“I am not a Project Manager.” Yes, you are. You are just a bad one.
If you have ever planned a wedding, moved houses, or tried to lose 20lbs, you were managing a project. If those things were stressful, over-budget, and chaotic, it’s because you lack the Toolkit.
The Two Modes of Life
Every action you take falls into two buckets:
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Operations (The Circle): Recurring tasks to maintain the status quo. (e.g., Answering emails, paying bills, laundry, commuting).
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Goal: Survival.
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Trajectory: Nowhere. It is a loop.
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Projects (The Vector): A temporary endeavor to create a unique result. (e.g., Launching a podcast, building a house, getting a degree).
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Goal: Transformation.
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Trajectory: Point A to Point B.
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The Trap:
Most people spend 99% of their energy on Operations. They are “busy” keeping the lights on, but they are not moving forward. To change your life (Status, Wealth, Health), you must execute a Project.
The Universal PM Toolkit
You don’t need a PMP certification. You need these 3 laws:
1. The Triangle of Constraints (Scope, Time, Cost)
You cannot have it all.
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Example: You want to launch a website (Project).
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If you want it Fast (Time) and Cheap (Cost), the Scope must be tiny (One page).
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If you want it Big (Scope) and Cheap (Cost), the Time will be forever.
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The Rule: Pick two. Accept the third.
2. The Definition of Done
Projects fail because nobody knows when they are finished.
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Bad Goal: “Get in shape.” (This is a wish).
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Project Goal: “Reach 15% body fat by Dec 31st.” (This is a measurable target).
3. The Breakdown Structure
A Project is a monster. You cannot fight a monster. You can fight 100 small lizards.
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Break “Write a Book” -> “Write Chapter 1” -> “Write 500 words.”
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If a task takes longer than 4 hours, break it down further.
#DhandheKaFunda: Operations keep you alive. Projects make a life worth living. Don’t just maintain the machine; build a new one.