Cheetah Speed

Refueling the WOW Factor

Running Like a Cheetah 

Enter to Win a FREE PM Scorecard Class!
We are giving away a free PM Scorecard class to one lucky contest winner. This online course is a $99 value, and worth 5 PDUs for PMP®s. 

Click on this link for contest entry form and rules. The contest will close on April 30, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. EDT,  so be sure to enter today! 

For more information about the PM Scorecard course, go to www.cheetahpm.com. 

PMP® Exam Prep
April, 2005
18-22: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA 
18-22: Tampa, FL R
18-22: Chicago, IL 
18-22: Cleveland/Akron-Cuyahoga Falls, OH 
25-29: Hartford-Windsor, CT 
25-29: Los Angeles-El Segundo, CA 

May, 2005
2-6: San Francisco-Burlingame, CA 
2-6: Atlanta, GA (Note: This event is sold out, but you can be added to the waiting list.)
2-6: Richmond, VA 
9-13: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA 
9-13: Seattle, WA 
9-13: Cleveland/Akron, OH 
9-13: Boston/Dedham, MA  
16-20: Hartford-Windsor, CT 
16-20: New York, NY 
23-27: Kansas City-Independence, MO 
23-27: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA 

June, 2005
6-10: Cleveland/Akron, OH 
6-10: Chicago, IL  
6-10: Seattle, WA 
6-10: Englewood, CO 
6-10: Miramar, FL 
13-17: Detroit-Plymouth, MI 
13-17: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA 
13-17: Houston, TX 
13-17: Minneapolis-Coon Rapids, MN 
13-17: San Diego, CA 
13-17: Atlanta, GA 
20-24: Sacramento, CA 
20-24: Parsippany, NJ  
20-24: New York, NY 
20-24: Raleigh-Morrisville, NC  
27-July 1: Phoenix, AZ 
27-July 1: Hartford-Windsor, CT 
27-Juyl 1: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA  
27-July 1: St. Louis, MO
27-Juyl 1: Seattle, WA 

July, 2005
11-15: Philadelphia, PA 
11-15: Dallas-Addison, TX  
11-15: Dedham, MA 
18-22: Tampa, FL 
18-22: New York, NY 
18-22: Chicago, IL 
18-22: Cleveland/Akron, OH 
18-22: Hartford-Windsor, CT 
18-22: Charlotte, NC  
18-22: Miami, FL (Note: English course with Spanish speaking instructor)
25-29: Seattle, WA 
25-29: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA 
25-29: Detroit-Plymouth, MI 
25-29: Los Angeles-El Segundo, CA 

August, 2005
1-5: Richmond, VA 
1-5: Englewood, CO  
1-5: Atlanta, GA 
8-12: Cleveland/Akron, OH 
8-12: Hartford-Windsor, CT
8-12: New York, NY 
15-19: Houston, TX 
15-19: Parsippany, NJ 
15-19: San Francisco-Burlingame, CA 
22-26: Washington DC-Fairfax, VA  
22-26: Seattle, WA 
22-26: Sacramento, CA 
22-26: Kansas City-Independence, MO 
29-September 2: Chicago, IL 

For a complete list of upcoming classes, check out our website at www.cheetahlearning.com.

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Running Like a Cheetah 
We asked our Cheetah staff how they handle working at Cheetah speed, and their answers were as comprehensive and varied as each staff member. These perspectives are provided by Cheetah employees who work in all areas of Cheetah -- training, sales, marketing, administration, and Information Technology. We'd like to share their words of wisdom with you, as a way of learning how different people handle working at Cheetah speed. And off we go!


Enjoying the Ride
Imagine being in hurricane winds or imagine being on a rollercoaster. Well, working at Cheetah is a cross between a hurricane and a rollercoaster. Ideas happen fast and furiously and the excitement is like a rollercoaster ride. Imagine working like that. What does it mean?

It means that you must be agile and be ready to react to the market on a moment's notice. It means being accessible to your customers in some form, 24/7. It means creating and developing with a team who has a goal in mind; a team that is pumped by the excitement of moving fast, furiously, and sometimes walking on the wild side. Imagine going from idea to rollout in a matter of weeks instead of months. 

Imagine the satisfaction of seeing your work come to life instead of going before a committee who reviews it for so long it becomes obsolete. Imagine having the authority within a team to produce the product quickly and having the trust to publish it quickly rather than having it circle the depths of Dante’s Inferno. This type of work is not for everyone but for those at Cheetah, we love it – imagine the ride we have everyday.

Self-Motivation Means Success
My definition of cheetah speed is to take the initiative and get tasks completed fast and accurately. We live in a company society where every Cheetah is responsible for themselves and their tasks. To be a Cheetah, you must be able to accept a responsibility and run with it. Tasks and job titles change often and usually very rapidly. It is a high speed work society that takes a special type of animal to truly fit in.

For me, I have enjoyed the pace. Everyday is a new challenge, with new opportunities to become better. It can be stressful and frustrating because we do function in a boss-less scenario, but there is always a team member around that is willing to lend a hand to accomplish the task. The most rewarding thing is that at the end of the day, you know that you have accomplished something and helped the Cheetah family get that much stronger.

I can say that since I have become a Cheetah mentor, I have seen more clearly how Cheetah speed truly affects our company. New employees sometimes have difficulties adjusting to our family atmosphere and autonomous workplace. We stress self-motivation and accountability for one’s work. It does take some adjusting, especially for those who have come from large, corporate environments. We work fast, produce results, and most importantly, provide the best customer service possible.

Acceleration, Efficiency, Quality
Cheetah Speed, to me, means achieving my tasks in the most efficient manner possible, without compromising quality. In teaching the Cheetah Exam Prep course I have had to be creative in working with students who need extra help in order to attain the same, successful results within the allotted time frame. When teaching the four day course, it is all about Cheetah Speed -- acceleration, efficiency and quality.

A good example of Cheetah speed and how it affects my work environment is in the Seattle Training facility, where we go to lunch at a different restaurant every day. Unfortunately, the staff at the different restaurants do not understand the concept of Cheetah Speed. Working with the management and educating them on this accelerated concept with a focus on quality has proven successful.

What I have learned in terms of working at Cheetah Speed is that when given a task to accomplish, making a plan and/or outline of what needs to be accomplished first greatly accelerates the process. Like all good project managers know, the best way to achieve Cheetah Speed is to plan the work and work the plan. This allows us to stay focused on our goals and the tasks necessary to achieve those goals.

How Cheetahs Get Dinner
It’s kind of funny, but in order to cope with Project Management at the speed of a Cheetah, you have to stop running.

I’ll let that sink in.

The cheetah, the fastest animal on earth, can perform at amazing speeds when necessary. But watch when they’re not moving. See? They’re not moving!

Most projects start in the Execution phase; an order comes in, the customer wants action, and so the project team leaps to position and begins working. Somewhere along the line, and probably long after an initial delivery deadline has been offered, the Initiation and Planning phases occur. Along with delays and missed budgets.

Simple, domestic projects, like grocery shopping, often come off this way. You head to the supermarket, and while shopping the aisles and specials, eventually come up with an idea of the menu for the week. No planning, no objectives, just a grocery cart full of decisions made in the interest of the vendor or marketer, and not the client, or the consumer.

Back to the cheetah. They sit, they lounge, they observe. And when they’re good and ready to take off, they do so with amazing speed, purpose and objective. Usually, food.

Next time you go shopping, try the Cheetah method first, and just sit down. At your table, with your family. Initiate the project with some high level objectives, like a diet plan, a weekly budget, and any limitations, like cupboard space, perishability issues, etc. 

Then plan the menu. What’s for dinner on Monday, what’s for breakfast on Wednesday, and who’s home and who’s not on Friday. Review the advertisements and fliers for the best value based on your requirements. (Procurement is always from the project point of view, not based on what’s on sale!)

Now, go ahead and hit the aisles! You’ll have your project plan in hand, a clear objective and a solid budget. Executing involves a comparison of prices, reading nutrition labels, and buying according to planned consumption quantities. You’ll come home with a healthy, well-planned weekly diet, on budget, with all right ingredients. Keep it low-carb like the cheetah, and you’re on your way to better health, energy and vitality too!

Analysis? Nay, Action!
To me, Cheetah Speed means addressing an issue with the mindset of getting things done fast and in the most efficient way possible. It’s about quick planning and definitive action. Instead of sitting around and scrutinizing every possible course of action, it’s about getting up and actually trying different courses of action to see what works best. 

I’ve learned that once there’s a big idea to do something at Cheetah, right away everyone gets started on following it through. It’s really helped me to see that success doesn’t have to take forever. With smart planning and determined action, goals of any size are within reach if you move at Cheetah Speed. 

The Art of an Emerging Mind
For several decades, I have been in the habit of taking a couple weeks off each year to trek alone in the Northwest mountains. I don't go far and I rarely climb peaks. Mainly I just wander off along some trail-less ridge or valley and then sit quietly. I try not to contemplate lofty things or plan great deeds; I just wander and sit. No words, no goals, not many thoughts. Just sitting in the mountains.

In time, the mind relaxes. It stops describing things. It stops trying to do stuff. It even stops being bored. And then a remarkable thing happens. There is a shift and the world changes. There is so much joy, so much love. Everything is so bright. When the thinking mind is quiet, another kind of mind emerges, like stars coming out at dusk; a mind of great expanse.

We accomplish many things, but we really don't need to accomplish too much. It is not so difficult to be happy and to do some good in the world.

Empowering the Cheetah 
Joining Cheetah was a HUGE adjustment for me. Having worked for a really large company I was used to working in an environment with a lot of rules, defined boundaries and processes. At Cheetah, all employees are empowered to do whatever it takes to WOW the customer. We move so fast that there can’t be any red tape or obstacles to keep you from delivering superior service to the customer. That is not to say that folks don’t get upset with each other but as a Cheetah you bruise hard and heal fast – no room for egos here.

Important Dates and Facts for Those Planning on Taking the PMP® Exam

• August 29, 2005 is the LAST DAY to apply for eligibility to take the test based on the PMBOK© Guide 2000.

• September 24, 2005 is the LAST DAY to take the test based on the PMBOK© Guide 2000.

• September 25 - 29, 2005 -- NO PMP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN DURING THIS TIME.

• September 30, 2005 is the first day the exam will be given based on the PMBOK© Guide Third Edition.
  

Please note that if you should fail the exam before September 25, 2005, you have one year from the date you took the exam to re-take it based on the PMBOK© Guide 2000.

What’s New at Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP®?
The major news at Cheetah Exam Prep is our phenomenal pass rate so far this year. Our course structure and methodology has allowed over 500 students to pass the exam since January, with an overall pass rate of over 95%. 

With PMI® expecting to implement the exam based on the PMBOK® Guide Third Edition in September, many Project Management practitioners who have put off gaining their certification are now making it a priority. These practitioners have been using the PMBOK® Guide 2000 in their work environment and are very knowledgeable about it. This knowledge translates into a better chance of passing the exam if they take it before September this year. 

The numbers of Project Management practitioners attending our classes during the first quarter of 2005 shows that these practitioners are not going to wait until the last minute to get their certification. If you’d like to make an informed decision about whether you should take the PMP® exam now or wait until September, you can download our free paper which compares the PMBOK® Guide 2000 and the PMBOK® Guide Third Edition by accessing www.cheetahlearning.com and clicking on the Free Download button. Make sure you read to the end and find our discount promo code.

In the meantime, if you’re serious about getting your certification before September, you only have about five months left, which equates to about twenty weeks. 

What’s your project plan for attaining certification?

Cheetah PM: Free Downloads, New Courses
We understand that you've worked hard to obtain your PMP® certification, and that you wish to keep your certification current and in good standing. We also understand that you may be juggling work, family, and other commitments. That's why Cheetah Project Management is dedicated to offering you a variety of instructor-led courses online, on-site, or in-house to meet your individual or group training needs. 

How do PDU Providers Stack Up?

Our new courses include:

Selling PM to Senior Executives (5 PDU) $99
This instructor-led online course takes you step by step through the process of selling PM to Senior Executives in your organization, so that you and your organization can soar. Click here for more info

Project Portfolio Leadership (30 PDUs) $595.00
This instructor-led online course takes you step by step through the process of implementing and managing an effective Project Portfolio Management Process that meets the company's overall strategic imperatives through stewardship of the portfolio of projects. Click here for more info

Cheetah Negotiations (8 PDUs) $11,500 for up to 20 participants 
Online (two hours), Pre-Work and One day on-site (six hours) 
Project Managers learn and practice fast and effective Cheetah negotiation strategies and tactics. This course is geared toward making you more effective in negotiating all the common situations that occur in your day-to-day life as a Project Manager. Through an online negotiation styles assessment, and a mix of working sessions and simulations, you'll learn how to leverage your innate talents to be more effective in negotiations. This course enables executives that have accountability for strategic objective execution to gain a working knowledge of the linkages that exist between strategic objectives and project deliverables. Contact barb@cheetahlearning.com for more information or to schedule an on-site course for your group.


While you’re checking out our Cheetah PM courses, you might want to take advantage of the free downloads we have available, covering multiple PM topics. Many of you are familiar with the incredible value of our free PMP® Toolkit, but you may not be as familiar with the other free downloads we offer. You’ll receive valuable tips, techniques, templates and important PM information you won’t find anywhere else. Go to www.cheetahpm.com and look under Project Management Tools. 

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Gui Cheetah de Preparación para el Examen PMP® Y Exámenes de Practica
Hot off the press! Get yours today! This book has been available only since March 1st, and it is fast becoming a top seller at the Cheetah Store.

Cheetah Exam Prep, the United States leading company in the PMP® Exam prep industry, along with Cheetah licensee for Mexico & South America, Alpha Consultoría, have just written the book called Guía Cheetah de Preparación para el Examen PMP® y Exámenes de Practica, featuring more than 400 PMP® exam practice questions in Spanish. Carefully written, the questions are based on the official Spanish translation of the PMBOK® Guide 2000. 

If you are considering becoming a PMP®, you won’t want to miss this book! It is definitely the best self-study tool for PMP® Exam preparation if you are planning on doing your exam in Spanish. The practice questions, in conjunction with a reputable exam prep course such as Cheetah Exam Prep for the PMP®, offered now in major cities in Latin America, will give you the advantage you will want before you take this difficult exam. 

To purchase your copy, visit www.cheetahstore.com. Or call +52-55-55553-0353 in Mexico City.

PMP® Exam is currently based on the PMBOK® Guide 2000 version until September 2005.

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MAKLAF Press Announces New Cheetah Books
Do you have a tattered and torn copy of Cheetah Project Management? It's not surprising, since this book is probably one of your favorite reference books on completing your projects quickly. 

Well, there is good news. A new shipment of Cheetah Project Management has arrived in our warehouses and is available for purchase through the Cheetah Store. The reprinted book still carries all the fantastic tips and techniques to get your projects and project teams moving fast. Packed with helpful pointers, it requires no additional RAM, costly specialized computer software, or elaborate tracking systems to help you implement a common sense approach to getting things done quickly.

If you’re not sure that you can convince your fellow co-workers to try a less complicated approach for their next project, you'll want to purchase our newest publication, entitled Cheetah Negotiations. Cheetah Negotiations provides insight on the art of the getting what you want by helping others get what they want. 

Based on our highly successful online class, Cheetah Negotiations presents a process of efficiently preparing for the many styles of negotiations that you encounter daily. This process helps you to negotiate with other people fairly, in a way that enables you to develop long-term growing relationships. Using this approach, you can be sure that each party is satisfied with the result of every negotiation that arises. And the more you help other people get what they want, the more you create opportunities that help you to rapidly develop your own success story. 

Cheetah Negotiations is due out on May 2nd, and will be available at the Cheetah Store. Pre-order your copy today at www.cheetahstore.com. As soon as they arrive, your copy will be shipped out to you.

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Cheetah PM Know How Network Webinars: Turn Frustration into Freedom in 90 Minutes
Feeling frustrated and powerless? Not sure how to impact positive change in your organization using your PM talents and skills?

Take a walk on the webinar side -- and go from frustrated to free in just 90 minutes with Cheetah PM.

When you participate in a Cheetah PM webinar, you'll learn how to turn projects into profits. You'll also discover how to drive triple digit return on investment using Project Management.

Members of the American Association for Engineering Companies did just that on Wednesday, March 30th, when they attended a web-based seminar conducted by Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, CEO of Cheetah Learning. This webinar was well-attended by members, and Cheetah received rave reviews from participants.

Based on the success of the webinar with the engineering group, Cheetah is now offering a series of webinars on various Project Management topics to Cheetah customers and the general public.

All Cheetah webinars cost $210, and are worth 1.5 PDUs, or .15 CEUs for those qualified to earn these credits. Webinars are from 1:30-3:00 p.m., EDT. Instructions for joining the webinar will be given upon registration. 

Click here, or visit www.cheetahpm.com to register, or for more information.

Cheetah’s PM Know-How Network Webinars Schedule:

Cheetah in the Spotlight

Alexis Bohan, Tipping Point Technologist
Alexis works for Cheetah Learning as the Tipping Point Technologist, meaning she spends her time brainstorming and implementing ways to make Cheetah’s products and services “tip” over from seeds of ideas into huge mass market movements. Previously, she worked as Assistant Project Director at a qualitative market research firm specializing in video ethnography, and then honed her creative skills at the marketing innovation agency Harvest Communications. Alexis attended the Stern School of Business at New York University, where she double-majored in Marketing and Finance, with a concentration in Entertainment, Media, and Technology. 

CN: Are there any special goals you'd like to accomplish in the near future?

AB: I have a huge list of books I’d love to get through. Some are for work and some are for fun. If I could read even half of the books on my list within the next few months, I would feel as though I accomplished a worthy goal. 


CN: Are there any new realms explored by marketing today, anything that you want to elaborate on?

AB: I think marketing is always changing, and that’s what makes it so exciting. I work a lot with viral marketing, trying to find new and innovative ways to get the word out about Cheetah. It can be a lot of fun.


CN: What are some of the projects you've been working on?

AB: One project that I’ve spent time on this quarter is our new Cheetah Affiliates program. It is designed to allow outside entities to partner with us to help spread the word about our great courses. In return for their support, our Affiliates earn referral fees for all courses sold as a result of their linking to us. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.


CN: When did you get interested in the work you do?

AB: I had worked in market research, but decided that I wanted to work more with actually taking that information and using it to develop marketing plans. I like the problem-solving aspect of it. I had a fantastic experience working for a marketing/communications agency, where I had the opportunity to learn about and participate in all kinds of marketing activities for a varied list of clients. There I held the position of Trends Analyst, and I really got into the whole idea of viral marketing. I especially like it because it’s a newer field, and there’s always something exciting going on, with tons of creative ideas popping up all over the place. 


CN: What is the most challenging part of your job?

AB: The most challenging part of my job is to decide which projects to work on each day! We’ve got so much great stuff going on all the time, that it’s sometimes hard to choose. Having an array of projects to choose from is nice, though. It keeps things interesting. 


CN: Would you like to improve anything about yourself in your career, or is there anything more you'd like to learn?

AB: I’d like to learn to use some design programs, such as Adobe® or Quark®. In marketing we have a lot of interaction with graphic designers. I think having a better understanding of those programs would enable me to better communicate with the designers who are creating materials for us. 


CN: Is there anyone who has been a mentor to you, or someone who has influenced you?

AB: Carey Earle, for whom I used to work at Harvest Communications, has been a wonderful mentor for me, not only in business but also in life. She’s really helped me with my career and continues to be a great friend to me. Carey’s very smart and hard-working, but mellow and down-to-earth at the same time, which I really admire. 


CN: What do you do for escape?

AB: If the weather is nice I love to be outside. I like to read in the park, or just people-watch. 


CN: Of all your accomplishments, what makes you the proudest?

AB: I think I’m just proud of where I am in my life right now. I’m still pretty young, but I feel as though I’ve had so many great experiences and I’m really happy with that. 


CN: What's most important in life?

AB: I think it’s important to take time out to enjoy everything. It’s easy to get caught up in one thing or another, but to be able to pause, look around, and appreciate things is crucial for me. 

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Dear Cheetah

Q:  My organization has decided to outsource its transport (home delivery) service. I have been appointed the Project Manager for this project. Unfortunately, I do not know where to start. I have to present the advantages and disadvantages that are brought about by outsourcing and how to solve the problems, if there are any.

A: Assuming that your question is more about the process of identifying and presenting the disadvantages, or risks of the project, rather than the more specific details of outsourcing itself, it is first important to understand why a team needs to take this initial step. Identifying the risks involved in any project helps the team to focus on how to get the project launched during the other stages, instead of being distracted during the course of the project by all the things that could go wrong. 

There are four steps to completing the risk assessment process. They are:

1. Identifying the risks

2. Quantifying, or calculating, the risks

3. Developing countermeasures

4. Assigning responsibility for completing the countermeasures

1. Identifying the risks
Risks can be anything that the team thinks might prevent the successful completion of any of the interim deliverables. The idea here is not to quibble over what is or is not a risk -- rather, the goal is to record anything that team members think could prevent them from creating their interim deliverables.

In identifying the risks, team members individually identify the risks for each of his or her own interim deliverables, as well as their teammates. One of the reasons that people skirt around the issue of identifying risks is because it could point out a potentially embarrassing competency issue -- either with their own skills or with the skills of a team member. Keeping the risk identification anonymous helps the team to better bring all of the risk issues out in the open.

2. Quantifying, or calculating, the risks
Your team members now look at the probability that each risk will occur. They do this very quickly using a highly scientific technique called the "gut-feel index" (GFI). They use the GFI because they may not be able to quickly articulate the factors leading to their rating. 

Team members vote on the risk probability simultaneously, without speaking, for five to ten minutes for each risk identified. By ranking all the risks in this way, each team member is obliged to evaluate the overall potential success or failure of the project. If this is done quickly, and the team provides the first rating that comes to mind, the risk assessment may be even more accurate than a more analytical approach. 

Once the probability of the risks is assessed, the team votes on the impact that each risk will have on creating the final deliverable. A risk might have a significant impact on creating an interim deliverable, but might not have that great of an impact on the final deliverable (or vice versa.) 

3. Developing countermeasures
A risk countermeasure is a preventive action, or a contingency plan. Here, the team addresses the risks that were determined to be significant as a result of the voting process. Even risks that the team decides are not significant enough to warrant developing a countermeasure should be documented. The reason to document all the risks identified is that often people external to a project will identify a risk and ask a project team member what he or she is going to do about it. With the documentation of all the risks identified, the team member can explain that the team considered the risk but determined that it did not warrant a countermeasure.

For each countermeasure, it is further determined whether a preventive measure or a contingency plan is needed. 

4. Assigning responsibility for completing the countermeasures
Some countermeasures truly are a team effort. However, it has been found that when everyone is responsible, no one is accountable. At Cheetah, we practice and teach "single point accountability." This means that one person is responsible for each deliverable, and this extends to the risk countermeasure as well. Here, the team identifies the member responsible for each countermeasure.

Facilitating the risk section of a project launch includes moving the process along. People have a tendency to run away with gloom-and-doom scenarios and war stories, especially if they need a break. Your role as Project Manager, and project launch facilitator, is crucial during the risk session to keep things on track, and on time. 

To learn more about how to successfully identify and address risks in any project you are undertaking, read Cheetah Project Management by Michelle LaBrosse, PMP, available at www.cheetahstore.com, or take the Cheetah Project Management online class (and earn 20 PDUs if you are a PMP®) at www.cheetahpm.com. 

In working together with your team to identify and take command of all the potential risks involved, you should be prepared for any issues that arise, when the time comes. Good luck, and let us know how your project turns out!


Have a problem that needs solving? Need some help with your most recent project? Bogged down and burned out? 

Let the experts at Cheetah help you get things straight - write us at email@cheetahlearning.com today, and we'll attempt to answer your question by publishing it in a future newsletter.

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Featured PMP® 

In each issue, Cheetah News features a newly certified PMP® who shares his or her ideas, insight, and experience with potential PMP®s considering certification.
 
Since 1998, Paul Newton has been a Project Manager, working mainly on IT development projects. Since 2004, Paul has been consulting on Software Process and Project Management in Ireland. In his spare time, he is employed as a part-time lecturer for the Project Management postgraduate level at the local university.

Even with skills in Project Management, as well as a postgraduate diploma, Paul felt that he would not receive global recognition, and so decided to pursue PMP® certification through PMI®. He tried learning the material using self-paced, online training with three other project managers, who worked together as a peer group. Due to commitments, vacation, and even sickness, the group only managed to get through exercise one of ten. Paul found that the training was time intensive, and proved very difficult when trying to learn the points. In hindsight, Paul does not feel that it would have prepared him fully for the "PMP® style" of questioning.

Paul was attracted to Cheetah's methodology and found the accelerated approach really worked for him. "Between work and other commitments, I could not find the time, " Paul states. "As my company was sponsoring the exam, I wanted to be sure that I would pass the first time. After doing some research, I felt that Cheetah would provide the greatest possibility of this happening."

Paul found that simply attending the Cheetah course and doing exactly what trainer Peter McBride told him to do, helped him the most in passing the exam. "The PMP® exam is difficult, " Paul says. "It does not just test Project Management knowledge, but it tests it in the PMI® way. The PMI® way is not always the obvious way, so a preparation course is essential." 

The PMP® certification enabled Paul to move fully into a consultancy role. It formally, and globally, became an acknowledgement of the skills and knowledge that he had already acquired. Paul also finds that the maintenance of his PDUs has proven to be very easy. "I've heard people refer to PDUs as a PMI® money racket," he says. "This is far from being the case. PMI® makes it easy for you to gain units through being a project manager, attending Chapter meetings, self-taught learning, and presenting at events. There are many other approaches as well, but these are the ones that work for me. None of these cost me a great deal of money, and none of them require expensive formal training. I also believe that the PDU system keeps the qualification relevant and gives it more credibility. If the qualification did not have an expiration date, I feel that it would only diminish in credibility." 

For potential PMP®s, Paul has just one piece of advice. "Go to the Cheetah course," he says. "Leave the mobile and the laptop at home, and do exactly what the trainer asks. Thank you Cheetah, and thank you Peter McBride!"

Paul Newton, PMP, works as a consultant for Piercom Ltd, based in Ireland. Piercom Ltd. aids organizations in Business strategy, Project Management, and Software Process Improvement using CMMI.