I’ve known Project Managers who are just paper shufflers, finger pointers, gantt chart fillers, and milestone update naggers. They provide…
There are quite a few people I know (myself included) who would welcome self-isolation and social distancing. In addition to…
Why would businesses not want to support remote working when: 1. it’s cheaper than paying for offices and related overhead…
I think that it takes a lot more skills to work in a small consulting partner than a bigger one.…
Working remotely due to the current situation will sure hit the agile projecta, who rely so much on co-located scrum…
There’s a difference between working in a larger consultancy and a smaller one. In one, you’re probably dedicated to a…
The project RAID log is like a family puppy. It’s not something you let your dad look after, and only…
The consulting life is like normal life, just playing at x2 speed. Or more. That means a roller coaster of…
The thing about being a great ‘anything’ is that.. it generates very little noise. Be really sub-par, and you will…
I think I have had an exceptionally lucky life. I started in my IT in 1995, in Malaysia. So I…
Sunk costs and resistance to change. “We built that MS Access database to hold customer data when we started 28…
Staying on the “Be Professional” topic for consultants: Should you ‘friend’ a client on Facebook or other social media? Controversially,…
I run inductions for new hires for a Tier 1 Consulting Company, and was discussing with a Programme Director the…
“I’ll pick you when I have absolutely no choice left but to scrape the bottom of the barrel.” My ninjas…
I’ve been focusing on the importance of leadership qualities in a project manager to help ensure project success. In fact,…
“I woke up with an idea on how to solve the problem so have been working since about 4am… and…
I believe that the job of a Project Manager is a lot more than ‘Managing a Project to timescales and…
I was listening to John Travolta talk about Bean Exchange on Tom Bilyeu’s podcast today. If you craft exquisite cups,…
There are two general engagement types when you work for a consultancy: Project Engagement, and Staff Augmentation (sometimes crudely referred…
Was running an errand with ninja #2 in the rain this morning, and we passed a homeless man, drenched in…
Death in my family is not a taboo subject. My parents have already bought their burial plots – complete with…
My work in implementing business systems allows me to see how people behave when faced with imminent change, which may…
Our experiences shape who we are, and how we see the world. “Emotion and cognition, undefined and unexplored, drive every…
“Don’t rock the boat.” I strive to create a safe space for people to be around me. No judgement, no…
“I have better things in life to focus on instead of blow-drying my hair – three kids, school run, work,…
When a consulting partner is engaged to implement a software solution, we assume the client knows what they are doing.…
It’s been two weeks since the tragic high profile helicopter crash stunned the world. The news has moved on. But…
“Everyone, take off what you’re wearing on your right foot and wave it at the webcam.” Suddenly the faces on…
I pay attention to the small things. – the questions my lead consultant is asking – the subtle body language…
My ghast used to be frequently flabbered 😲 during meetings with clients when the sales team would exaggerate claims and…
Feast and famine. Ups and downs. Winters and summers. I believe that the Consulting career prepares you for real life.…
A Salesforce Developer asked me the other day about my thoughts on what he should do next – careerwise. He…
Recruitment isn’t a perfect science. In contrast to previous post, this particular lady not only had a sterling CV, but…
I was reflecting on a conversation I had yesterday… About the interview for the Senior PM role, and whether I…
She had an amazing personality, and performed the role of a ‘Senior Project Manager’ in a crisis meeting with a…
When you are young, Time is your ‘cheapest’ currency. Use it to amass: – experience – skills: hard and soft…
Follow your passion is a meaningless statement when you don’t know what your passion is. But how do you find…
“Oh F*** F*** F***ety F***!” PFY* had done a “Delete * from table_name” command. On Production. Luckily I knew the…
People generally don’t admit mistakes because: – they don’t want to let people down – they think being wrong makes…
I haven’t been home for Chinese New Year for quite awhile since the kids started school. Well, except for that…
A working mum can’t have it all. Children used to be raised by a village and I’m about 10,500km away…
Consulting Partners are required to quote against a set of requirements in a Statement of Work. These are generally acquired…
Writing requirements is easy. Writing GOOD requirements, tight User Stories, detailed Design Documents that: – is easily understood – is…
I believe that Hybrid model is the most appropriate methodology for Consulting engagements. Here’s why I think so. Consulting Partners…
For a Consulting Partner, selecting a methodology is like swiping on Tinder. If you don’t know what makes for a…
“I almost killed myself trying to get the project live in China. So many obstacles. The Great Firewall. Language. Culture.…
“You shouldn’t be scared of hard work.” Difficult, messy, complicated, stressful work. Discomfort is the zone where growth happens. I…
Consultants worry about their utilisation rate. It’s pegged to their bonus at the end of the year, and along with…
Consultancy project teams are assembled based on availability, capability, and rate. As a client, you might be promised “the best,…
What do you do when you know you’re going to die? Well, that’s a trick question because everybody dies, it’s…
“Wait, your sales team promised xyz. What you’re saying now is not what I am expecting.” If you hear this…
“Who cares? Especially if I am making so much money?” I wrote a post the other day, about the reasons…
Death feels final but its not. I was at a cremation for the beloved father of a close friend. Memories…
“I will still be here if I’m learning, earning and having fun.” A bit of a gutsy answer to interview…
“Has anyone died?” “No. No one died. Let’s keep a perspective on things.” When the challenges in a “character-building” project…
“You’re the expert – we pay you to make our problem go away.” Many businesses think that hiring consultants is…
One of the reasons for companies engaging Consulting Partners when implementing a system is getting that kick in the butt…
“Here’s what I want – go forth and build.” Consulting engagements doesn’t really work that way. When clients engage a…
The word “consultants” sometimes conjure up mixed feelings from the ‘end-user’ community. “Consultants charge a lot”, you say “And sometimes…
I’ve done almost every role in a consulting project rolling out CRM: Business Analysis and Process Mapping skills to document…
Actually, I think that project management for operations trying to manage deployment of resources and aid during war or national…
Kindness at Christmas. Will it continue throughout the year? I’m volunteering at Crisis for Christmas, as a Samaritan and it…
Tomorrow I start my 48 hr shift as a Samaritan volunteer with Crisis for Christmas. I am so incredibly fortunate…
Apart from a poor attempt at doing puns (I normally leave that to hubby!) that is exactly what a Salesforce…
Ok, it’s not real ‘peril’ if you ignore these elements. It’s not like you’re going to crop down a cliff edge…
When I was around 8, Nostradamus set me off on the path that led to where I am now. He…
I was reading an excellent article written on Vantage Consulting‘s blog yesterday: “Finding the Right Salesforce Partner for your Business“.…
4.2 million Salesforce jobs by 2024? That’s the latest from IDC Salesforce Economy Whitepaper released in October 2019. That figure…
I’ve done both, and I’ve found each to have their own merit. Consultancy projects can be quite high-octane, very dynamic…