If at First...Try Inevitability

I had some interesting conversations prior to my turn at the microphone.  I spoke with a gentleman (Tom) for whom this was his third turn trying to get on the roster, including one attempt in Bowie with the Baysox.  He was excited.  "I do a lot of singing, but I've always wanted to do this just once."  His sentiment resonated with my own.  Had he ever achieved the goal?  No.  Was he willing to put himself out there publicly for a third time for the opportunity to succeed?  Yes, with zeal.  

Only an hour after I got back home after tryouts, I got an e-mail from a woman (Roz) who was dealing with an amazing level of frustration.  She had invested thousands of dollars taking PMP Prep courses with several well-respected companies.  She had the study guides.  She had the on-line practice tests.  And for the second time, she had just failed the exam.  What was most compelling was the last sentence of her e-mail:

I am frustrated admittedly, but by no mean giving up.  I will keep you posted of my successful passing of the exam--June 2011.

There was an amazing sense of confidence in there.  It was the same tone I had heard from Tom earlier in the day.  It was not a matter of IF the event would come to pass, but WHEN.  

From both of these people, I heard something that we should be infusing into our projects.  It's a sense of inevitability.  Despite evidence to the contrary from past attempts, both Tom and Roz generated a tone that their desired outcome was not only possible, but inevitable.  In chatting with Tom, it made him more charismatic, more likeable, and more desirable to be around.  I couldn't help but think that the judges should have heard the conversation.  It would definitely have worked in Tom's favor.

It's easy to fall into a mode of self-denigration and project denigration.  It's easy to throw around negatives in a cavalier fashion.  To achieve what Tom and Roz achieved is no mean feat.  They are positive, upbeat and believe that they have an opportunity to mold the future the way they want it to be.  Just as importantly, they are working to ensure that actually happens!

In our project worlds, we all have a great opportunity to build the future in our images.  It's vital to remember that those images are far more likely to have a body of supporters if we convey them as real and possible, in a positive light.  Sharing a sense of inevitability may seem unrealistic in some situations, but if we are taking on projects, we must believe they can be done.  And if they CAN be done, we should be the ones giving others that sense that they WILL be done.  

Results from the National Anthem tryouts will be released later this month in our local paper.  And if I don't make it again this year?  I'll be on the roster for 2012.  It will happen.

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Carl Pritchard (Baritone) is a PMP, PMI-RMP, EVP and a member of the Silver Spring Chapter.  He welcomes your questions and comments at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    
Copyright April 2011, Pritchard Management Associates.  Right to reproduce in full for professional and personal use is granted freely to members of the PMI Silver Spring Chapter.  All other rights (including the right for republication and resale) are reserved.