done and a new goal starting. Thanks for your comments and well-wishes. Anyone care to join me on this new requirement?

Zen and Zoom

Every Friday is Zen and Zoom picture day. Enjoy!

Vacation, Goal Status, and the Country Music Half Marathon

I’m on my way to accomplish another one of my goals for this year: Complete the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s on Saturday and I’m ready to start right now. I’ve been training, watching my diet, and completing my miles. I’m eager for a good run.

This week I’m also taking some time off. I’ve been cranking out tons of pages over the last two months. I’ve completed a new book on business analysis and am putting the finishing touches on the third edition of my Project Management Professional Study Guide. I’ve also been writing a few articles here and there, keeping on top of this blog, and leading the occasional class. It’s been a hectic few months. I need a break.

Today I’m heading to Corbin, Kentucky for a photo-hike around Cumberland Falls. I’m hopeful the rain will stay away. I’ll post my good shots on my return. On Thursday I’ll be spending a day with my parents and brothers in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  And then on Friday it’s onto Nashville for the Expo and the actual race Saturday morning. I’m ready.

Keeping Accountable

In the Life Long Project we need accountability. That’s part of the reason why I write this blog - to hold myself accountable. There are days I wonder if anyone’s there (Hello?) - and then I realize that it really doesn’t matter if I’m writing for thousands or for the ether. I’m doing this blog for one person: me. Here’s the status of my 2009 goals, year-to-date:

• Be a better dad. I like to think I’m getting better and better everyday. This is an ongoing goal.
• Be a better friend. Another goal with loose requirements… I like to think that I’m a good friend.
• Give my time. I’ve spent some time this year helping other people reach their goals, but I need to take more action to volunteer my time.
• Publish my book: The Life Long Project. Not yet. The entire manuscript is written and I’m in the process of looking for a publisher. A few, warm rejections letters, but nothing like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (121 rejections).
• Launch an online PMP Boot Camp. This is up, running, and people are enrolled.
• Sleep more. I have made myself go to bed at a decent hour, or if I stay up late writing, as I often do, I don’t rip out of bed with the sunshine. I think I’m right on target with this goal.
• Move to Florida. Details coming soon.
• Complete the Gasparilla Classic Half Marathon. Done!
• Complete the Illinois Half Marathon. Done!
• Complete the Country Music Marathon. Saturday, April 25.
• Complete the Geist Half Marathon. Saturday, May 16.
• Complete the Chicago Marathon under five hours. Sunday, October 11.
• Read 20 books. I’m well on my way; I’ve read seven good books so far.
• Tackle my finances. 2008 was not my best financial year as training took a nose dive. I’ve offset my training business with more writing than ever before. I am a writer now more than ever. Writing, however, doesn’t pay quite like training does. I’m optimistic that project management training will swing back around this year and that my updated books, classes, and online offerings will be ready for its return.
• Purchase a new car. Not yet; I’ve had my good, old car for ten years now. I really like that it still runs, it's clean, and how I’ve taken good care of it over the past decade. I also like not having a car payment; but, the thing is going on 11 years now and I just may have to start shopping soon.
• Deliver the Life Long Presentation. I am open and willing to deliver the Life Project for your group this year. Contact me and let’s make this happen. I do have some leads for a presentation in France and another in St. Petersburg, Russia for this fall. Details coming soon.
• Give up beer until after the Chicago Marathon. I have been pretty good on this objective. And by pretty good, I mean I’ve had a few beers - and yes, they were delicious. I’m grasping this goal again and avoiding the beer.
• Give up doubt. I wrestle with doubt often, but I’m starting to win the fight. I’ve been paying attention to internal dialogue, my thoughts, and my actions - and I call attention to when I’m doubting. Usually when I doubt I make myself just go ahead and take action. Doubts are thoughts that prevent us from taking action.
• Give up brussel sprouts. Yep - no problems here.
• Give up wasted time, monies, and energy. I have been a better steward of my time and monies. I don’t watch as much television, I set daily goals for myself to get work done, and pour energy into my writing, my running, and accomplishing these goals.

Thanks for the well-wishes, support, and accountability. I’ll post my race results and photos upon my return. Have a great week, I know I will!

Visit With America: Letter from Marlie Cardiff

This note came from reader Marlie Cardiff. I found it inspiring and with her permission am sharing it here:

In October 2008, I left a good job with a large federal government agency. Before doing so, however, I proposed to my then employer continuing to work with them on a virtual basis. Unfortunately, it was not in their policy to allow it. (I found this very ironic since my line of work is in distance education.) My only option was to resign in order to follow my husband to his new job in Las Vegas NV.

With the current economy, it has to be the most challenging environment in which to be looking for a job. I reached out to my business network for advise and for recommendations. Bottom line is, marketing yourself nowadays is all about how you can make yourself stand out from your "competition." So I set out some goals to make this happen. I recorded my progress in my blog, called Make Yourself Stand Out.

It has been about two months now since setting out on my new journey. I am happy to say that my actions have paid off so far. Starting out as a volunteer in the distance learning department of a large university in Las Vegas, I am now a paid worker, albeit, as a temporary employee. Hey, some money is better than no money! Go out there and make yourself stand out.

Do you have a story to share? Please send it along to me here.

Zen and Zoom

Every Friday is Zen and Zoom picture day. Enjoy!

Presenting at Geist Christian Church

What would happen if you treated your life like a project? That’s question I’ll be proposing when I present the Life Long Project workshop this Saturday, April 18, at Geist Christian Church.

This four-hour workshop explores the similarity of projects and goal setting - and how you can leverage project management basics to get what you want into and out of your life. This is a presentation I’ve delivered through the United States and Europe. It’s a thought-compelling exploration of values, beliefs, and determination of accomplishing great things.

Whenever I deliver this presentation I’m always cautious to remind myself of one thing: of all the people hearing this message I’m the person that needs the message the most. I don’t claim to be a zealot, a Zen master, or someone who knows a secret. I’m only sharing what has worked for me in hopes that it might also work for you.

You can still register for this event by contacting Courtney Richards. Call her at 842-3594, extension 491. I’d love to meet you this Saturday!

Finished What I Started

This past Saturday I ran and completed my sixth half-marathon: the Inaugural Illinois Marathon and Half Marathon in Champaign-Urbana. It was a cool, spring morning, but thankfully bright and sunny. My fellow runners were excited, friendly, and eager to get moving to warm up.

This run was especially exciting for me as it was the first race my son got to see me in. He was out of school Friday for the Easter weekend so he trekked over with me to watch the race. I helped him stake out a good place to watch the race begin - always an incredible experience. The race finished inside of the University of Illinois football stadium so he had no problem watching me completing my run. He said he was impressed at how fast I was running even at the end. It feels good to impress a teenager.

While this wasn’t my fastest time, still seven minutes too slow, it was a good, good run. It took me 2 hours and 17 minutes to finish what I started. I felt great throughout the race. The flat course wandered through downtown, a nature preserve (where I was told we were passing over the highest point in Champaign - a tiny incline), near the University campus, and then onto the field for a great finish. The volunteers at the race were excellent with water and Gatorade. And I was impressed with the crowd of people that lined the streets to cheer us for the entire race. Kudos to the Illinois Marathon and Half Marathon for a well-organized and well-planned event.

 My next race is in two weeks in Nashville, Tennessee: the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon. This course is, I’m told, considerably hilly and tougher than any I’ve completed so far. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again for all the well-wishes, thoughts, and prayers as I work towards this year’s project requirements: a return trip through the Chicago Marathon.I'm registered, the hotel is booked, and now I'm working on the legs.

What I've Been Doing Lately

 Remember when you were a kid and the day zipped by while you were playing? Or when you got your first computer and you stayed up late playing with all its features? Or when you were so immersed in a book you couldn’t put it down?

That’s how my life has been lately.

It’s not that I’m playing or immersed in a good read all day as of late, I’ve just been so thrilled to crank out a serious volume of pages of the past few months. I’m putting the finishing touches on a new book on business analysis that will be out in July. And I’m wrapping up the third edition of my PMP Study Guide. It’s been so rewarding to just sink into these two titles and focus on quality, content, and fun. That’s right, fun. Business analysis and project management are pretty boring so I try to sprinkle in some fun throughout the reading to break it up, keep the reading involved, and to keep those last one hundred pages really turning.

In a week I’ll be starting another book update, the second edition of my CAPM/PMP All-in-One Exam Guide. What a thrill that book is too! I’m looking forward to digging in, hunkering down, and cranking out pages. There’s something so internally rewarding about typing the last period. It’s like the last puff of a good cigar or the last twenty feet of a marathon.

Done is done - and I’m almost there.

Running Another Good Race

In just a few days I’ll be heading to Champaign-Urbana to complete my second half-marathon this year: The Illinois Marathon and Half-Marathon. I’ve been doing some tough training for this upcoming run and am excited to complete another race. My son will be out of school Friday so he’ll get to see his old man cross the finish line. I’ll try not to look too winded.

This race is a milestone on my trek to complete my second Chicago Marathon next October. I’ve started my training earlier this year and really watching my diet, my exercise, and my consistency. As a train I remind myself that every step, every stitch in the side, and every mile logged is part of running the marathon. Thanks for the well-wishes and support!

As a reminder, On April 18, 2009 I’ll be presenting The Lifelong Project workshop for Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis. If you’d like to create your own Lifelong Project please make plans now to attend. Don’t worry, this isn’t a preachy session and everyone is invited. This four-hour workshop will help you establish your goals, create plans, identify how to execute your plans, and look forward to closing your project. Registration is $25. Contact Courtney Richards  at 317.842.3594 ext 491 to reserve your seat.