What a blog can do for you?

It can get you an invitation to the "International Congress for Project, Programme and Risk Management" at London. 

If you would like to know more click here.

Sounds to good to be true, few days back I got the inivitation and accepted it ofcourse. The initial email said that the blog was being read by  "lots of people who are reading it and liking it".

I'm thankful for the oppurtunity to Kate Winter from Perceptive PR and it's my first Project Management

 seminar. It actually got me  nervous (I still am). With a few more days to get my visa and manage everything else, I hope I can be there.

It's happening on the 10 and 11 of February and I get to meet Elizabeth Harrin!

Want an inivitation, start your blog. 

On a serious note, it opens new doors for you, something you can only dream of. If it's happening to me, it can happen to you .

(Picture: The BPUG congress Brochure and Me)

Why Blog?

If you have noticed, I have added a new section “Why Blog”? 

Blogging is emerging as the most popular and powerful tools to communicate and network among fellow professionals. Little did I know before starting, so I want more and more of you to have access to the information that I did not. 

Check out the links and who knows yours might be the next big blog!

(Picture: Google Images)

Advantages of working in a small company

To learn about projects, I firmly believe that working in a small company helps. You can always switch to the bigger one's after you have gained the right knowledge. Working in small companies comes with it's numerous added advantages.

Advantages of working in a small company are-

• You get to see the entire project lifecycle upclose which is very important. Amidst few people, it's easier to learn (and grow).
• You get to know every individuals work list  in the team and how it's handled.
• You have (in most cases) direct access to the project manager- you volunteer to learn more
• Easier access to information and knowledge from the team- you know everyone by their first names.
• You are valued for your skill and chances are they're not a lot of people with the same skill set.
• You have more creative freedom and you don't have to go through one layer after the other to get your ideas to work.
• Greater exposure- to clients, to work- you name it!
• Your have chances of your work getting noticed.

Most of it comes from my experince in working with a small company, while I would love to work for a Fortune 500 company , I think being here and doing what I do has  given me much more exposure that would have taken me perhaps years to get had I started with a bigger name. 

So, if you want to know more about Project Management and see it first hand before commiting and deciding to enroll in a degree/certification, getting into a small company might help.

Here are some other interesting articles that might get your attention- article 1 and article 2.

(Picture: Google Images)

Learning basics of database

This year I will push the envelope a little more and I started it with learning database designing. 

I think having a good idea about the knowledge areas are required for a PM to be successful and understand and handle the project better. Since I work in IT- it was database time.

Things I did to learn database-

• I told everyone that I was interested in learning about database.
• The guy who handles databases the best (and a good friend) agrees to help me out.
• So, he gives me a problem and I try thinking about it.
• Next day- he explains me further and shows me how to start conceptualizing about it and excel is a great help. I implement the basics in a table format in excel- I get the basics correct.
• I'm told to read Codds Law
• I'm supposed to map out the relations among the tables- which I will get done today.

The bottomline is- if you are really determined in what you want make sure you learn as much as possible. No one said it would be easy, if you willing to learn it- work hard at it. So, whoever is helping you out is also encouraged by your genuine interest and learning pace.

(Picture: Google images)

5 New Goals for 2009

It's New Year and I haven't posted yet.

There are five important changes this year-

• I'm travelling public (on a try-it-out mode) and it's been ok.
• Reading a book/week and learning something new everyday
• Re-organizing and re-structuring my life to do a lot more. Finding out time saving tips and generally keeping myself happy. Being positive is important. 
• Of course Projects- I'm handling projects under the supervision of the Senior Project Manager and I want to do a good job at it. New Year came loaded with more responsibilities which is something I'm happy about.
• Getting fitter (Comes with public travelling, you tend to walk more and I keep time to medidate and exercise)
  

Since, I will be reading a lot this year I'm looking forward to post my 5 favorite links related to PM and Non- PM readings at the end of each month. 

To save some of your time, I decided to enable the "subscribe by email" feature. Now you don't have to visit my site to review the postings, it just gets delivered to you.

(Picture: flickr.com)