Marching Orders

Define The Problem

Always start by defining the problem or need being addressed.

• Use the Five Why's : ask "Why" five times until you get to the root of the problem.
• Consider a formal business case as part of a request/ governance process. This helps confirm the problem's criticality and validity.
• Write a mission statement that declares the problem being addressed-the project's reason for being.

Develop A Strategy

Organize for success.

• Build a core team and subteam leads as needed.
• Addressed stakeholders early and often.
• Define and communicate guiding principles.
• Establish processes, systems and tools.
• Maintain momentum; look for sources of motivation.

Strategize on a solution.

• Determine the requirements.
• Analyze the situation, focusing on the critical issues. This may require a preliminary risk analysis.
• Define alternate strategies and select the best one.

Create A Vision.

Craft a clear and inclusive vision.

• If you are not in a position to create the vision, be sure that you understand and can articulate the vision.
• Remember SMART-Specific, Measurable, Aligned, Realistic,Time-bound.
• Build a shared or co created vision if possible. At the very least, consider the perspectives of all stakeholders.
• Find the passionate need or fear that the project addressed. Sell the vision with examples and stories that clearly show the need.
• If cost reduction must be part of the vision, be sure it is framed in context with a long term strategy and combined with positive rewards and other uplifting goals and mile-stones.
  

The Rise to Power

The lessons to be learned from Napoleon's career are timeless just as applicable to modern-day project manager or business leader as to a military general in the nineteenth century. Napoleon's advice is as relevant today as it was two hundred years ago - the value of a good memory and mathematical skills, the importance of being calm and visible, and the virtues of making difficult but informed decisions and selling them accordingly. With this solid foundation laid, we can begin the next leg of our journey and discover how Napoleon used these skills and philosophies to become the ruler of all Western Europe - and how we can use the same skills to assure success for our projects.

Develop A Good Memory.
Increase your memory through association, repetition, and use of a PDA or memory system. It will help you to :-

• build by remembering people's names and interests.
• select the right people for your team by remembering their backgrounds, work habits, strengths, and weaknesses.
• motivate your team by remembering people's individual needs.
• recall small details that might come back to haunt you later.
• make better presentations by avoiding the overuse of PowerPoint as a crutch.

Harness The Power Of Mathematics.
Calculate - do not guess. Increase your mathematical skills by taking statistics classes and learning useful algorithms. This can help you :

• select the right projects, based on calculated costs and benefits.
• produce accurate estimate that consider risk and probability.
• judge quality using statical controls and measures.
  
• determine the impact of adding resources, by calculating the additional communication channel required.
• plan for potential problems using risk-probability analysis.
• make better decisions using risk and decision-tree analysis.
• predict cost and schedule overruns as early as 15 percent into the project using earned value analysis.

Stay Cool and Collected.
Remain cool and collected at all times. This can help you:

• promote a positive atmosphere.
• avoid unnecessary panic by your team.
• inspire others to act the same way.

Go Among The Soldiers.
Be visible to your team, Use the MBWA (Management by wandering around)approach. This can help you:

• inspire your team.
• build trust by getting to know your team personally.
• be available to address questions.
• get a sense of how your team is feeling - their concerns and needs.
• remove barriers that may be impeding your team's success.

Understanding the Futility of Tyranny.
Don't let a position of power trick you into thinking you can go it alone. Appointing a core team can help you:

• balance out ideas and gain various perspectives.
• build trust and respect by demonstrating participative leadership.
• become more efficient by sharing the leadership workload with others.
• implement a 360-degree feedback process. This allows you to
  see how you are perceived by others, make a needed adjustment to your style and grow as a leader and manager.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines day to you
Just for some reason i know that it true
With all of our beginnings
Came with endings
With all of our starts
We fell apart
But we stayed together threw thick and thin
No matter how many times again and again
A love so perfect a love so true
I would die if any thing happened to you
A love so pure a love so sweet
When we first met you knocked me off my feet
And now to end this by a saying
That i knew when i was a baby:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you
I hope you like this ending as much as i do
Nothing left to say except

No words could ever tell you,
No action could express
The way I feel about you,
With you, my life is blessed.

You're the light in my tunnel.
You are my pot of gold.
You are the strength that gets me through
When despair has taken hold.

You're my once in a lifetime.
You make my life complete.
You are my blue ribbon
In the shadow of defeat.

There's nothing I could ever say,
And nothing I could do
To let you know just how much
Love is in my heart for you.

February 09 , 2009 Sunday

Today, I woke up at 7.30 am. I can't sleep because of the noise of the fire cracker early in the morning. So i jump off from my bed. Go straight to bathroom, brush my teeth and wash my face. Oh ya, today is the last day of Chinese New Year and i need to pray to God. I do my laundry. Besides that quickly go online to see is my Husband is online. Unfortunate, he is still sleeping (if i not wrong).

Then, i start to packing my stuff and get ready all the necessary things that i need to bring along to Klang tomorrow. And get all the prayer stuff ready before i start praying. Around 9.00am, Husband nudge on my MSN. Then, we start to chit chat till 9.30am. I told him that i need to go wash my car and Tao pau wan tan mee for my breakfast.

Once i back, quickly ate my meal while chatting with him. I did pray to God. I really missing Husband so much, wish he is here with me always, my heart is always be with him whenever he go. After that, i start to do my Korean homework while chatting with Husband. We keep chatting till 5.30pm. Husband, looks very busy with his project and also rushing his presentation. We didn't talk much and i just keep doing my stuff.

Dinner time, Husband went out for dinner with his friend's Sam & Fanny to the nearby stall in the university campus. While i just eating 2 slices of bread because still not recovering my bad flu yet....Then Husband is back again, this time Husband keep doing his thing and i lying on the sofa while watching TV. We did chatting for awhile then i went straight to the bed early because i took medicine. I did send Husband SMS. Husband, i really love you and good night. Husband, Happy 3rd Anniversary to you...

Dear, 3rd Happy Anniversary....

The Anniversary is a time of reflection of the event that was experienced. It is healthy and natural to remember an event on the anniversary of the day it occurred. Moments of joy should be celebrated with joy. The same goes for sad occasions. These should not be ignored. Anniversaries of weddings and engagements are times to renew the love and affection that was felt during those times. They are an opportunity to bring the marriage to a higher level. Anniversaries are a function of the cyclical nature of the universe. The constellations become aligned in the way they were during that special occasion.

I dedicate this lovely poem to my beloved Hubby....Just for you....

Happy Anniversary my Sweet Love!
For you, I thank the God above
You’ve given me hope, inspiration and truth
Because of you I feel never-ending youth
When heavy storms have come our way
Your love has always made me stay

Each morning I wake and see you on the MSN or skype
I know in you, I’ve found my place
Our bond is extraordinary, handsome, and real
It’s remarkable how wonderful you make me feel
We belong together, you and I

That, the world cannot deny
Never in my life will I find another man
Who could ever fulfill me the way you can
The life we’ve shared this past year
Has proved forever it shall persevere
I will love you forever in every way
That will remain constant until my dying day.

I can still smile and say with love and
truth Hubby, I love you...Happy Anniversary.