Project Management Articles from the 
Project Management Advisor™

• Look to your hobbies - Love computers? How about a career as a developer or computer repair technician. Video games your bag? Look at a career designing and developing video games. It's magic when someone will pay you to do your hobby.
• Get feedback from friends, family and colleagues on passions that they see - Sit down with a few people you trust and ask them to give you some feedback on what they see as your passion areas. If you hear from several people that you have a passion, say, for working on automobiles, look at careers that involve cars.
• Do mini-internships - If you think you might be interested in a career but aren't sure, volunteer to do a four-week internship with someone already doing the job. There's dual benefit to doing this; you'll have a clearer idea of whether the career is for you and you'll do some great networking with someone who may be interested in hiring you after the internship.
• Talk to lots of people in different career areas - Find people in career areas, buy them a cup of coffee, and interview them. What do they love about their job? What do they dislike? If they had it to do all over again, would they choose the same career? Aside from learning a lot about different careers, you'll also build up your networking base.
• Do the "Up All Night" Test - Think about things that you love to do so much that you'd stay up all night either doing or talking about it. Maybe you'd talk into the wee hours about politics, or maybe you'd burn the midnight oil helping a friend with a problem. List out the things you'd stay up all night doing then look at jobs where someone will pay you to do it.
• Don't let someone project their passion on you - Just because Dad is a surgeon or Mom is a lawyer doesn't mean you have to follow suit. Your career is for you, not someone else, so don't be intimidated into a career because someone else says it's a good career.

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The Project Management Advisor™ Report Archive

2010-26 - Developing High Potential (HIPO) Leaders

2010-25 - Nailing That Interview

2010-24 - Regaining Trust

2010-23 - Relax, the Audience is Rooting for You

2010-22 - Project Management Screw-Up 1 - We weren’t addressing the right problem

2010-21 - More Cloud Computing Articles updates

2010-20 - How Could This Happen? Avoid Project Screw-Ups for You and Your Business Partner

2010-19 - Drive a Tight Agenda, Don't Let it Drive You

2010-18 - Watch the Pontificator!

2010-17 - Managing Cross-Organizational Teams 

2010-16 - Team Building: Some Assembly Required

2010-15 - Am I Meant to Mentor?

2010-14 - Managing Project Risks and Issues

2010-13 - Project Management Screw-Up 7 - We Didn't Involve The Right People

2010-12 - Practical Pillars of Success

2010-11 - The "Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds Status Report"

2010-10 - More Cloud Computing Articles

2010-09 - They Actually Pay Me To Do This?

2010-08 - Leading that Virtual Team

2010-07 - Squashing the Procrastination Demon

2010-06 - Cloud Computing Articles

2010-05 - Asking for Help

2010-04 - Bedside Manner and the PM

2010-03 - Nervous Nellie PM's

2010-02 - "Morning After" Decision Making

2010-01 - Not all Thought Leaders Are Great People Leaders

2009-39 - Empowerment - Problem Ownership = Errand Runner

2009-38 - I'll Be Done Friday, Honest!  Six Techniques to Ensure Solid Project Management Execution

2009-37 - How Could This Happen? Avoid Project Screw-Ups for You and Your Business Partner.

2009-36 - One Less Meeting Gets You Home In Time For Dinner

2009-35 - When Are You Coming Home? Five Practical Tips To Realizing Work/Life Balance

2009-34 - In Search of the Good Enough Leader

2009-33 - Getting Invited Back for a Second Interview

2009-32 - Six Takeaways to be a Better Public Speaker

2009-31 - It Takes Two to Tango:  Great Sponsor + Great PM = Great Success Slide Deck

2009-30 - It Takes Two to Tango:  Great Sponsor + Great PM = Great Success Part 1

2009-29 - Be Accessible, Not Open Door

2009-28 - The Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership

2009-27 - Six-Word Lessons for Project Managers

2009-26 - Attributes of an Effective Project Manager

2009-25 - Twitter and Flight of the Buffalo

2009-24 - Can You Make a 2AM Meeting?

2009-23 - Hot Air Balloon or Guided Missile?

2009-22 - It Takes Two to Tango:  Great Sponsor + Great PM = Great Success Part III

2009-21 - It Takes Two to Tango:  Great Sponsor + Great PM = Great Success Part II

2009-20 - It Takes Two to Tango:  Great Sponsor + Great PM = Great Success Part 1

2009-19 - How to Succeed Under an Insecure Leader

2009-18 - Ten Differences Between an Insecure Leader and a Secure Leader

2009-17 - Building a Purpose-Driven Resume

2009-16 - Be a PM Closer

2009-15 - Challenge Minus Inspiration Equals Mediocrity

2009-14 - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 

2009-13 - Why Don't They Follow Me?  12 Easy Lessons to Boost Your Leadership Skills 

2009-12 - Mastering Credibility Part III:  It's How You Deliver Results 

2009-11 - Mastering Credibility Part II:  It's The Relationships You Build 

2009-10 - Mastering Credibility Part I:  It's What You Know 

2009-09 - Babbling is for Babies, Not Interviews

2009-08 - Getting Job Alerts at The Project Management Jobs Career Center

2009-07 - The Project Management Jobs Career Center is now open!

2009-06 - You Can't Over-Prepare For An Interview

2009-05 - Critical Thinking Drills Influence Hiring Decisions

2009-04 - Impress First, Then Talk Compensation

2009-03 - Project-Management-Jobs.info launched!

2009-02 - Great Quotes On Leadership

2009-01 - Don't Embellish Your Credentials

December 1 2008   - The Truth About Getting Your Point Across...And Nothing But The Truth

November 15 2008 - Our Fallibility as Leaders...Defining a Meaningful Workplan in MS Project...ZAPP!  The Lightning of Empowerment

November 1 2008  - Getting Invited Back for a Second Interview...A Complimentary Status Report Template...The Wal-Mart Effect

October 15 2008  - Managing Outsourced Relationships...Making Sense of Calendars in Microsoft Project...Surviving an Aneurysm

October 1 2008  - Diffusing Conflict Between Co-Workers...The Perfect Brainstorm: Getting The Most Out Of Brainstorming Sessions ...Go Green, Live Rich

September 15 2008  - Using Project Guides to Define Your Project in MS Project...The Top Ten Attributes of a Great Project Sponsor...Hail to the Chiefs:  United States President Mischief, Morals, and Malarkey from George W. to George W.

September 1 2008  - Replacing a Project Manager Mid-Flight...30 Tips to a More Fulfilling Dinnertime with Your Family ...Healthy Living - You The Owners Manual - An Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger

August 15 2008  - Putting Some Balance in the Work Life Balance Equation...How An Autistic Child Changed A Career for the Better...The Kindergarten Adventures of Amazing Grace:  What in the Word is Autism?

April 2008 - Complimentary Self-Study Seminars, Webcasts, and Resources...Setting Yourself Apart From Your Colleagues...The Good and The Bad of Virtual Meetings...Smarts Minus Direction Equals Absent-Minded Professor...Small Business Made Simple Co-Author Spotlight:  Bill Stride...Ebay and the Project Manager...Be a Better People Leader

March 2008 - Motivating Employees...Practical Interview Etiquette... Ten Tips to Boost Your Facilitation Skills... Freud and The Small Business Owner... Of Mice and Motivation... Be a Better Process Leader

February 2008 - The Shift From a Process to a Project Focus...Politically Aware Doesn't Mean Politically Motivated...Getting Serious About Balancing Work and Family...Eight Crucial Questions You Need to Answer to Successfully Exit a Small Business...Five Simple Strategies To Unify Your Project Teams...Be a Better Planner