My journey to the PMP - Part 1

As I embark on my last semester in the Information Engineering and Management (IEM) graduate program at UAB (the University of Alabama at Birmingham), I am filled with excitement, fear and nostalgia.

1. Excitement because this is my last semester 
2. Fear because I have agreed to study for, take and pass the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification exam as my final project 
3. Nostalgia because I have met some INCREDIBLE people on this journey and the thought of us potentially going our separate ways in April makes me sad

Nevertheless, as I mentioned, my final project is all about the PMP exam.  I’ve secured a project management dynamo – Brian Rabon of Brain Trust Consulting Group -- as my advisor.  As if that wasn’t enough to guarantee success, I also have Quanique Cotton -- my classmate, friend and an experienced PM – as my accountability person.  The bar has been raised and expectations are high. 

Below is the high-level plan with milestones.  Stay tuned to witness “My journey to the PMP” unfold :)

• Jan 7-8 class – PMP application completed 
• Feb 4-5 class -- studying for the exam and/or taking prep course 
• Mar 4-5 class -- studying for the exam and/or taking prep course
• Apr 1-2 class -- make arrangements to take the exam (if approved)
• Apr 22-23 -- have taken the exam and passed

Life changing moments ...

NOTE: This event took place on September 11, 2010. 
The young woman in the story was ok and was taken home by her family.

The day was going pretty well. I had just finished my first class for the weekend and had gone outside with my classmate and friend, Janie. We were having a very interesting conversation, which is normal for us -- for the life of me, I cannot remember what we were discussing.  Nevertheless, something happened during the course of this conversation that shook us both!

We noticed a young woman walking by us approaching the door to enter the building. The young woman had almost reached the door when it became obvious that something was wrong. By the time we assessed the situation and started moving towards her to see if she was ok, she collapsed and hit her head on the door. I will not go into detail beyond that but people came from everywhere to offer assistance. To witness people springing into action to help a fellow human being was remarkable. Having witnessed this on the anniversary of the Twin Towers falling, my faith was renewed in our species. In times of trouble, we are still able to put aside our differences and our self-centered motives to come to the rescue of those in need. It was remarkable! 

For those who left us as the result of the 9/11/2001 attack, their friends and family, and those who remain … GOD BLESS YOU!!!

A new chapter ...

Thanks to all of you for being conduits and vessels to bring about a change in me. I will never forget you!

The end of an era …

I am about to close a major chapter in my life.  Tomorrow will usher in the end of 14 years of service with my company.  It is hard to believe it’s over after 14 years and it is time for me to move on.  I’ve had some good days and I’ve had some bad days but I won’t complain!

I’m filled with excitement, a little anxiety and some spurts of nostalgia. It all really hit me this morning that I only have one more day left.  The "Baby" has finally grown up!

As the word of my leaving spread through the office, many people approached me with their story of what it’s been like working with me over the years.  I never realized how many people I’ve touched and how much I was appreciated.  It has been a very humbling experience and one that I am truly thankful to God for.

My new opportunity is on the other side of town so my surroundings will be completely unfamiliar. I can only liken it to going off to college and leaving home for the first time. My new company has welcomed me with open arms. They genuinely seem to be as happy to have me as I am to have them.

I am a Project Manager!!! Yay me :o)

So thankful …

I found myself in tears this morning as I drove to work. My tears were those of a thankful heart. This morning I had a moment of reflection on the highs and lows of my life and all the stuff in between. I reflected on all those character building moments that have molded me into the person I am today. I was filled with thankfulness to God – first and foremost – for never giving up on me (because I would have) and for those people in my life who have loved, appreciated and found value in me.

Coming out of my shell has been a truly rewarding experience.  I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences and have encountered some truly AWESOME human beings. The caterpillar has emerged as a glorious butterfly and loves every second of every day. I finally realized life has to be lived not observed. It’s a lot more fun being in the game than sitting on the bench watching.

Marketing and Me ...

What adjectives would you want attributed to your name? When people think of you or try to describe your defining qualities would they use terms like … honest, trustworthy, and dependable? Does being someone who is known for keeping their word important to you?

The deeper I dig into defining Sarenna Benjamin, not just as a person but also as a “company of one”, I realize that my strongest marketing tool for my “business” isn’t necessarily my logo or my catch phrase. My strongest marketing tool is the way I conduct myself in everything I do. Every person I come in contact with is a potential customer, partner, reference, networking opportunity, etc.

It seems like good customer service and living by the Golden Rule are becoming distant memories. For those who choose to maintain their integrity and to conduct themselves in an honorable manner even when they think no one is looking, there will always be opportunities and rewards.

Certified ScrumMaster ...

I am a CSM ... HURRAY!!!!!

I shall catch up someday …

When I realized it had been a full month (+) since my last post I was both shocked and disappointed. What started out as a declaration against “new year’s resolutions” has become one. Now that I recognize my failure and accept full responsibility for my lack of commitment to my word, I have got to find a way to fix it. I have decided to add blogging bi-weekly to my goals as a start.

To be continued …

It never ceases to amaze me how things just have a way of working themselves out. I was a little disheartened by losing the election because no one embarks on any adventure wanting to lose. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the outcome and feel good about the abilities of the current board.

The amazing part is how dramatically my life has changed (for the better) since that day. Each month of 2010 has brought bigger and better things into my life. I have so many “irons in the fire”, there is no way I could have devoted the amount of time needed to be successful as a full-time board member.

I would love to elaborate but now is not the time. I promise I will disclose all in a future post but for the protection of the innocent and to prevent the possibility of incriminating myself, I must evoke my 5th amendment right.  I’m joking but I do have to be a little secretive until everything is in place. I look forward to sharing the good news with you all shortly.

Until then, please keep following my blog and post a comment or two =)

The votes are in ...

I won't keep you all waiting. The election was tonight and I came in fourth. Now keep in mind that four people ran and there were three positions open. In short, I did not win. I have to thank all the people that voted for me and have supported me through this. It has been a great experience and I will still be active on the Board … just not as a voting member.

As Forrest Gump would say … that’s all I have to say about that :o)

The campaign trail part III …

The election is exactly one week from today and I am filled with excitement. I decided to do a little “self” promotion which means I created some flyers and distributed them early this morning and this evening. My primary focus was the section of the neighborhood which has the garden homes because that demographic has never been represented on the board.

It’s going to be interesting to see how many people:

• voted period
• voted for me :o)
• read my blog to find out about me
• read my flyer and was moved to vote

I will keep you posted ... win, lose or draw (but hopefully - WIN) ... LOL

The campaign trail part II …

Well, I am officially in the running to serve on the board of directors. For those of you from the neighborhood who are reading this, there was an error on the notification that went out with the bio information for the candidates. I don’t know who Mrs. Brown is but the statement published was my own – LOL. Somehow the person keying in the information typed Mrs. Brown instead of Ms. Benjamin. I thought it was pretty funny and I’m glad Mrs. Brown thinks so highly of me :o)

The campaign trail ...

I would like to serve on the board of my homeowner’s association and thought it would be a great idea to reference my LinkedIn page which also lists my blogs. I discovered today that viewers can not see my glowing recommends on my public profile. In order to remedy that setback, I have decided to include them in my blog.

To those of you who are reading this as a part of ascertaining my qualifications to serve on the board, please read the comments below …

“Sarenna is a very motivated individual. She is an extremely fast learner and always a team player. Reliable and outgoing, She would be an asset to any organization.” February 18, 2010 Gina Dupriest, PowerMHS, Customer Support, DST Health Solutions worked with Sarenna at DST Health Solutions, LLC

“Sarenna always is extremely organized and has well thought out strategies to accomplish her business and personal goals. She would be an immediate asset to any team. She always arrives on time and consistently meets deadlines. If a deadline can't be met for any reason, she is proactive in contacting the stakeholders to negotiate a more feasible timeline. She is very effective at successfully accomplishing any task at hand.” February 17, 2010 Matthew Dickerson, Clinical Information Consultant, OptumHealth was a consultant or contractor to Sarenna at DST Health Solutions, LLC

“I have worked with Sarenna for the past 10 years and I have had the opportunity to supervise her on several occasions. Sarenna is an extremely dependable person. She is able to self manage and organize her work. She also has the ability to work with many types of personalities in difficult situations and get the most out of those individuals. Sarenna is a free thinker and able to draw her own conclusions while not losing the input of others.” March 1, 2010 Bill Shuttleworth, Director, DST Health Solutions managed Sarenna at DST Healthcare Solutions, LLC (formally) CSC Healthcare

“Sarenna is an excellent team member. She is dependable and able to work independently without being micromanaged. She also always keeps quality in mind and isn't afraid to ask questions when needed.” March 2, 2010 Melinda Halvorson, Software Development Manager, DST Health Solutions managed Sarenna at DST Health Solutions, LLC

Vote for me :)

Breaking news ...

It has been way too long since my last posting and so much has happened. I can not list everything that has happened in the last month but I have discovered two things I love … Toshiba laptops and Anytime Fitness.

Thanks to Anytime Fitness, I have found my passion for exercise again. The doors are always open (if you have a key) and if you go at an odd hour, it is like having your own personal gym because no one is there. It is GREAT!! Can you tell I am really excited?  My schedule is very demanding and is always changing. I need a facility that allows me to exercise safely and comfortably when it is convenient for me. I have surpassed my goal of going to the gym at least twice a week. I just started last week and I love it so much that I have gone everyday for the past week and look forward to it everyday. It is a match made in Heaven

I have also added running for a position on my homeowner’s association board to my list of “things to do”. I think it will be a good experience and it will allow me to utilize some of my project management skills. I am working on my campaign strategy and trying to articulate why the homeowner’s should vote for me without sounding cheesy.

Please wish me luck and if you think of a good slogan for my campaign, please let me know.  I have to have my “intent” form turned in by March 12th.

What do you do when …

As I’m sure many of you have discovered, making life changes is not always easy and there are many times when you want to give up. So, what do you do when you’re tired and you want to give up … you keep going.

During my commute to work, I normally listen to the radio. This morning the radio host conducted an interview with the newly elected Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, Mr. William A. Bell Sr. The thing that really touched me during this interview was Mayor Bell’s response to the question of quitting. I’m paraphrasing but in essence what the Mayor said was … if you love something and you truly believe in it, your passion for it won’t let you give up.

Mr. Bell has run for Mayor before and even served as interim Mayor but this is the first time he was elected. He mentioned that each time he ran for the office and didn’t win, the loss did not deter his commitment to the community and he continued to serve with the mindset that his service was not linked to his political title. He also made reference to believing in “self”. “If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you? “, is what he said.  What a powerful statement!

The Mayor’s comments were an encouragement to me and they reminded me of the definition of love as described in the Bible in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 starting at verse 4. Below is how it is phrased in the New International Version (NIV) …

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails …

If you do what you love, you can never give up and success is imminent!

Just a quick note ...

Please forgive my recent absence. My computer crashed this past week and I've had a heck-of-a-time getting myself back on track. I can hear the collective "aaawwww" in the background. It's amazing how dependent we've become on technology and how devastating it is when something fails. I won't go into the whole debacle but I will backup my data frequently and I will never buy anything else made by HP if I can help it. Not trying to bash HP but, fool me once, shame on you ... fool me twice, shame on me ... and the shame was on me!

Anyway, I plan to be back with a vengeance shortly :o)

The epiphany and the step-up ...

Greetings :o) Yesterday I made an adjustment and a discovery:

• Adjustment – added exercise to my water consumption. Drinking water alone is not the solution to my problem.
• Discovery – if I get up and go to the gym in the morning, my day generally runs smoother, I am more alert and I feel better..

Today is “day 2” and so far my epiphany/step-up has reigned true. I’ll keep you all posted on my progression - hopefully not my regression!

Progress Report (1)

I know you all have been wondering … where is Sarenna on her journey … has she completely floated away from the enormous quantities of water she’s consuming per day? Well, let me tell you … drinking water is not as simple a task as one might think, even with Bubba’s help. However, having Bubba has been a two-fold blessing. I have a vessel for housing my water and an upper body workout aide. Carrying Bubba around all day is not for the faint of heart! When he starts to feel light, I know it’s time to fill up again!

You all would be proud of me because even though I have not consumed ALL of Bubba’s contents every day, I have been consistent in my attempts everyday. Initially my co-workers greeted me with wide-eyes and opened mouths but Bubba appears to have become an appendage they have grown to accept and now expect. One of my co-workers, who is also a good friend and supporter of my efforts … what’s up, Skillet …, had words of encouragement today which was the true motivation for this entry. I also have to shout-out my “human” BFF, Steph, for being my first and (right now) only follower. It helps to know that people are really holding me accountable and that is exactly what I need! So, to Skillet, Steph and all I say … CHEERS!

Baby steps ...

I had my first “water drinking” success today thanks to my new friend, the Bubba Keg. Although I didn’t meet the quota established in the formula from lazymanandhealth.com, my endeavor was a success because I drank a lot more than I normally would. The Bubba Keg holds 72 ounces of fluid and I drank all 72 ounces today. I’m not ready to share the exact amount of water I’m supposed to drink, based on the formula, but I will say it is more than 72 ounces. I’m excited about my accomplishment and my expectation is that I will be able to either increase my intake to match the prescribed amount or I’ll loose enough weight so that 72 ounces will be sufficient … a girl can dream! In either case, Bubba has become my new BFF … but don’t tell my human BFF. I don’t know how she would handle being replaced by a Bubba Keg … LOL. I've included a picture of Bubba in all his glory :o)

Welcome 2010 ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! A new year has begun and we’re off to a start … if it will be a good start or a bad start is up to the individual. I’ve been reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change  by Stephen R. Covey and it is an awesome book. I really like this quote from the book and I think it ties nicely into the overall theme of this blog. Mr. Covey said ...

"To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you're going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.

By keeping that end clearly in mind, you can make certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not violate the criteria you have defined as supremely important, and that each day of your life contributes in a meaningful way to the vision you have of your life as a whole.” (Covey 98)