Catching up

Good Morning folks, heading off to a very interesting day.


Stopping by to say hello and you can almost follow my day by following me in instagram or twitter. 

I hope you have a good one that refreshes your mind and more :)

(Pic courtesy: Soma Bhattacharya)

5 Years- that’s how long it took

I like having the constraint in my flow, to ensure I also deliver.

Don’t get me wrong, I like to creative as my next door neighbor, however working within certain limits also ensure I actually do something about it. 

I don’t know about you, I always function better when I am very busy. I know what I have to do next and I just get it done.

Except that I have always struggled with certain parts of my life- like exercising. It’s been a constant goal in my life for the longest time and I have often fallen off the wagon and had difficulties getting on to it. I read articles where sharing with friends and creating accountability helps and where not sharing helps- tried both and failed. I always don’t do things to please others, so when I stopped- I stopped.

I wasn’t also creating excuses, I was busy and I just didn’t know how to fit it all. So, I failed. It didn't top my priority.

This year, I didn’t include getting back in shape or exercising in my new year resolution. I wasn’t doing it anyways. Instead, I decided to make smaller changes to my lifestyle. Nope, they are not the same- because I never committed to get on the treadmill. I just ate more at home, tried to get in a fruit everyday and created a routine around it. And gave up sugar. Well not completely, I still have a cake once in a while; however I just don’t buy it for the sake of having it. I drink my tea without sugar and I have learned to enjoy the taste.

And yeah, I did get up on the treadmill and found a way to incorporate it within the routine. I tried the elimination trick. I eliminated ways that would ensure I fail.

This is my second month and I do get through the office gym door 5 times a week every day for 45- 60 minutes.  Not sure if this is too early to elaborate and celebrate, I will feel great. I like that I haven’t fallen off the wagon and I did make the small changes. Oh yes and I do have a burger to celebrate :)

• Every week I add something new to my routine
• I have friends now in the gym
• I do eat home cooked meal the entire weekday
• I eat more fruits and veggies
• I juice veggies once a in a while
• I create motivation cards
• I don’t focus on loosing weight, so I don’t use a weighing machine.
• I just work out everyday

And this took me 5 years to get to.

Okay, so why dish out my personal story? So if you have been struggling to keep up with your goals, don’t GIVE UP yet. Just find out why you have been giving up- what’s the emotion you go through just before you give up? And then find a way to ensure you don’t go through the same emotions and that might just keep you in the wagon forever. 

(Pic courtesy: Soma Bhattacharya)

Job Openings

Hello there! How have you been?
I thought I should let you know on some of the openings in the job world happening right now.

I have never done it before, posting it on the blog...however, I thought since I get them a  lot, why not put it up for you. If this help you find a job you love, that makes it all worthwhile.

So, here are a few:
Project Manager (United Health Group)- Hyderabad (India)
Project Manager – Job No. 639359
 
Responsibilities include:
• Perform all phases of software engineering including requirements analysis, application design, code development and testing
• Design and implement product features in collaboration with business and IT stakeholders
• Design reusable components, frameworks and libraries  Requirements include:
• B.Tech/MCA/Graduation (Minimum 16 years of formal education, Correspondence courses are not relevant).
• 10 + years in the software engineering profession
• Demonstrated success designing and building high-quality commercial software applications  Consider your future and apply here  

This came in through Mae Anne Jose

Agile Coach - Hyderabad (India)

Job Functions: Manages and guides the Scrum Masters in the Hyderabad office to ensure the highest Agile standards are uniformly met Acts as an Agile Coach in coaching teams and respective Scrum Masters daily on Scrum principles - and advises project teams outside their jurisdiction on best practices

• Works with product management to ensure Product Backlogs are stocked, scoped appropriately, and prioritized 
• Works with development teams to groom Product Backlogs in preparation for Sprint Planning Meetings Prepares and leads Sprint Planning Meetings 
• Leads Daily Scrums and removes impediments Monitors Sprint Burndown Charts and maintains other productivity metrics 
• Protects the Sprint Backlog from scope creep Acts as liaison between stakeholders and teams to negotiate Sprint scope
• Coordinates Backlog Refinement Meetings with Product owner and team Facilitates Sprint Review Meetings, using outcome to work with product management in updating the Product Backlog Facilitates Sprint Retrospective Meetings and expedite plans for improvement 
• Tracks release planning Uses Kanban and XP practices where applicable Adapts project management framework to stakeholder, project, and team needs Applies traditional waterfall, SDLC approaches where necessary, managing milestones and deliverable of each phase of the project life cycle Monitors and documents project variance 
• Communicates clearly and consistently with stakeholders about project status and be preemptive when problematic issues arise Manages risks and have risk mitigation plans in place Identifies dependencies within program and strategies how to schedule dependencies with the greatest resource usage efficiency Dissects our corporate workflow, assesses how the program fits best within it, and advises on improvements Assists Lean-Agile Center of Excellence (LACE) in implementing Agile best practices, processes and tools 
• Assists Project Management Office (PMO) in compiling regular updates for senior management, coordinating company-wide demos and assisting in development projects as necessary 

Qualifications: Required

• 7+ years of project management experience in software development using Agile and traditional SDLC methodologies 
• 5+ years of Scrum Master experience 5+ years of managing technical teams and complex technical projects Bachelor’s or Master’s degree CSM (Certified Scrum Master) certification 
• Demonstrated excellence in leadership and ability to create collaborative, productive teams 
• Preferred PMP certification Experience working successfully with external clients Experience with JIRA and Confluence.

Contact:

Achut Menon 

Email: menon@optionsindia.com   

Since  most of  the openings came directed at me, the location is obviously not very global.for these. Sometimes I do have global openings as well sent and I will be happy to post them here. 

Meanwhile if you are a recruiter, feel free to connect so, I can post the openings both here and in the SIPM Community. 

(Pic courtesy: Google images)

Weekend Activities

My weekend was different. I missed the lazying around perhaps, however it all ended up pretty well.
That's the table I was part of and what do you see?
Where do you think I was?

IAMLISTENING- Giveaway

If you have read the last post, you know I am trying to start the year right.

While I am excited for February and talking to 2 wonderful people and be part of their journey, I am waiting for conversations for March and April.

However, this post is about the Giveaway that Elizabeth Harrin, Director Otobos Group has been very kind enough to do.

It's getting privileged access to Better Project Status Reports online course. For more details about the giveaway click here -  its the e-book and online course of value £49.

To win it, you can be on the of 6 people I will be talking to OR you can email your story at (steppingintopm at gmail.com). it should be about what inspires you to work harder to become a project manager. Send in your stories by March 30.