Thursday, November 5, 2009

Four Dimensions of EI

There are four dimensions of Emotional Intelligence. First two fell in the category of Personal Competence as Self-awareness and Self-management. Remaining two, Social awareness and Relationship management, fell in Social Competence. These are nothing but the new Leadership competencies as described by Goleman.

Self-Awareness:
It is ones’ understanding about his/her emotions, strength, limitations as well as values and motives. People with strong self-awareness are realistic. Normally these people reflect quietly rather than acting impulsively. Emotional awareness, accurate self assessment and self-confidence constitute self-awareness.

Self-Management:
One should control the emotions. Most of the times, emotions control us. That will be fine for positive emotions like enthusiasm or pleasure of meeting a challenge. But keeping disruptive (negative) emotions and impulses under control is the key to self management. Importantly, self-management enables transparency – openness to others about feelings, beliefs. Other aspects of self-management include adaptability, initiative and optimism.

Social Awareness:
In simple words, it is called Empathy which is nothing but sensing others’ emotions, understanding their perspective, and taking interest in their concerns.
In the growing global economy, empathy is a critical skill for both, getting along with diverse workmates and doing business with people from other cultures.
Social awareness is the most easily recognized dimension of EI.

Relationship Management:
This is the final EI ability and is a mixture of above three. Managing relations skillfully boils down to handling other people’s emotions. Relationship management is nothing but friendliness with a purpose: moving people in the right direction. Teamwork, collaboration and conflict management are the key parts of relationship management.

In short, these EI competencies are not innate talents, but learned abilities, and hence more effective.

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP
-------
I had a training on EI in last month. I got my EI profile during the same.
It will look like this.

Friday, October 30, 2009

5 Free PDU - Urgent notice

A course worth 5 PDU is available for FREE.
Last date for getting it is 31st October 2009.. So you need to act quickly to grab this offer.
I got 5 PDUs with this course.
Details:
Go to http://www.prodevia.com/
Check this link at bottom left side.
Course:- Project Search and Rescue
After completion, visit the home page again and go to Course Completion Tab
Complete the course evaluation form to get the PDUs.
You can contact registrar@prodevia.com or info@prodevia.com.

This free course will apply the wilderness search and rescue body of knowledge that is used to help rescue people lost in the woods to the troubled project environment. Based on various wilderness survival resources as well as a detailed analysis into lost person behavioral characteristics this course helps you to identify lost projects before they get too far off the path. This course provides a robust process for interviewing project team-members and assessing the probability that the project effort is lost and requires intervention.

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Dump your brain

Don't take it word by word. I don't want to drain your brain. This is a simple trick to be used during your PMP exam. This small technique is called "Brain dump".
You are through to your study, remembered all the formulaes, short cuts, ITTOs, process groups and what nots. Still there will a question back in your mind.. will I remember all these till the end of my exam? Will I be able recollect it during exam time? Such questions will make you nervous and any kind of such feelings is not good... at least before the start of the exam. Let your brain take the control of your body and not the heart.

Remedy
Do practise to write whatever you have remembered on a piece of paper. prepare your own dump sheet. Don't borrow it from others 'cause whatever you feel important may not be the case with other. Note the time required to do the same. Do it 3-4 times to make it perfect.

Before the start of the exam, you will be guided by a tutorial of 15 mins time. Please go through that tutorial thoroughly checking all the aspect till the last page.. STOP.. don't click and exit the tutorial. Exiting the tutorial means start of your exam. Completing the tutorial requires hardly 6-7 mins. The remaining time (8-9 mins), you can utilize for the brain dump on the papers provided. Key to success (or at least relaxing your mind) is to effectively use these 8-9 mins. This is the time when you will dump whatever you have practised.

So.. lets start to create your own dump sheet.. All the best.

Read more tips on the PMP exam here

---------------------------------
Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar PMP

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Self Directed Learning

Hi Everybody,

As a PMP, one has to earn 60 PDUs towards recertification in a cycle.
There are total 5 categories under which one can get PDU.

Out of that, there is one category "2-SDL" which gives PDU for self-directed learning activities for individualized learning events. I am presently reading a book on Primal Leadership(1) from Daniel Goleman. Below is the extract from the said book on Self-directed learning.
Most of the companies use something called Developmental strategy or goal for individuals. This theory is equally applicable in that case too.

=======================

Self-directed learning: Intentionally developing or strengthening an aspect of who you are or who you want to be, or both. This requires first getting a strong image of your ideal self, as well as your real self.

This model of learning was developed by Richard Boyatzis (coauthor of the said book). This learning involves five discoveries. The goal is to use each discovery as a tool for making changes. This has been explained better in the picture below.

1) My ideal self
- Who Do I want to be?
2) My real self
- Who am I? What are my strengths and gaps?
3) My learning agenda
- How I can build on my strengths while reducing my gaps?
4) Experiment and practise
- New behaviors, thoughts, and feelings to the point of mastery.
Practise new leadership skills.
5) Developing supportive and trusting relationship that make change possible.

Although this model is called self-directed learning process, it actually cannot be alone. Others' involvement is a must for lasting change. Self-directed learning is most effective and sustainable when you understand the process of change -and the steps to achieve it-as you go through it.

=============
Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP
1: Primal Leadership -Realizing the power of Emotional Intelligence
By Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee

Friday, September 11, 2009

SMILE: A BUSINESS SECRET

A research by Yale University says that cheerfulness and warmth spread most easily among working groups than irritability and depression. This greater diffusion rate for good moods has direct implications for business results. The research also says that mood inadvertently influence how effectively people work. Happy moods boost fairness, cooperation and business performance.

There is something called open-loop nature of the limbic system. Humans rely on connections with other people for their emotional stability. This open-loop limbic system helps to foster this stability. Laughter demonstrates the power of the open-loop in operation. Hearing laughter, we automatically smile or laugh too, creating a spontaneous chain reaction in a group.

Smile has an irresistible power to make others smile in return. Smiles and laughter plays important role to cement alliances. Laughing represents the shortest distance between two people. It has been proved that good moods create a good work.

The bad mood such as rudeness or anger is the opposite of good mood and it is bad for the business too. Business is benefited by upbeat (happy) moods. A good leader is the one who is able to pitch a group into an enthusiastic, cooperative mood which will ultimately determine the success of the group.
===================================

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

HI,

Recently, I read a book "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done".
I will say this is a MUST read book by anybody especially by leadership and top management.
Here is a short summary of the same.
===================================

Execution is not only the biggest issue facing business today; it is something nobody has explained satisfactorily. Execution is a specific set of behaviors and techniques that companies need to master in order to have competitive advantage.

The book is authored by:
Larry Bossidy: The chairman and CEO of Honeywell International, Inc. He also served as a CEO for Allied Signal between 1991 and 1999. He also served in a number of executive positions at the General Electric Company.
Ram Charan: An advisor to CEO’s and senior executives for a broad range of organizations.
Charles Burke

The book provides numerous examples of where execution has both succeeded and failed and calls on Larry Bossidy’s 43 years experience in General Electric extensively.
This book gives a new discipline of execution based on the three core processes for the leadership.

Part I: Need for Execution
Throughout the book, authors have given stress on need for the Execution i.e. How to do part of any planning. Authors have pointed out that most strategies fail as the result of poor execution, and not due to poor strategic planning.

According to authors, execution is a discipline and integral part of any strategy.
It should be the major job of any business leader and he should make sure that this is also a part of his organization culture as well.

Part II: Building Blocks of Execution

According to the authors Execution consist of the following three building blocks:

Building Block 1:
This describes the Leaders Seven Essential Behaviors as:

1) Know your people and your business – Leaders have to live their businesses. In companies that don’t execute, the leaders are usually out of touch with the day-to-day realities. Leaders spend too much time in their offices and too little time with their people where most of the action is taking place.
2) Insist on realism – Realism is the heart of execution, but many organizations are full of people who are trying to avoid or shade reality. To make realism a priority, you start by being realistic yourself and make sure realism is the goal of all dialogues in the organization.
3) Set clear goals and priorities – Leaders who execute focus on a very few clear priorities that everyone can grasp.
4) Follow through – The failure to follow through is wide spread in business, and a major cause of poor execution
5) Reward the doers – If you want people to produce specific results, you reward them according
6) Expand people’s capabilities – Coaching is the single most important part of expanding others’ capabilities.
7) Know yourself – Without what we call emotional fortitude, you can’t be honest with yourself, deal honestly with business and organizational realities, or give people forthright assessments. Emotional fortitude comes from self-discovery and self-mastery. It is the foundation of people skills. There are four core qualities which make up emotional fortitude as Authenticity, Self-awareness, Self-mastery and Humility.

Building Block 2: Creating the Framework for Cultural Change

When a business isn’t going well, its leaders often think about how to change the corporate culture. Author says that the organization software i.e. people’s belief and values are equally important as organizational hardware i.e. strategy and structure.

This involves changing “people’s behavior so that they produce results”, by “linking rewards to performance and making linkages transparent” with Robust Dialogue. Robust dialogue makes an organization effective in gathering and understanding information for the correct decisions. It fosters creativity and ultimately more competitive advantage and shareholder value. Robust dialogue happens when there is open mind and no trapped preconceptions. Informality helps in boosting the robust dialogue.

Building Block 3: The Job no Leader Should Delegate

Having the Right People in the Right Place: It essential to have the right people, especially those in leadership positions, in the right place. The authors believe that leaders should “contribute as much as 40 percent of their time and energy, in one form or another, to selecting, appraising, and developing people.

These are the 3 main building blocks which are the foundation for the three core processes of execution as explained later. These processes are linked to one another and can not be separated.

As per author, “If you have leaders with the right behavior, a culture that rewards execution, and a consistent system for getting right people in the right jobs, the foundation is in place for operating and managing each of the core processes effectively.”

Part III: The Three Core Processes of Execution

Part III discusses the three core processes that require focused management attention to ensure effective execution. The heart of the working of a business is how these processes link together. Leaders need to master the individual processes and the way they work together as a whole. They are the foundation for execution. They are the real differentor between you and your competitors.

The People Process:
“A robust people process does three things. It evaluates individuals accurately and in depth. It provides a framework for identifying and developing the leadership talent – at all levels and of all kinds – the organization will need to execute its strategies down the road. And it fills the leadership pipeline that’s the basis of a strong succession plan.” The people process is regarded by the authors as the most important of all three processes and the devote a large part of the book discussing the importance of candid dialogue required to hold individuals accountable. The key is getting the right people in the right jobs.

The Strategy Process:
“A good strategy planning process also requires the utmost attention to the hows of executing the strategy” The authors emphasis the importance of creating strategies that involve all parties and encourage robust debate, appropriate resources and regular strategic reviews throughout the year.
The Operations Process:
“The strategy process defines where a business wants to go, the people process defines who’s going to get it there. The operating plan provides the path for those people. It breaks long-term output into short-term targets.”
===================================

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP

Sunday, July 5, 2009

PMPs, Maintain your credentials COST effectively

Hi All,

This article will help to those who have recently completed their PMP certification. Now this certificate is valid till next cycle. Each cycle is of 3 years. After each cycle, you need to do recertification. You require 60 PDUs for the same.
(Read this for more information on maintaining your credential )

As a PMP, one has to get 60 PDUs in a span of 3 years. There is no mandatory requirement of PDUs required in each specific year. One can get 60 PDUs in first year of certification or last year of certification. If one gets more than 60 PDUs, a maximum of 20 PDUs earned in the last year of certification will be carry forward to the next cycle.

You can report your PDUs here.
Best practise is report your PDUs when you have all the supporting documents as mentioned in the credential handbook.
A PMP can get PDUs in one of the five categories mentioned in the PMP Handbook.

1) If you are working as a manager, then you can get 5 PDUs per year. This accounts for 15 PDUs. (Category 2H)

2) You can listen to FREE podcasts online, or self paced e-learning etc. (Category 2-SDL)
One can get maximum of 15 PDUs.
Now you have 30 PDUs in your hand at FREE of cost.

3) Another resource is your PMI local chapters monthly meetings. These are FREE and will give you 1 to 2 PDUs per meeting. So if you attend at least 6 such meetings, you will get a minimum of 18 PDUs in a cycle. (Category 3)

4) Volunteering to a PMI activity for 12 months will give 5 PDUs per year. Serving as an elected officer for a project management organization or PMI chapter for 12 months will give 10 PDUs. (Category 5)
One can get maximum of 20 PDUs per cycle.

Now I'll focus on more FREE resources for PDU.
1) Project Management Training Online
One can attend training on "Dynamics of Leadership" .
This will give you 3 PDUs of Category 3 (PMI REP)
Print the course certificate as a proof for completion.
Here you will find more courses to obtain PDUs.
Presently, you can get these at cheaper rate

2) Lean Six Sigma Training Online
One can attend training on "Lean Six Sigma" .
This will give you 3.5 PDUs of Category 3 (PMI REP)
Print the course certificate as a proof for completion.

3) Prodevia Learning
One can attend training on "Project Search and Rescue" .
This will give you 5 PDUs of Category 3 (PMI REP)
This FREE trial course offer ends July 31, 2009.
This is a download material course. Once you complete the reading, you need to fill the online survey. Then you will receive the certificate by email.
Print your registration form and certificate as a proof for completion.

4) PMSuccess.com
If you are a memmebr of PMSuccess.com, then by submitting your lessons learned of your exam, you can get FREE 10 PDUs (Category 3 PMI REP)

5) International Institute of Learning, Inc
IIL’s free webinars cover the latest topics in Project, Program and Portfolio Management, Microsoft® Office Project and Project Server, Lean Six Sigma, Business Analysis and more.
Click here to access the webinars.

6) PMI ADSIG
MetSIG Chair Steve Rollins, PMP recently delivered a series of 10 live, one-hour webinars on the topic of "PMO and the Portfolio: Measuring Towards Value."
Total 10 webinars of worth 10 PDU.
These webinars are free, just enter promo code ADSMET7
Click here to access the webinars.
Category 3 PMI REP.
There are instructions on the home page of MetSIG.org for submitting PDUs(1-2 PDU option). Regarding proof that you downloaded the webinar, just savethe email order confirmation with the webinar link.

I'll sign-off now. I have few more links for FREE PDUs that I'll post next time.
Keep visiting this blog for more updates.

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP

Monday, June 29, 2009

PMBoK Edition 4:- What does this mean to PMP aspirants?

Hi All,

I am back with the article on PMI's new edition of PMBoK, version 4.
PMI had introduced this latest edition in last year.
From July 01, 2009 onwards, PMP exams will be based on this new version. This article is to differentiate between the third edition and fourth edition as far as PMP exam is concerned.

But before the start of the discussion, I'll ask few questions.
1) Will change in edition of PMBoK change the Project Management way?
2) Will the change have effects on Project Management Methodology?
3) Will the required soft skills(interpersonal skills) of Project manager (or Project Management) change becuase of edition change?
4) Will changing the proces names to verb noun format change the process?

What do you think the answers for these questions?

Obviously, all the answers will be "NO". Simply because PMBoK is a standard, and not a regulation. It is developed based on the best practises of Project Management.

So the next question... Will the exam (pattern) change with the change in edition?
Answer is same.., NO.

when I say NO here, I mean there will no be any major changes in the exam pattern.

I will start step by step and highlight if any change between third and fourth edition.

1) 35 contact hours eligibility criteria :

PMI says that these 35 contact hours are for any training on project management.
It does not specify or mandate that these training should be based on PMBoK so and so version.
So eligibility criteria is not changed and if you have 35 contact hours based on third edition, they are still VALID.

2) Now your study reference is changed. Study PMBoK fourth edition.
It is available for download for FREE to PMI members.
But if you have third edition, you can just go through that as well.
Dont read in depth, but understand the concept.

3) I was thinking of giving you the actual difference between third and fourth edition.
But there are so many articles explaining the difference like
http://www.pmsuccess.biz/detail_article.asp?article_id=4
http://linkbee.com/WTHB

4) If you have old exam question set, you can still use it.
Cause PM framework, professional responsibility is not going to change. So you can use it.
All the processes in Time , Quality and Risk management are same, only name change.
Read Appendix A in section IV of PMBoK carefully for all the details.
Reading this will help all, but more to the people migrating from third edition to fourth edition.

Hence, bottomline is, don't discard your study material based on third edition.
It has lot of potential.

I'll complete my article here and add to it when time permits more for the same.

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP
-------------------------------------
Future article:-
Maintain your credentials COST effectively !!
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tips for PMP Exam

Hi friend,

I know you are in hurry. But take some time to read this article. Nowadays its lot of rush towards the Prometric center. Everybody is booking for the exam, clearing it with good numbers. I thought I'll just put my thoughts to those who are yet to appear for the exam.
1) Bring two sets of identity proofs like passport, driving license, employee card, credit card. One of these should have a photo. Check that name as it appear on this proof is same as what you mentioned in your application.
2) Reach to the testing center (min) 15 mins in advance. No need to go easry as well.
3) Make sure you know where the testing center is. Dont seacrh for it at the last moment.
4) After reaching the center and providing your id etc, make yourself conversant with the facility.Check for rest room, water cooler etc. Keep everything you carry in locker.Do not carry anything with you for the exam.
5) After passing the routine security check, you'll be allowed to go inside.
6) Check the name again as it appears on the form there. Report any correction immediately.
7) You ll be given couple of pencils, a set of blank papers and one computer will be allocated to you.
8) Go to the computer. Check everything, mouse, keyboard, screen and most importantly power cables. Normally these cables are below the table and people have habit of stretching their legs during the exam. It might pose a problem and computer might be OFF. So be careful while stretching your legs.
9) Dont to brain dump (or whatever you call) immediately. First complete the 15 mins training on how to navigate thru the exam. This will take 6-7 minutes. DONT MISS THIS STEP. Then if you want you can do brain dump. last 1 minute, be relax and take a deep breath.
10) Now your exam is going to start. It may happen that first few (5,10 or 20) questions are tough.let it be. Dont be panic. If you are not sure, select an answer, MARK the question and move ahead. Normally you need to cover 50 Q in 1 hr. One of my friend completed only 20 in first hour. (And he cleared his PMP exam). So don't bother about your rate of answering. You can cover it later. But DONT let the pressure built to loose focus for the next 3 hrs.
11) 4 hrs (240 mins) are very very important. Use the time wisely.
12) Normally 5 breaks of 10 mins each are allowed. The clock will be continuing ticking during your breaks too. Two breaks (after 90 mins each) are sufficient. (Personal view)
13) All the letters like MOST, BEST, FIRST, EXCEPT etc are marked bold. So read carefully.
14) Have a habit of - Read the question, then think of a answer, then check if the answer is present as a option or not AND READ ALL THE ANSWERS. It might happen like whatever answer you thought is present as option B. But option C and D also look correct. Read question again. It might have word EXCEPT in that.
15) Whenever you mark any question, write the no. down on paper as well.
16) SCREEN LAYOUT:-
================================================
TOP:- Qestion no. YOUR name CLOCK (HR:MM:SS)
================================================
MIDDLE:- QUESTION
4 OPTIONS
CALCULATOR (ICON)
================================================
BOTTOM:- PREV NEXT MARK (UNMARK) REVIEW
================================================
When you click MARK, the button will be RED with UNMARK text.
17) Calculator is very good, same linke Windows calc with basic function. Check its usage during the initial 15mins training.
18) After finishing all the questions, click on REVIEW.
You can see:- REVIEW MARKED, REVIEW ALL, REVIEW NO ANSWER.
If you have forgotten to select answer for any question, you can get it through REVIEW NO ANSWER.(Or the "i" icon)
19) Dont MARK so many questions. Mark only those for which you have a conflict for answer.
20) After all the review done (or time is finished), click on SUBMIT button.
21) Once you click on SUBMIT button, screen will be blank for few seconds and then 1 survey will pop up.Give your correct feedback. Dont be bias according to your test condition. This survey is a part of PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PLAN for prometric.
22) After finishing the survey, again the screen will be blank for few seconds (normally this time looks like few minutes !!!) and then your result will be shown on the screen.
23) Click OK. And come out. The instructor will give you a print out of your test score.Preserve it. Do not loose it.
24) During breaks, you need to sign in and sign out and show your id proofs.
25) It was hot summer and I was sweating, so my hands were wet. I asked for tissue paper.The instructor told me that they dont have any issue to give me tissue.
BUT THIS WILL BE REPORTED TO PMI. I told NO then :) (scared may be !!!)
26) Analyze and Celebrate your success. (Analyze your failure)
27) Dont forget to put your LL on the groups you registered.

ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR EXAMS !!!

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar PMP
-------------------------------------
Future articles:-
PMBoK V4 - What does this mean to PMP aspirants?
Maintain your credentials COST effectively
-------------------------------------

Monday, June 22, 2009

Few FREE and good resources

Hello friends,

I am back with a new post.
Here are few very important resources available on internet.
This are hepful for your PMP certification.

Groups:
1) PMPExamForum yahoogroups.
2) PMI Local chapters' group if available
3) http://pmhub.net/ (Continue this lifelong. Don't terminate after PMP exam)

Books:
1) PMBOK® Guide—Fourth Edition
2) The Human Aspects of Project Management: Organizing Projects for Success, Volume One
by Vijay K. Verma
3) PMP: Project Management Professional Study Guide, Deluxe Edition
by Kim Heldman and others
4) PMI's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
http://www.pmi.org/PDF/ap_pmicodeofethics.pdf
(You will not believe, but many people struggle to locate this)
5) Various standards on scheduling, risk management, earned value management etc

All are available at eReads section on PMI.org. Free to PMI members.

Questions:
1) Daily digest question from crosswind (pmhub.net) and pmexam.com
2) PMBoK Q&A.
3) Questions at the end of chapters from Kim Heldman book.
4) 500 questions available at pmhub.net http://linkbee.com/Q500
5) PMP Prep course exams after each chapter. (Remember..This one you took to get 35 PDUs)
6) PMStudy Framework questions. http://www.pmstudy.com/freeresources/chapterTestFramework.asp
7) If you become members of few more yahoogroups like pmpbest, pmpsingapore, pmi_pune_exam_forum, you can find more questions in their Files Section

I have removed one site as I feel it is violating copyright law.

Sr. No. 2 & 3: Available at eReads section on PMI.org. Free to PMI members.
Another major benefit of being a PMI member during PMP certification.

Exams:
1) Headfirst 200 Q http://headfirstlabs.com/PMP/free_exam/
2) PMStudy 200 Q http://www.pmstudy.com/enroll.asp#PMP
3) PMSuccess 200 Q http://www.pmsuccess.biz/Free_Simulated_Test.asp
4) Oliver Lehman 75 Q http://www.oliverlehmann.com/pmp-self-test/75-free-questions.htm
5) Oliver Lehman 175 Q http://www.oliverlehmann.com/contents/free-downloads/175_PMP_Sample_Questions.pdf
6) PassPM.com http://www.passpm.com/services
7) Crosswind http://crosswindpmtv.com/myonlinetests.aspx
8) PMP Prep course 200 Q exam. (If provided)

Hope this list will help all the PMP aspirants in future.
Let me know if you know any good resource available.
I'll check that and if found good and legitimate, I'll add to this post.

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP
-------------------------------------
Future article:- PMBoK V4 - What does this mean to PMP aspirants?
-------------------------------------

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Journey towards PMP

Hello everybody,

Recently I completed my PMP (Project Management Professioanl) certification from Project Management Institute (PMI), USA.
I thought I should do something to the project management community and PMP aspirants in general. Then this very idea of writing a blog striked in my mind. This is my first post towards this. I dedicate this first post to all my eFriends at PMPExamforum.

Completing PMP is really a achievement for me. I heard it is very difficult to learn once anybody starts working. I felt the same throughout my journey towards PMP. Now I have a feel of satisfaction.

I was introduced to PMP by one of my colleague, Shambhavi in year 2007. I was not sure whether to do it or not. I talked to my then manager Dr. Ravi Guttal and he gave a green signal to me. I got a training from Seed Infotech in September 2007 which gave me the required 35 contact hours for PMP exam application. Ideally, one can finish the exam withing 3 months from the training. But somehow it slipped. There were personal reasons, office work load. I was parallely persuing my Six Sigma Black Belt. There are many more reasons, but major reason was I was not sure whether to do PMP or not. Though there was delay for my exam, I was studying intermittently.

Major focus was obtained once I got audio prepcasts from Cornelius. That was late December 2008. These prepcast, while hearing, gave me a confidence boost that I can now appear for PMP exam. After that I started preparing and was serious enough from February 2009. Why? PMI introduced a new version of PMBOK and exam pattern will be based on this new version from 1st July 2009.

I got my exam date on 5th June. In fact I selected this date purposefully. I selected Hyderabad as my center cause I was more familiar to Hyderabad than Mumbai. The other reason was I can meet my old friends.
Exam was OK. Planned (??) preparations let me pass the exam. I am a PMP now, WOW !!!
I felt relieved while coming out of exam center.
Evening, I celebrated this success with my friends. This was my bday too !!!
Now my (re)certification will be aligned with my birthdate.

Catch you next time,
Mahesh Masurkar, PMP
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"PMI,” “PMP,” and “PMBOK,” are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.