The Project Manager that makes it happen

Six key important areas that will deliver project results

This is just some tips to insert into your project. Keep them in mind on your next project. Be known as The Project Manager that makes it happen.

1. Define Key Performance Indicators at project milestones.

• You have reached that milestone so make sure it really is achieving it's purpose.
• Give your project a good review that you really earned that milestone.

2. What type of Service Level Agreements will the project produce.

• Give your stakeholders great expectations.
• The project must be improving a process so highlight it.

3. The Command Center Project Dashboard on a large screen.

• Real time status.
• The Project Team will be directed to update their status daily to feed the dashboard.
• Track budget.
• Monitor the Project Team's progress.
• Get a big picture of the project on a large screen.
• Accountability for a transparent project.
• Project Health will be monitored closely to address potential issues before they become a problem.

4. Change Control process to monitor Scope / Budget Creep.

• Document the justification and cost to insert change into a project.
• Analyze the impact on the project to insert a change order into it.
• Will a new go-live date result from the proposed change order?
• Present change order to management for approval.

5. Identify Potential Risks in the project.

• Monitor risks to address them early to find best remediation.

6. Special Meetings.

• Have a One on One 15 minute meeting with key team members before the project kickoff and biweekly thereafter.

   

The Awesome Voggy January Sunset

Vog from the erupting volcano on the island of Hawaii blows over Oahu when wind patterns change. The particles in the atmosphere create some spectacular sunsets to witness. This beautiful picture was taken on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
  

Catamaran at Port Hilton getting ready to sail away into the sunset.

Having Faith in a December Sunset

The December sunset will deliver a spectacular show. There are just days that you will not be able to follow the sun descending into the horizon of the Pacific Ocean because of heavy cloud cover. Just have faith in the sun that it will pierce through the sky once it's behind the horizon.

Ala Wai Boat Harbor - Honolulu

The Bad and Good Teachers

Teachers play such an important role in developing our children at an early age. 

My memories of a bad teacher recounts a Monday morning when I was in the First Grade. On the agenda for the day was sharing about what you did over the weekend. When it was my turn I stood up and said I could see the wind blowing when my dad took us up to a scenic lookout. There were a lot of clouds blowing around the mountains. It was very windy that day. I was so excited to share that with the class. To my surprise the teacher barked at me and to the class "You can't see the wind it's invisible and Drake said he could see the wind blowing." I remember students starting to laugh. I was so humiliated that day. I did report that incident to my mom and she had a nice talk with that teacher to make sure she never behaves that way again. A good teacher would have used my story to explain to the class how the wind works and thank me for my story.

Memories of a good teacher recounts a very dedicated teacher that offered to tutor me after school to bring me up to speed on a subject. Mission accomplished and she rewarded me after school by taking me across the street to get a milkshake. Such a precious moment I remember when I was in the Second Grade.

My advice to new teachers and veteran teachers is that you need to remind yourself daily that you are setting lifelong memories that are good and bad for your students. You play an important role in the development of young minds to be good students. Make a difference and be that good teacher.

The Scout Elves Return for the Christmas Season

The Scout Elves visit children between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. They will depart on Christmas Day to return to the North Pole. They will return every year.

Get ready for some fun!

The Scout Elf Team

Santa has his Scout Elves hide in homes with children to watch over them to see if they been good or naughty. The fun starts when the children go to bed. The Elf will seek out a place in the house to hide. The Elf loves to play hide and seek. The Elf will have a message for the children or the Elf will do something funny. Leave it to your imagination what a Elf would do. Sometimes the Elf does not hide and wants to be found easily to show off what he or she did. This fun goes on everyday. Encourage your children to leave messages for the Elf. The Elf will respond back.

Join me for some pancakes

Start this annual tradition by granting Santa permission to send a Scout Elf into your house to observe your children. Believe me your kids will love it and look forward to waking up each morning to find a new surprise everyday.