#PMI-ACP, Achievement Unlocked!
If you are looking to complete the Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) certification through PMI (Project Management Institute), this article will provide some insights from my experience and how I prepared for the exam, which resulted in me passing it the first time.
##Background
#How to MVP Like an Artist -
##A sandwich artist to be exact. I discovered a love for the kitchen when I was really small. I remember as a toddler spending lots of time under the kitchen table, coloring, reading or just watching my mom. When I got a little bigger, my mom gave me full run of the kitchen and showed me how to do everything. I remember when I first start making sandwiches without her help, I felt a surge of freedom and made some pretty outlandish looking creations that would put Dagwood to shame. The trouble was, I was a little kid and the sandwiches I was creating were too big with flavors that clashed which resulted in many a bad sandwich and wasted ingredients.
#What is Custom Software?
###And what does it have to do with cake?
More than a few times since I have started working in custom software, people have asked me "what is custom software?" I am always happy to explain but I noticed, even for friends that are somewhat tech friendly, they get a little lost in my explanation. I have been trying to come up with ways to relay information from the software world in a way they can relate to in everyday life. I realize not everyone is a chef, but based on the popularity of the Food Network, I'll bet most people can understand the terminology of cooking and baking just by armchair chefing.
This is my breakdown of various types of software, if software was cake.
#A Newbie's View When I first entered the workforce I had no direction in my life. I was a dreamy kid with big ideas but no understanding of career discipline and how the work world operated. I took jobs that had no real identifiable path merely because they seemed interesting to me at the time. I held jobs as a housekeeper, banquet server, data entry analyst, switchboard operator, seamstress, etc. After several years of this I found myself as a 27 year old single parent of 2 year old twins and I knew I had to improve my career game. I went back to school full time and earned a B.S. in Industrial/Organization Psychology. Once I had my degree I figured I would just get a job in my area of study and then I would be on my way for a career. It didn't happen that way.
#Growing up...a Little The area of study I chose wasn't as cut and dry as some other fields (like nursing or accounting). I didn't realize it at the time but this was an area of s
#Transitioning to a Tech Job is Easy!
So, you're working in some uninspired job right now and you want to move to a more challenging and possibly more meaningful career. What are you waiting for?
There are positions for almost every kind of person in the technology universe. Here are just a handful of suggestions to get you thinking:
#Scared of Your ToDo List?
I have 23 year old daughters (twins) who have been living on their own for a few years now. They pay most of their bills and day to day expenses themselves and handle all of their personal business (doctor, dental, whatever appointments). My mom told me a few months ago that one of my daughters called her and was very upset about the amount of things she had to do. My mom told her, "that's life, honey, you'll always have a lot to do." I at first giggled because that's such a mom answer and it wasn't me who had to deliver it. But the more I thought about it, I was so glad she put the "meh" on the situation. I am very guilty of getting carried away emotionally with a to do list. I think we all are and it doesn't always depend on the number of items or the critical nature of those items. K
