Learning
from a Project “Post-mortem”
This past summer I decided I was going to try
my hand at a gardening project. I wanted
to start my own vegetable and herb garden. I thought it would be a piece of cake. Dirt, seeds, planters, Miracle Grow and
water, all the tools this city girl needed to start a vegetable and herb
garden.
I wrote
down which herbs and vegetables I wanted to grow, tomatoes, Bell peppers, Oregano,
Rosemary, Garlic Chives, and Pineapple Sage.
Then I made a list of items I would need. I then decided where I would plant this
garden. I started with oblong containers
for the herbs and vegetables to start. I
started the planting process. I put the
potting soil in the containers, and then the seeds in the containers marked for
them. Next I added the Miracle Grow,
more dirt and finally the water to start the growing process.
All was
starting to go well; I watered every day, made sure there was plenty of
sunlight for the plants. I felt very
proud of myself when I started to see the seeds sprouting. Once the tomato plants were big enough I
transplanted them into my planter to grow them upside down.
After the
sprouts and transplant of the tomatoes is where it all withered. I could not figure out why my plants were
dying. So I did what I should have done
while in the planning stage, I did some researching and reading. I found out that I transplanted my tomatoes
way to soon and drowned my herbs. Come
to find out herbs do not need to be watered every day. Now my peppers grew for a little while. Those three that did grow were very small. I learned that the next time to plant them in
bigger containers, less watering and to let nature do what she does best.
How does this apply to project management?
Well in
this case I wore all but one of the hats:
I was the client, ID and the PM. The only hat I did not wear was, that
of Mother Nature, who is the SME that I forgot to consult on this project. I did not conduct a thorough research of what
I was about to do. By not having the
complete and proper planning strategy resulted in a failing project. This year I am going to retry this project and
hope that I have better luck with it.
As I read
The Project Management Minimalist, I found
myself lingering on a section stating Three
Good Reasons to Take That Risk:(Greer2010)
·
Reason 1 – You’ll grow
I did.
I learned and grew in knowledge of what I was doing and what I needed to accomplish my goal.
·
Reason 2 – You’ll create something new
or amazing
“Most new or amazing creations are the
result of taking risks...”
·
Reason 3 – You’ll become inspired,
connect with your source, your God or the universe and acquire new energy.
I did become inspired by nature, closer
to God in thought of how
he created everything around me. The new energy came from
being inspired by having a hand in growing healthy vegetables
for my family.
he created everything around me. The new energy came from
being inspired by having a hand in growing healthy vegetables
for my family.
Greer, Michael The Project
Management Minimalist: Just Enough PM to Rock Your Projects!
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