Hi everyone - I should have posted something sooner than this but the Controlling Chaos podcast is on hiatus for an indefinite time period.  I took a new position managing projects (aka acquisitions) in our M&A department at work and decided to start working on my MBA at the same time.  Crazy, I know.  So, unfortunately, all my extra-curricular activities, including my podcast, had to be put on hold.  Thank you to everyone who has written me to check in!  I’m not willing to completely give Controlling Chaos up yet so all my old episodes will continue to be available via my website and on iTunes.  I anticipate graduating next summer and hope that I can pick up the podcast where I left off!  If you’re interested in keeping tabs on my MBA experience, I’m blogging at http://mbachaos.wordpress.com/.

Thanks again to you all for listening and good luck on your path to Project Management enlightenment!

Dina

On this episode, I speak with Jerry Manas about his new leadership book, Managing the Gray Areas.  Jerry’s book explores the most challenging dilemmas that leaders struggle with, and offers a set of guidelines, principles, and tools that can help navigate these murky waters. Managing the Gray Areas touches on topics such as principles, values, ethics, decision-making, incentives, staffing, critical thinking, and communication. It pulls ideas from a wide variety of knowledge areas, such as philosophy, science, art, medicine, business, and history. Ultimately, it is a book about leading with humanity. To contact Jerry, please visit his website at http://www.manasbooks.com/.

Helpful resources from Jerry:

• InfoTool - http://www.infotool-online.com/
• Evidence-Based Management website: http://www.evidence-basedmanagement.com/
• 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Fons Trompenaars
• Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths And Total Nonsense: Profiting From Evidence-Based Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton
• Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World’s Most Unusual Workplace by Ricardo Semler
• Defining Moments: When Managers Must Choose Between Right And Right by Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Here is Part 2 of my discussion with Cheryl Mann, President and founder of Goals Insight, Inc., on techniques you can use to build effective teams! Cheryl was a super resource for me and I really encourage you to contact her if you would like some help on making your team as effective as possible!  To sign up for Goals Insight’s newsletters, click here!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

I’m back!  This episode is the first part of a two part discussion with Cheryl Mann, President and founder of Goals Insight, Inc., on techniques you can use to build effective teams! Whether you are managing a scrum project, business process re-engineering project or even a construction project, effective teamwork is the critical success factor to reaching your project’s objectives.  

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

On today’s episode, I speak with Rich Maltzman, the co-author (with Ranjit Biswas) of a new project management book, Fiddler on the Project. A great new project management book with a twist … correlating project management with the story Fiddler on the Roof! We also discuss Knowledge Management and collaborative writing! Make sure to check out the links to the books and sites that Rich mentions in our discussion!

Also, don’t forget that the giveaway for a free copy of MindManager Pro 7 is still underway! If you’re interested, shoot me off an e-mail to giveaway@controllingchaos.com by August 31, 2007.

Links mentioned in the interview:

• Wiki for Fiddler On The Project
• Wikinomics by Don Tapscott & Anthony D. Williams
• The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
• Knowledge Management Special Interest Group (PMI)
• We Are Smarter Than Me - a new business book being written entirely by wiki
• Project Times - An on-line Project Management community

Wow! It has been a while since I released a show! Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans out there!

Today’s discussion is with Michael Deutch, Director of Solutions Marketing with MindJet, and we speak about the newly released MindManager Pro 7 and the new Project Management Jetpack, a set of 40 MindManager map templates to help get your project up and running quickly using MindManager!

For the listeners of this podcast, MindJet has provided two map templates from their Jetpack: a project management template and a meeting template. Click on the images below to download the map templates!

If you’d like more information on the Jetpack and how you can try out MindManager for free for 21 days, click on the Jetpack icon!

Oh? You’d like your own copy of MindManager Pro 7? Well, in addition to the two free templates below, we have a new giveaway! If you would like to win a free license for MindManager Pro 7 (in Windows or Mac version), a $349 value, please e-mail me at giveaway@controllingchaos.com before August 31, 2007 and I’ll put your name in the drawing for MindManager Pro 7!

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Meeting Template

Project Dashboard

Once again, Mike Griffiths provides excellent insight on how project managers fit in on agile projects, with his article, The True Role of a PM on Agile Projects. This article couldn’t have come at a better time for me, personally.  Our company is going through agile growing pains and as we move more towards an agile environment, where teams are more self-directed, the project manager’s role is changing.  Or is it? Whether you are a “command and control” project manager or more of a “glue and grease” project manager, Mike’s article does a great job explaining how project managers fit into the agile world.  You can find this article, and many others of equal value, on Mike’s website at www.leadinganswers.com. Enjoy!

Hi everyone! Wow! It has been a while since I released a new show! Thanks so much for hanging in there with me. Today’s episode is an introduction to the new PMI-SVCast, the new podcast I’m producing for the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute!  The website is in the final stages of being “branded” but I have a new interview posted with Gopal Kapur and thought this would be a great opportunity to provide you, dear listener, with some new content and introduce you to the new podcast at the same time!  If you’d like to check out the new podcast, you can find us at http://www.pmi-svcast.com/ or thru iTunes! 

And I have two winners of the long awaited book giveaway, Agile Estimating and Planning, by Mike Cohn!  Ron Holohan of pm411.org, a new project management podcast, and Janice Webb!  Congratulations to you both!  

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Technorati tags: agile estimating,software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

Here’s a quick message about the podcast and what I’ve been up to! There are still a few days left to get in on the drawing for one of two books from Mike Cohn on Agile Estimating and Planning. If you’d like to receive Mike’s book, please e-mail me at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com by April 30, 2007. Good luck!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Technorati tags: agile estimating,software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

See, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth!

I’m still hanging in there with keeping my podcast alive!  Life has just been so incredibly crazy, with starting classes, studying for the GMAT and getting the new podcast for my local PMI chapter up and running!  I have a couple of great interviews “in the can” that I will be releasing in the next couple of weeks and I hope you continue to stay tuned! 

Hi everyone!  There is a great new project management site I wanted to tell you about!  The Project Management Learning Center (www.projectmanagementlearningcenter.com) is a Global online collaboration site for project managers with members from all over the globe.  Shawn Futterer, PMP, is the creator of the PMLC and his goal for the site is to provide a highly interactive space for Project Managers to network, learn, share ideas and lessons learned, to promote the industry, locate jobs and much more…

I’ve signed on as a premium member and look forward to seeing more Controlling Chaos listeners participating soon!  You’ll even be able to find my podcast on the PMLC site!

Okay … so a few days turn out to be ten …

The long awaited interview with Mike Cohn from Mountain Goat Software and author of Agile Estimating and Planning has arrived! Thank you to you all for hanging in there with me and coming back for a listen. In today’s episode, Mike and I chat a bit about his book, Agile Estimating and Planning, and get into more specifics around estimating the agile way. If you’re interested in checking out Planning Poker for yourself, you can find Mike’s fun on-line application at www.planningpoker.com.

Corsin Huonder from Switzerland is the latest winner in the Controlling Chaos giveaway for a copy of Elizabeth Harrin’s new book, Project Management in the Real World. Congratulations Corsin! The new giveaway is for a copy of Mike Cohn’s book, Agile Estimating and Planning. Mike provided me with two copies - both personally signed! If you’d like to receive Mike’s book, please e-mail me at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com by April 30, 2007. Good luck!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Technorati tags: agile estimating,software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

Hi everyone - I’m in Palo Alto this weekend taking a two-day Quantitative Review prep class to get me ready for the GMAT!  I’m absolutely brain dead but wanted to leave you a quick note that the podcast will be coming out in a few days.  I had a really fun and informative interview with Mike Cohn, of Mountaingoat Software and author of Agile Estimating and Planning, all about agile estimating, which I will be sharing on the next podcast!  I am positive you’ll learn as much listening as I did talking with Mike!  Thanks for your patience!

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Thanks to everyone who has written in or called wishing me the best of luck with getting my MBA!  This has been quite a journey already and I haven’t even been admitted to the program yet!  If you’re interested in keeping up on how things are going, I’ve started a personal blog where I’ll cover all the happenings - the good, the bad or the ugly!  I’ve got the link under my Blogroll (in the sidebar of this website) or you can find me at mbachaos.wordpress.com.

Is your own personal “brand” not what you want it to be? Listen in on today’s episode with dot beineix and learn a little something about what I went through to reengineer my brand! It was a fun discussion because I was the one being interviewed and its always fun talking with dot!

Derry Simmel is back with his PMO Minute (or two …) and I announce that we have two additional winners of MindJet’s MindManager software! MindJet was very generous in providing additional licenses and they also provided licenses for MindManager Pro 6! This is the deluxe version of MindManager and retails for $349! Paul Neuhardt from Oregon and Chuck Tomasi from Wisconsin joined Kathy Brenner from California and Frank Familiari from Texas in being lucky winners. Congratulations to you all!

The latest giveaway is for a copy of Elizabeth Harrin’s new book, Project Management in the Real World. If you’d like to receive Elizabeth’s book, please e-mail me at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com by February 28, 2007. Good luck!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Technorati tags: personal development,software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

On today’s episode, I chat with Eric Uyttewaal, PMP, the author of Dynamic Scheduling with Microsoft Office Project 2003, regarding the best way to build a dynamic project schedule.  What is a dynamic project schedule and what are the best practices to building one, you say? Take a listen and find out!  To find out more about Eric, his book or any one of his project scheduling seminars, please visit his website at http://www.projectprocorp.com/.

We have two lucky winners of MindJet’s MindManager software!  Kathy Brenner from the Silicon Valley (aka San Francisco south bay area - not too far from my digs!) and Frank Familiari from Fort Worth, Texas.  Congratulations to you both! 

The latest giveaway is for a copy of Elizabeth Harrin’s new book, Project Management in the Real World.  If you’d like to receive Elizabeth’s book, please e-mail me at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com by February 28, 2007. Good luck!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Technorati tags: software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

Recently, I had a very fun and informative discussion with Elizabeth Harrin, author of the book Project Management In The Real World, and very cool blog, A Girl’s Guide to Managing Projects, which I will be sharing with you all on today’s episode. We chat about project budgets, her book, her blog and how project management invades our daily lives! 

I’m finishing up my application to study this Fall for my MBA at UC Davis’s Graduate School of Business.  As a part of the application, I have to take the GMAT and have been studying like a maniac to get ready for the test. And I’ll be needing to take some additional courses between now and September to fill in the business-knowledge gaps from my IT undergraduate degree course work.  Unfortunately, that means I have to modify my podcasting release schedule to every other week.  Cornelius Fichtner, of the PM Podcast, and I will work on coordinating our release schedules (he releases bi-weekly as well) so there will be a project management podcast available every week for you all!

You still have a few more days to get your name in for the latest give away - MindJet’s MindManager mind mapping software. I have two copies of MindManager (PC or Mac) that I will be giving to some lucky listeners! E-mail me at mmgiveaway@controllingchaos.com or double your chances of winning and leave me a voice mail message at 800-758-4024. Make sure to contact me by January 31, 2007.

Since the latest giveaway is almost done, I am starting a new one! If you’d like a copy of Elizabeth Harrin’s new book, Project Management in the Real World, e-mail me at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com by February 28, 2007.  Good luck!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Technorati tags: software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

Bas de Baar has several great videos out on YouTube based on his book Surprise! Now You’re a Software Project Manager.  They are a lot of fun so make sure to take a peek while you’re waiting for the remainder of my conversation with Bas!  Here’s the latest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Vbc7ASr80

This time … technical difficulties on the magnitude of losing the second half of Bas’ interview!  Yikes!  Bas will be back on the show again, once we re-record our interview. It may be a bit before we can coordinate schedules. Next weekend I’ll have a new show for you all and a fun discussion with Elizabeth Harrin, author of the book Project Management In The Real World, and very cool blog, A Girl’s Guide to Managing Projects. We chat about her book and about project budgets.  Stay tuned!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Are you a new project manager or just play one on TV? This episode is for you! Recently, I had a fun conversation with Bas de Baar, a Project Manager from The Netherlands and author of the book “Surprise! You’re a Software Project Manager!“. Bas wrote the book for people with little or no project management experience but are expected to manage a software development project. It is chocked full of practical advice on where to start, what to focus on and how to get through your first project! Don’t let the title of the book fool you, though. This book isn’t just about managing a software development project. It addresses the core concepts and skills to manage any type of project.

For more information on Bas, go to his website www.softwareprojects.org! Enjoy!

The latest give away is for MindJet’s MindManager mind mapping software. I have two copies of MindManager (PC or Mac) that I will be giving to some lucky listeners! If you’d like to check out MindManager in the meantime, visit MindJet’s website and download either their 5-day or 21-day demo version. Want to hedge your bet a bit and have a better chance of winning a copy? Give me a buzz at 800.758.4024 and I’ll enter your name in the drawing twice! Or you can e-mail me at mmgiveaway@controllingchaos.com. Make sure to contact me by January 31, 2007.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Technorati tags: software development, project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

Happy 2007! For the first episode of the new year, I speak with Dr. Graham Oakes, founder and principal of Graham Oakes Ltd., a UK-based consultancy set up in 2003 to help organizations untangle complex technology, relationships, processes and governance. He has worked with organizations such as Sony, Amnesty International, Oxfam, Cisco, MessageLabs and the Open University to define and set up projects, and then to steer those projects to success. We had a very interesting conversation on keeping in touch with reality with effective project assurance and Graham shared a few tools that he uses that I, in turn, share with you under Helpful Resources! I have some listener feedback and Derry Simmel’s PMO Minute covers the topic of staffing.

The latest give away is for MindJet’s MindManager mind mapping software. I have two copies of MindManager (PC or Mac) that I will be giving to some lucky listeners! If you’d like to check out MindManager in the meantime, visit MindJet’s website and download either their 5-day or 21-day demo version. Want to hedge your bet a bit and have a better chance of winning a copy? Give me a buzz at 800.758.4024 and I’ll enter your name in the drawing twice! Or you can e-mail me at mmgiveaway@controllingchaos.com. Make sure to contact me by January 31, 2007.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful Resources from Graham Oakes:

• Independent Assurance Diagrams (Powerpoint)
• Project Review Template (Excel)
• Link to Graham’s workshop on February 2, 2007 in London: IT Project Assurance: Helping Sponsors, Project Managers and Senior Executives Meet Their Objectives

Technorati tags: project assurance, project+governance project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

Hi everyone - goodbye to 2006, hello 2007! This last year has been a very interesting one! But, I am really looking forward to seeing what ‘07 brings! I hope you all had a great holiday season and rang in the New Year with the ones you love. I know I did!

I have a great show coming up with Dr. Graham Oakes, who is a consultant based in the UK that specializes in helping organizations untangle complex technology, relationships, processes and governance. He has worked with organizations such as Sony, Amnesty International, Oxfam, Cisco, MessageLabs and the Open University to define and set up projects, and then to steer those projects to success. We had a very interesting conversation on effective project reviews and Graham shared a few tools that he uses that I will, in turn, share with you! But when, you say???

I wasn’t planning on taking a two week hiatus over the holidays from the show; however, it turned out that way due to my family obligations. Instead of slapping together a quick show and putting it out, I felt it was only fair and necessary that I put together a great show that was befitting of my guest as well as my listeners! And, that show … will be available this weekend.

I thank all of you for your continued support and hope you get as much knowledge and entertainment from the podcast as I do producing it! Hope 2007 is fabulously exciting and enriching for you all!

Dina

Technorati tags: project+governance project+management agile leadership scrum pmbok pmp pmo pmi project+manager

We step away from the world of Software Project Management today and speak with Preston Smith from New Product Dynamics about how to build flexibility into new product development projects. I know it’s hard to imagine, but there are more than just software development projects going on out in the world! Preston is a founder of the APLN and has been working on a book (to be published in October 2007) on taking Agile concepts and applying them to new product development projects. You can find more information on Flexible Product Development at Preston’s site http://flexibledevelopment.com!

We also have a winner for Jerry Manas’ book, Napoleon on Project Management! Well, actually, two winners! I received so many entries for Jerry’s book that he was kind enough to provide me with two books! Congratulations to Wasima Kahn from California and Uffe Koch from Denmark!

The latest give away is for MindJet’s MindManager mind mapping software. I have two copies of MindManager (PC or Mac) that I will be giving to some lucky listeners! If you’d like to check out MindManager in the meantime, visit MindJet’s website and download either their 5-day or 21-day demo version. Want to hedge your bet a bit and have a better chance of winning a copy? Give me a buzz at 800.758.4024 and I’ll enter your name in the drawing twice! Or you can e-mail me at mmgiveaway@controllingchaos.com. Make sure to contact me by January 31, 2007.

Programming note: There won’t be a new podcast for the weekend of 12.24.06 - taking some time off for the holidays!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

My Odeo Channel (odeo/043f93f55fc02bda)

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful Resources:

• Link to George Nattey’s SEI Taxonomy Mind Map (PDF version)
• Link to all of Tony Buzan’s books!

Technorati tags: Project Management, Agile, Product Management, project-management, Technology

Funny coincidence today … Mike Griffiths has a new article out on gantthead.com today on The Five Myths of Leadership.  And Controlling Chaos is listed under the Agile Podcasts on gantthead.com as of today!!! Make sure to check out Mike’s article - it’s very good!

First Cool Project Management Tool Episode! I sit down to talk with Tim Bombosch, PMP, about using MindJet’s MindManager software to help you succeed in developing and managing your projects more effectively - through all phases of your projects. And a new segment from Derry Simmel, PMO Minute, is introduced! Jammed packed episode full of great tools and tips!

So intrigued and excited about MindJet’s MindManager??? Well, I launched a new giveaway! I have two copies of MindManager (PC or Mac) that I will be giving to some lucky listeners! Want to hedge your bet a bit and have a better chance of winning? Give me a buzz at 800.758.4024 and I’ll enter your name in the drawing twice! Or you can e-mail me at mmgiveaway@controllingchaos.com. Make sure to contact me by January 31, 2007.

You also only have a few more days to get your name in for the book giveaway! Jerry Manas, the author of Napoleon on Project Management and guest on Episode 020, has provided me with a book for one lucky listener … including a personalized autograph! If you would like to be included in the drawing for this great book, please e-mail me before December 15, 2006 at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful resources:

• Wikipedia entry for Mind Mapping
• Download a free trial version of MindJet’s MindManager 6
• Download MindManager Viewer 6
• Link to download MindJet’s new Project Planning guide and sample maps
• Derry Simmel’s sample MindManager map “Building a PMO“

You get a whole lot of Dina in this episode! I share some listener feedback, introduce a new segment called ‘If you were in my shoes …’ where one Controlling Chaos listener shares a situation or issue for review and feedback from the other listeners, announce that listening to podcasts can now earn you PDU’s towards your PMP continuing education requirement and then … I finish my discussion with Doug DeCarlo, author of eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles, and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility, on Critical Success Factor #3 from his book: The Flexible Project Model. Doug and I finish up the Speculate cycle and round off our discussion reviewing the Innovate, Evaluate and Disseminate cycles. Please check the links below for more information on The Flexible Project Model.

Also, don’t forget about the book give away! Jerry Manas, the author of Napoleon on Project Management and guest on Episode 020, has provided me with a book for one lucky listener … including a personalized autograph! If you would like to be included in the drawing for this great book, please e-mail me before December 15, 2006 at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful resources:

• Articles by Doug DeCarlo on the Flexible Project Model:

• The Time Box

• Innovate: The Doing — Learning as You Go

• Re-evaluate: The Reviewing — Deciding the Future

• Disseminate: The Harvesting–Reaping the Benefits

• Focused Performance - blog by Frank Patrick

• Earned Value Management and Critical Chain Management with Sciforma PS8

In this podcast, I share the first of a two-part discussion with Doug DeCarlo, author of eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles, and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility, on Critical Success Factor #3 from his book: The Flexible Project Model. Doug gives us an overview of the five cycles of The Flexible Project Model and we start to delve into the first two cycles - Visionate and Speculate. Please check the links below for more information on The Flexible Project Model.

Also, as a reminder, I have a new book give away! Jerry Manas, the author of Napoleon on Project Management and guest on Episode 020, has provided me with a book for one lucky listener … including a personalized autograph! Because I have been a bit late on the podcasts lately, I’ve extended the timeframe for the drawing. If you would like to be included in the drawing for this great book and perfect addition to your Project Management library, please e-mail me before December 15, 2006 at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful resources:

• Articles by Doug DeCarlo on the Flexible Project Model:

• Introduction to the Flexible Project Model
• Visionate: The What? (Part 1) — Capturing the Sponsor’s Vision
• Visionate: The What? (Part 2) — Establishing the Collective Vision
• Speculate: The How — The Planning and Post Meetings

Hi everyone! I was hoping my schedule was going to loosen up a bit and allow me to put out my shows on a more frequent basis … alas, tis not so. I was in the beautiful cities of Chicago and Washington DC the last two weeks for work and wasn’t at home to do my podcasts.  I have a feeling my schedule will be crazy like this until at least the holidays are over and 2007 is upon us. So, please hang in there with me! I’ll be a little spotty with my releases but I’ve got some great interviews lined up and Lee will be back and joining me again on a few episodes as well. It’ll be worth the wait!  Thanks!

I am very pleased to have Diana Larsen from FutureWorks Consulting and Esther Derby of Esther Derby & Associates join me on today’s show to discuss Secrets of Agile Teamwork. Diana and Esther are consultants, workshop leaders and co-authors of Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great. Listen in and learn the secrets!

This week I am also starting a new book give away! Jerry Manas, the author of Napoleon on Project Management and guest on Episode 020, has provided me with a book for one lucky listener … including a personalized autograph! If you would like to be included in the drawing for this great book and perfect addition to your Project Management library, please e-mail me before November 30, 2006 at bookgiveaway@controllingchaos.com.

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful resources:

• Link to more information on “Secrets of Agile Teamwork” workshop in Portland, OR, USA on December 5 - 7, 2006.
• Link to more information on “Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great” workshop in Vancouver, BC, Canada on November 20 & 21, 2006.
• Esther Derby’s blog “Insights You Can Use“
• Diana Larsen’s blog “Partnership & Possibilities“

I’m late again … crazy end of the year project closings at work … traveling … getting in the way of my podcasting! Today’s episode is with Mike Griffiths to discuss applying earned value management to Agile projects. This is a hard topic to discuss without visual aids so please visit Mike’s blog, Leading Answers, to read more about EVM and Agile.

Also, a very big congratulations to Mark Thompson of Buford, Georgia, USA, for winning Doug DeCarlo’s book, eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility! Keep an ear out for the next podcast … I’ll be starting a new book give away!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Helpful Resources:

• Agile and Earned Value Reporting: a white paper by Mike Griffiths and Anthony Cabri chock full of graphs to illustrate burn up/burn down charts and how to use them to calculate modified EVM for your Agile project.

Mike Griffiths, a regular contributor to the Controlling Chaos podcast, has a great article on his Leading Answers blog, about Agile and “Traditional” PMI Methods. I really like Mike’s views on how Agile and other more traditional methods can work together and how one is not necessarily better than the other - they are different tools for different types of projects. Which is something we’ve been saying a lot on this podcast!

Here’s a quote from Mike’s article: “As it turns out, I do not see a problem with having the two, often contradictory, approaches available. The advice they embody are like toolkits to be drawn on as project and organizational characteristics demand. If faced with a custom software development project I would use an agile approach. If asked tasked with scheduling 500 staff through a training course, a traditional approach might be appropriate. I may use a combination of approaches on a single project, for instance agile software development, followed by a traditional deployment and training plan. I think they key is fully understanding the use and applicability of each approach and then making the intelligent selection.”

If you’d like to read Mike’s full article and get a preview of his presentation, “Utilising Agile Methods alongside the PMBOK Guide” which he’ll be giving at the Agile Business Conference and Leadership Summit , November 7 - 9 in London, England, please check out his blog at www.leadinganswers.com.

Also keep an eye out for Mike on an upcoming Controlling Chaos episode!

Jerry Manas, the author of Napoleon on Project Management, joins me in this episode to discuss the events that lead to Napoleon’s rise, the key principles that enabled his repeated success, and the ill-fated actions that caused his downfall. Great lessons for project managers! Enjoy!

Just as a reminder, Doug DeCarlo donated a copy of his great book, eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility to one lucky listener! If you want to be that lucky listener, please e-mail me at feedback@controllingchaos.com and put “eXtreme Project Management book” in the subject line. You have until October 31, 2006 to e-mail me your entry! I’ll be randomly choosing one listener from the e-mails I receive that will be the lucky recipient of Doug’s book!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Are you stuck with a Zombie Project? Don’t know what a Zombie Project is? Well, you need to listen to this podcast! Lee is back with me for this episode and we spoke with Payson Hall of the Catalysis Group all about risk communication tools that can help you keep your projects safe from becoming the Walking Dead!

Just as a reminder, Doug DeCarlo donated a copy of his great book, eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility to one lucky listener! If you want to be that lucky listener, please e-mail me at feedback@controllingchaos.com and put “eXtreme Project Management book” in the subject line. You have until October 31, 2006 to e-mail me your entry! I’ll be randomly choosing one listener from the e-mails I receive that will be the lucky recipient of Doug’s book!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

• More information on “The Leadership Quadrant: 4 Ps for Organizational Excellent” seminar, November 15 - 16, 2006 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
• Article: Escaping the Clutches of Zombie Projects by Payson Hall

This podcast concludes my discussion with Doug DeCarlo, consultant, keynote speaker, one of the founders of the Agile Project Leadership Network, and author of eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility. I also share some listener feedback and include some helpful resources below from Ian Stanley and Darcy Pach.

Doug donated a copy of his great book to one lucky listener! If you want to be that lucky listener, please e-mail me at feedback@controllingchaos.com and put “eXtreme Project Management book” in the subject line. You have until October 31, 2006 to e-mail me your entry! I’ll be randomly choosing one listener from the e-mails I receive that will be the lucky recipient of Doug’s book!

This podcast is sponsored by GoToMeeting.com! Online Meetings Made Easy!

Try it Free for 45 days - use Promo Code “Podcast”

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

• eXtreme Project Management department on gantthead.com

• Fast Track Scheduler 9 - Darcy Pach forwarded this link for more information on Fast Track Scheduler 9. Also, since he’s a Grad student, he was able to purchase the software for $99USD instead of the normal retail price of $349USD.

• Links from Ian Stanley:

• One I use heavily for Prince2 programs is http://www.projectinabox.org.uk/. It is available in a FREE community edition and a professional edition.
• Another one of merit - but better for software development projects is Instep http://www.microtool.de/instep/en/instep_prince.asp
• Also Crazy Colour has a nice Prince2 quick reference card to download or buy a laminated version: http://www.crazycolour.com/p2/0008.shtml
• P2ware’s Product Based Planning
  http://www.p2ware.com/Default.aspx

Hi everyone - I am very pleased to announce the Controlling Chaos Podcast has a new sponsor! GoToMeeting.com - Easy online meetings … Anytime Anywhere! If you’ve ever wanted to do a meeting online, GoToMeeting.com is a great service to use! To give it a shot, click on the banner to the right or the link above to try it for free! It’s super easy to get set up and you don’t even need to enter in a credit card to get started! Just make sure to click on the banner or link above, and when filling out the quick online application, enter “Podcast” in the Promo Code box for a 45-day free trial.

This episode covers the second part of my discussion with Doug DeCarlo, consultant, keynote speaker, one of the founders of the Agile Project Leadership Network, and author of eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility. We discuss how reality is the plan and how important it is to manage a project with unknowns differently from a project with knowns. We also touch on the 4 Accelerators for unleashing motivation and innovation on your project, and the 4 Business Questions. I also wish my good friend and fellow podcaster, Cornelius Fichtner of The Project Management Podcast, a very happy one year birthday and congratulations on reaching his 50th episode milestone!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources

eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility

Overview of the eXtreme Project Management Model

I am so excited to present to you, dear listener, the first part of my interview with Doug DeCarlo, consultant, keynote speaker, one of the founders of the Agile Project Leadership Network, and author of eXtreme Project Management: Using Leadership, Principles and Tools to Deliver Value in the Face of Volatility. This is one of my favorite books and if you are a fan of Agile methods or want to learn more about the benefits of Agile methods, Doug is the author to read and listen to! He also heads the eXtreme Project Management department on gantthead.com (one of my fav PM web portals). In this episode, I also share some links that a listener, Ian Stanley, provided on project management web-based tools for Mac users and some listener questions/feedback. Learn well!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

Freeware or shareware tools

• http://www.sharedplan.com/ Shared Plan
• http://www.projectwizards.net/en/merlin/features Merlin
• http://www.app4mac.com/xtime.html XTime Project
• http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibiz/ iBiz (used to be called iWork)

Hi everyone - Mike Griffiths, who was the guest on Episodes 010 and 011 on Agile Project Management, has a new blog available called Leading Answers: Leadership and Agile Project Management ideas, observations and resources. It’s a super site with great articles and links to resources that all “Agile-philes” will find interesting and useful! Please take a few minutes to check it out and keep your ears peeled for another visit from Mike to the podcast sometime in the near future!

Wayne Hart and I had a chance to talk with Nancy Tigner, a Senior HR Professional, on the importance of creating your own personal branding. Who are you, what does your work stand for? Want more information on how to create your own personal brand? Check out the helpful resources below! Enjoy!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

For Your Improvement: A Development and Coaching Guide, Michael Lombardo, Robert Eichenger

Make It Work: Navigate Your Career Without Leaving Your Organization, Joe Frodsham and Bill Gargiulo

Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence, David Keirsey

What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stphen Covey

Recently I sat with Derry Simmel, who is a PMO consultant and the Vice-Chair of Membership for the PMO SIG, to talk about how important it is for the PMO to remain independent to maximize effectiveness. I also cover a few listener e-mails! Please make sure to check out the helpful resources below! Happy listening!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

Derry Simmel’s blog “All About Project Management Offices”

Info on Prince2 Process Model

Programme Management & MSP: A Three-Minute Brief

Better late than never! Thanks so much for your patience in waiting for the podcast! Today’s podcast covers organizational culture, change and project management. Wayne Hart, PMP, and I had an interesting conversation on the importance of understanding your corporate culture and how to work within that culture to be successful in managing your projects. Please make sure to check out a few of the resources we have listed below! Happy listening!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player.

Helpful Resources:

Book: Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar H. Schein

Book: The Corporate Culture Survival Guide by Edgar H. Schein

Book: Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership by Bollman & Deal

Info on Organizational Culture from Wikipedia

Article: Building a Supportive Culture by Katherine M. Denton

Article: Culture Club by Mark E. Mullaly, PMP

Article: Cultural Evolution by Daintry Duffy

Article: Culture Clash by Patricia Ensworth

Hi all - life seems to be insinuating itself again into my podcasting time!  For this week’s episode, I have a fun discussion with Wayne Hart, PMP, on the importance of culture and project management. Wayne and I had so much fun that we rambled on for over an hour.  Needless to say, I need to do some editing!  I apologize for the delay … this seems to be happening more frequently but I am still committed to the podcast!  There are many exciting things happening at Controlling Chaos and we get new listeners every day.  I could use some more feedback on how we’re doing!!!! Shoot me off a quick message and let me know if there are any topics you’d like us to cover.

Hi everyone - We have a listener and friend in Sri Lanka that has a great blog, Projectized, who recently wrote about a Scrum “practice” project (Easy Scrum -2) she did recently with her team. This is a great way to introduce Agile concepts to your team - using new concepts and a familiar product deliverable to illustrate how successful Agile methods, in Thushara’s case, Scrum, can be!  It’s really a great blog entry and I had fun learning about Vesak Lanterns!  Check it out when you have the time!

In today’s episode, Lee and I talk with Mark Horstman of the Manager Tools podcast on using the DiSC model for more effective communication. Manager Tools is currently the #1 business podcast in iTunes in the US and in Canada. Mark and his partner, Mike Auzenne, produce a weekly podcast covering management topics and steps you can take today to become a better manager. So many of their topics are very relevant to the world of project managers as well! If you’d like more information on the DiSC model, please become a registered member of the Manager Tools website and you’ll have access to their special monthly podcasts - the March, April, May, and June podcasts cover each of the four communication types in detail. Enjoy!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player.

Helpful Resources:

Summary of the DiSC model

How to use the DiSC to be More Effective Every Day Cheat Sheet

Manager Tool’s episode on Improving Your Feedback which talks about the DiSC model

Link to Manager Tool’s forum

Today we finish up my conversation with Mike Griffiths from Quadrus Development and the APLN on Agile Project Management. I appreciate everyone’s patience with the delay in posting the rest of the interview! Mike discusses several great resources for learning more about Agile and those are listed below under Helpful Resources.

Click here to listen to this episode using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources

Managing the Design Factory by Donald G. Reinersten

Agile and Iterative Development: A Managers Guide by Craig Larman

Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products by Jim Highsmith

Hi everyone! I’ve just listed Controlling Chaos out on the new podcast directory called Blubrry. It was created by Todd Cochrane and his team to bring podcasters and listeners together to provide and listen to excellent podcast content. If you’re familiar with PodShow.com, Blubrry is a similar site but not so chaotic (pun intended!). PodShow is a little more “MySpace” for my taste and not as easy to use as Blubrry. If you aren’t familiar with Blubrry, please check it out!

Hi all - The second part of my interview with Mike Griffiths on Agile Project Management is running late this week. Life and system issues got in the way! The next installment will be available this weekend.  It’s worth the wait and thanks for listening!

I had an opportunity to speak with Mike Griffiths of Quadrus Development in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Agile Project Management. It is a great interview and we had so much information to share, of course, that I am releasing it in two parts. I share some listener feedback and there is a lot of great links to helpful resources listed below. Please make sure to check them out! Look for the remainder of my interview with Mike next week. Happy listening!

Click here to listen to this episode using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

• Derry Simmel’s blog - About PMO’s
• Bill Ramos’s blog - Project Management for Slackers (loved the name!)
• White paper on Mindjet MindManager Pro v6. - tool for creating WBS’s
• Tony Rizzo’s website on Robust Project Design
• Agile Project Leadership Network’s website
• Agile Alliance’s website
• DSDM Consortium’s website

This week’s episode is all about Work Breakdown Structures - what they are, why you use them (regardless of the ‘methodology’ you follow), and why they are so darn fascinating! Okay, maybe not so fascinating but very important! I’ve added some examples in the Helpful Resources section to help illustrate our discussion! Also, because of the great lineup we have for you in the next couple of weeks, I’ll be holding off on starting the segment on eXtreme Project Management. Happy listening!

Click here to listen to this episode using your own Media Player!

Helpful Resources:

• Link to WBS Chart Pro by Critical Tools (tool used to create graphical WBS’s)
• Sample Generic SDLC WBS in Microsoft Word
• Sample Generic SDLC WBS in Microsoft Project
• Sample Generic SDLC WBS in WBS Chart Pro
• Sample Landscaping Project WBS in Microsoft Project
• Sample Landscaping Project WBS in WBS Chart Pro
• Effective Work Breakdown Structures by Gregory T. Haugan (Book)
• The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh (Book)

In today’s episode, we finish up the conversation I had with Saul Ackovitz, PMP, on implementing project management best practices. I didn’t want to cut any of the great content out, so the segment on eXtreme Project Management and the first part of the discussion Lee and I had on work breakdown structures will be posted with the next episode. Thanks for listening!

Click here to listen to this episode using your own Media Player!

Today’s episode covers the first part of a discussion I had with Saul Ackovitz, PMP, about his role in implementing project management best practices in a large, financial services company. I also played a promo clip from www.fivebyfiveaudio.com, Rem LaVictoire’s (aka the “voice” of Controlling Chaos!) new website offering his professional voice services to corporations and podcasters alike. Check in for our next episode when we cover the remainder of my discussion with Saul, Lee and I start our discussion on work breakdown structures, and I introduce a new segment on Extreme Project Management. Thanks for listening!

Click here to listen to this podcast using your own media player!

Today, we conclude the discussion Lee and I had on Project Team Development and I provide a link to a great website chockfull of helpful project management templates. I also talk about an interview I did recently with Cornelius Fichtner of The Project Management Podcast all about our little ol’ podcast! Make sure to check out his latest episode and subscribe to his podcast, if you haven’t already! It’s terrific!

Click here to listen to this podcast (using your own media player)!

Helpful Resources

Link to The Project Management Podcast website (www.thepmpodcast.com)

Link to www.e-projectmanagers.com - FREE project management templates

Lee and Dina discuss how to develop a high-performing project team. It is not easy but it can be done! This podcast covers the first part of our discussion - covering Tuckman’s team development model and the forming and storming phases of team development. Next week’s podcast will cover the remainder of our discussion.

Click here to listen to this week’s podcast (using your own media player)

Helpful Resources:

Leadership: Using the Tuckman model (from www.teamtechnology.co.uk)

Bruce Tuckman’s 1965 Forming Storming Norming Performing team-development model (from www.businessballs.com)

Group Dynamics entry from Wikipedia

I’m back from vacation! Thanks to everyone for being patient and waiting for part two of my interview with Rene Tyner regarding Scrum methodology. We’ve received some great feedback on the first part of the interview and I hope you enjoy the rest! Lee and I will be back together for the next podcast when we discuss Politics and Project Management!

Click here to listen to this week’s podcast!

Hi all - a quick message as to why there is no new podcast this week!  Keep your subscriptions!  Episode 004 will be posted eventually!

Click here to listen to Dina’s message

In today’s podcast, I am running solo … Lee wasn’t able to join me for this podcast but he will be back for Episode 005! You will hear part 1 of an interview I did with Rene Tyner, a Certified Scrum Master and PMP Certified Project Manager, discussing Scrum, an Agile project methodology primarily used for software application development projects. This interview was so packed full of great information that I didn’t want to cut out a thing … so, I am releasing it in two parts! I also cover some listener feedback and have included links to the resources George Nattey shared with us to share with you all! Enjoy!

Click here to listen to this project management podcast!

Helpful Resources:

Click here for George Nattey’s revised Risk Management Plan spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel)
Carnegy Mellon/SEI Risk Management site (overview of Risk Management)

Australian Standard 4360 Risk management portal

Link to information on Scrum

We have several ways to get in touch and welcome your comments, feedback and suggestions! If you’re calling from the US or Canada, please feel free to use our toll free number 800-758-4024. We are still working on setting up international toll free service; however, in the meantime, you can us at +1-916-405-3784. We’d love hear from you via email as well! Write us at feedback@controllingchaos.com or even leave a comment on our show notes!

Hi everyone! Yes, there will be another podcast coming along … I promise. Life has just gotten in the way this week but we have an awesome interview with Rene Tyner coming up, who is a Certified Scrum Master, and we’ll be discussing Scrum methodology with her … probably in two parts. Lee and I have received some great feedback and we’ll be sharing a few of the e-mails with you!  Keep your eyes and RSS feeds peeled for the next episode!

Today’s episode of Controlling Chaos covers the basics of Risk Management. Risk management is synonymous with Project Management. Lee and I talk about what risk management is, why it is important to manage risk regardless of the size of your project and how to integrate a solid, yet easy, risk management methodology into your project. We introduce a very simple template that you can use to start logging your risks and issues, analyze their impacts/probability of happening, and plan to address your identified risks - proactive as well as reactive plans. Properly managing risks in your project helps to reduce the ambiguity in your project and allows your team to work more effectively. Also, hear Lee give an example of risk management from the ABC show “Lost”!

Click Here to listen to this project management podcast!

Helpful Resources:

Click Here for sample Risk Management Plan spreadsheet

In today’s podcast, Lee and I explain a little about who we are, how we got into Project Management and our thoughts around what Project Management means to us. We laugh a lot and share what we’re hoping the podcast will be when it grows up.

Click here to listen

Lee and I sat down for our very first official recording session last night. It went great … well, at least we think it turned out great!  Still working on our logo and web design - hopefully, we’ll have a little personality showing.  In the meantime, I put up a quick logo since we’re in iTunes now. Will be editing over the weekend and hope to have our first official episode up and running by Sunday.

Here is the first trial run at a podcast intro. Lee wasn’t available this weekend to record with me so I took a shot at it by myself. It’s a little rough but at least Rem’s intro and extro sounds good! Setting up your website to include feeds and getting them out in the podcast directories is no easy thing! It would have taken me days (if ever) to figure this out! A very big thank you to Cliff Ravenscraft of the Generally Speaking Podcast Network for helping set up our feeds! He is truly the Podcasting Guru!
Click here to listen to the sample file!

Things are moving along!  The equipment is set up, the intro and extro are recorded (and sound awesome, I may add) and have been doing some practice recordings.  I was amazed that our little to-be podcast received a plug on The Project Management Podcast! Cornelius found our website by chance and talked about a new project management podcast in the works!  I Skype’d him on Sunday and introduced myself.  What a great guy!  I’m looking forward to collaborating with him in the future.  Lee and I will be working Continue reading ‘We’re almost there!’

I just received Adobe Audition 2.0 Classroom in a Book from Amazon.com. I’ve started working through the first lesson but I’ve already learned so much about Audition! It’s a great editing and recording software package and this book is great for someone like me who had no exposure to edit/recording software in general, let alone Audition. If you’re wanting to learn how to use this software for your podcast, this is a must!

Adobe Audition 2.0 Classroom in a Book

Equipment!  Can putting a podcast together be any more complicated? I guess it doesn’t have to be but I’m pretty picky about quality! Since I’m going to have a co-host (or guest host … not sure how this is all going to work out), I decided my equipment set up needed to be a bit more portable. Tee Morris of “Podcasting for Dummies” podcast and author of that thrilling tale, “MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana” turned me on to the M-Audio MobilePre USB Portable Audio Interface, which can be found at www.musiciansfriend.com, that has a MXL990 condenser mic included for free! So, I Continue reading ‘Changing directions!’

Adobe Audition 2.0 came in yesterday and I am just itching to install it!  I’ve downloaded all of Bruce Williams’ “Building the pod” podcasts and plan on going through them one by one as I learn how to use Audition.  I also purchased a MXL990 condenser microphone with shockmount, M-Audio 2496 audio card, and a Behringer Eurorack UB1002FX 4-Channel mixer. So far, I’ve made a sizeable investment; however, I am pretty committed to putting out the best podcast I can out of the shoot so it’s worth it. 

I’ve been working on recording my voice to get used to the process. I had no idea this would be so difficult! I don’t think anyone really knows how they sound until they’ve been Continue reading ‘Equipment on its way and other thoughts …’

Well, he’s been around a while. Have a new co-host to join my insanity - Lee! I’ll let him post his own blog and introduce himself.  While we work out all the details, I’m continuing my research on equipment and still waiting for Audition 2.0 to show up.

The podcasting community is so great!  I sent Bruce Williams of audio2u.com an e-mail asking about equipment recommendations and he responded right back!  He’s in Sydney, Australia!  Provided a lot of valuable advice on what equipment to look for and what equipment to stay away from. As soon as Audition 2.0 shows up, I’m going to start listening to his podcast on how to use Audition 2.0. It’s a whole series of podcasts covering how to use the software.  Sweeeeeet! 

 I’ve also been working with a guy that I met through Cliff Ravenscraft’s podcast, Generally Speaking, to work on our intro and outro and just talk about podcasting.  His name is Rem and he has been so great to work with!  I’ve been having a blast talking to him on Skype, sharing links to equipment I’ve been looking at, and talking about pod-safe music.  Another example of how wonderful the podcasting community is … why should some guy in Calgary want to help me?  It’s all about the podcasting, baby …

In the last couple of days, I’ve been doing a lot of research on the hardware and software needed to produce a professional-sounding podcast.  Knowing myself the way I do, we can’t go out of the gate sounding like I’m talking into my microphone on my laptop.  So, ponying up some dough will be required.  I’ve been looking at microphones, audio cards for my Dell XPS400, mixing boards, recording & editing software … basically, enough stuff to scare me off from this endeavor.  I do not have any, and I mean ANY, experience with recording anything other than my voice mail box message at work.  Needless to say, I have a hard learning curve ahead.

I’m still reviewing my Podcasting for Dummies book and listening to Tee Morris’ companion podcast for the book.  And have found several other podcasts that are dumping oodles of info into my head at an alarming rate!  One especially helpful podcast is “Building the Pod” available on audio2u.com. I’ve decided to purchase Adobe Audition 2.0 as for my recording and editing software and his podcast is all about using Audition 2.0 for producing podcasts!  How is that for the perfect podcast for my needs???  I am going to look for another book that will help me understand all the ins and outs of recording sound. 

I’ve also purchased an iRiver to do my “reporter on the go” recordings … when (if?) I do some interviews.  It’s a good thing I love gadgets!  I would have used my well-loved video iPod but no one has released a microphone attachment yet for it! I understand Griffin Technology is releasing the iTalkPro but there is not release date in sight yet.  Can’t wait that long.

I’m also speaking with someone I met through Cliff Ravenscraft’s podcast to produce my  my intro and outro!  That is going to be really exciting!  I’ll have a professional-sounding introduction to a podcast that I don’t even know how to produce yet!  How is that for working backwards???

Okay.  So here’s the thing. I don’t blog. I’ve never done a podcast. I don’t even like the sound of my own voice.  Why am I even entertaining the idea of creating a podcast? Because I like podcasts, I love project management, and I think this would be a great hobby to get into! I listen to a lot of podcasts right now - mostly for entertainment but also to get some tips and tricks on how to do it right.  Some of the podcasts/vidcasts I am listening to right now are Slice of Scifi, The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack, Cast On, Podcast 411, Jack Black’s Nacho Libre (that guy cracks me up!), Joe Satriani’s Super Colossal Vidcast (samples of tracks off his new CD), and Podcasting for Dummies (yes, I still consider myself a dummy in this area). 

So, what have I been up to in creating my super duper, incredibly fantastic new podcast on the joys and wonders that are Project Management?  Well, for starters, I got my own website!  Set up my show notes/blogging app through Word Press, set up a Skype number, downloaded Audacity, learning how to ftp files, and practicing on recording and getting used to my own voice.  Yes, there are easier ways to get started but being the perfectionist that I am, I need to have all the bells and whistles.  And, I have to do my first podcast right so I’m going to spend a little time learning how to use all this stuff.  The sound mixing sounds incredibly complicated.  But, I’m pretty good at figuring out all this geeky stuff as I go along. 

For this next week, I am going to start creating sound files, and think about what my intro and outro music should be (or even have any???) and see if I can talk a friend into being my co-host.  One thing I’ve learned over the years, I’m not very funny on my own.

Am I nutty for even trying this???