February 2013

Full Contact Project Management

Pick Just One and Get It Done

By "Coach" Gary Micheloni

So, I have this coach in my life named Mark, and he keeps on telling me to only focus on one thing. The way Coach Mark teaches it: “Work at doing one big thing at a time.”

First I have a confession, and then an explanation.

Here’s the confession: Coach Gary has coaches in his own life, hence, Coach Mark. More than one coach, actually, and I’ll bet it’s the same for you – at least I hope it is. I have coaches for different things: Some are work related, some are personal. Some are even spiritual. The point is that I have a number of people in my life who I trust to be honest with me, guide me, and in whom I have the utmost respect for their experience and integrity. And you need that, too.

Author Unknown "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape."

I was certain that all of my ideas had merit, but I was getting nowhere with my goal. Finally, some sense prevailed in our home, and my wife Karen said it so clearly to me: “Just pick one and get it done!” Once she said that, the fog lifted, and suddenly I could see, choosing a direction. That’s how my book, “Get Paid for a Change,” came to be.

“But Coach…but Coach…,” I know you’re saying, “…we don’t want to write a book. We just want to win at our projects. Help us with that.” Ah…Grasshopper; patience!

I know the feeling. You’re sitting here at the beginning of a new year, sure you need to do something new and different, and you’ve got an idea or two…or three…or more! Right? Raise your hand if you agree!

Yogi Berra "The game isn't over 'til it's over."

You know, after a number of lousy or mediocre seasons, it’s important to turn the team around. The last thing you ever want to do is to have another bad year. So what I want to do right now is to tell you to look at your situation the way a scientist would.

Scientist? Yes, because a scientist wants to find solutions, so the way to do that is to experiment—to test—and determine what the cure—the solution—is.

How do you best do that? Can you test everything and then change everything, simultaneously? Of course not! The way you do this successfully is simple:

• Establish a baseline—where are you currently? You know your numbers.
• Of all the things you might consider changing, prioritize them.
• Implement this No. 1 “big” idea.
• Evaluate: Was it better or worse?
• Adjust accordingly.

Bo Jackson "Set your goals high and don't stop until you get there."

Maybe your big idea is that you ought to try some public works projects. So, find some bite-sized pieces of work, go after them, and then evaluate. How did that taste? Think you need to concentrate on new residential? Then go that way. The mistake might be in trying to evaluate both of those new, big ideas, simultaneously. But you sure as heck could check them out separately sequentially, and then make a comparison.

Even a skilled captain, when trying to turn a huge ocean liner, can’t just hang a right turn! It takes some time. Your boat’s probably a lot smaller, and can turn more quickly. Just don’t try and turn left and right at the same time! You’ve got to pick one direction.

This is where good coaching comes in. I trust you’re getting some here, with ‘Project Management,’ in the pages of Masonry Magazine, and with MCAA. They’ve got a whole staff of coaches over there, people who actually know what they’re doing, whose counsel you can trust, and who can help you put together an effective game plan.

Sometimes the Big Game just comes down to the one big play, where a smart coach puts it in at exactly the right time. In 2013, your success will come from hard work and skill, but also in knowing where to go for the resources you need.

Gary Micheloni is a working project manager, speaker, author, consultant and coach. Write him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   

Copyright 2013 Gary Micheloni

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