A great friend of mine (who became a psychologist at age 40) once said:
Rich, we are all afraid. It’s how we face our fears that matters.
Why are you so Afraid of the PMP Test?
Perhaps I can help you face your fears about learning and help you pass the PMP test. Hope so.
What I Learned Teaching 10,000 People How to Use Computers
Years ago I taught over 10,000 people how to use computers in the Chicago area during the 1990’s.
I taught adults from all over Chicago. They were doctors, nurses, support staff, parking attendants, janitors, etc. I taught people who had grown up rich and who had grown up poor. I loved my students at Rush University, Illinois Masonic, and other hospitals.
I taught doctors who quietly said to me, “Richard, I’ve been a doctor for 30 years. I hate that I have to learn all this computer stuff.”
I taught people how to use computers and made them smile with pride from their success.
Some of my computer students came to my computer classes with lingering fears. They thought they were too slow to learn computers. Some attended lousy schools in Chicago and never had a good teacher. Some claimed their math skills were too poor to use a computer well.
They had all kinds of excuses for NOT learning computers.
I tried to make the learning fun but I often told them in the classroom:
Leave your worries at the door. I don’t want you carrying your “adult learning baggage” into my classroom. Let’s “hang out” and learn computers.
What’s Your Excuse or Fear for Not Passing the PMP?
So, what’s your excuse?
Perhaps you’re too old to study all this PMP stuff and pass a 4 hour test?
I don’t care how old you are, have you seen my photograph? I won’t tell you my age but I’ve met only one person older than me who passed the PMP. (My wife and children keep me young at heart, God bless them.)
So please don’t tell me you’re too old to pass the PMP test.
Older students are some of the most consistent, tough learners around. You’ve raised kids, worked two jobs when you had to, you’re unstoppable. Yes, I believe you can pass the PMP test regardless of your age.
That PMP Math is Hard
Okay, maybe it’s a little hard. But most of PMP math is simple MDAS (multiplication, division, addition, subtraction).
PMP students often read all the material first and “say” they will do the math when they are near the end of their PMP studies.
Bad idea. If a process requires learning a formula, learn that formula. No excuses.
Other Excuses for not Passing the PMP?
I could go on with the excuses I have heard for how “hard” it is to pass the PMP.
After meeting various PMP students, after running two PMP websites for almost 2 years, I believe the biggest obstacle to passing the PMP is the person you see in the mirror each morning.
Leave a Comment – What’s your PMP Excuse or Fear?
I honestly want to know what is your fear, excuse or greatest obstacle for passing the PMP.
If you leave a sincere comment I will do my best to email every person who leaves a comment.
Worried You Won’t Pass the PMP Test?
Get some help.
Find a PMP who has passed the test and can give you guidance. Start a PMP study group. And if you really do need help passing the PMP on the First or Second time, please consider using my PMP Test Prep Service.
Best Wishes on Passing the PMP
The phrase “Best Wishes on Passing the PMP” is part of my email signature. I mean it.
I want you to be a success, I want you to have the incredible joy of passing the PMP.
Thanks in advance for leaving a comment, thanks for visiting my website today, and thanks for reading I’m Afraid I Won’t Pass the PMP.
8 comments
Hello Richard, I first want to thank you for taking the time to create well designed videos to teach areas of PMP memorization. Your spreadsheet on the 47 processes has been most helpful. Well, as far as my “fear” or concern, it is primarily knowing the “PMI” way of answering the questions. I’m practicing many questions (selftestsoftware.com) and studying my wrong answers as you have directed. My percent correct is up, yet I need to get that buffer of comfort even greater. I look forward to possibly joining in on one of your upcoming webinars. My 2nd attempt is next Tuesday at the Joliet IL Prometric testing site. If your a praying man, pray that the right questions that I can correctly answer are presented. 🙂
Jeff
Jeff,
If you pass the PMP on your 2nd try next Tuesday, you won’t need my webinars 🙂
I think it’s terrific that you are studying questions using Kaplan’s selftestsoftware.com site. As you may know from my videos, I studied and took notes on every single one of their 700 questions. And that I went onward and did the same with 300 more questions from other sites.
Yes, I pray in my own way and hope that you pass on Tuesday in Joliet, IL (just outside Chicago).
Leave a comment here after you’ve taken your Tuesday test.
Best Wishes on Passing the PMP,
Richard
I am afraid to take the PMP. I took a useless 12 week PMP training class that ended in February 2015. PMBOK was not even discussed, only Rita McCauley. I started studying a PrepCast class and Simulator from Cornelius Fischtner in May. It is a great self study class. I got side tracked from studying for the PMP because I was job hunting, and taking another class. My experience as a project manager is dated. I have not worked as a project manager since 2001. I opened up my own business, and now want to go back into corporate America. I have been applying for positions as a project manager and have had one interview since June. The response that I get from employers, is that I do not have any recent or valid experience. I am seriously thinking that taking the PMP is a waste of money and time. I have not scheduled the exam, but have until 1/8/16 to take the exam.
Ida,
What’s rarely stated by anyone is that preparing for and taking the PMP test is really a business decision. It requires both our money and our time to pass the PMP test.
Perhaps this isn’t the right time for you to work so hard in an effort to pass the PMP.
You could find a job in “corporate America”, hopefully a job involving your project management skills, and then you could return at a later time to pass the PMP. I believe PMI is 30 years old and still going strong. If you take a “PMP break” for a while, you can always come back to it with renewed energy.
Best Wishes on Making a Good Business Decision,
Richard
I too am afraid of taking the PMP. I completed a PMP Bootcamp on October 2, and to be honest I have only picked up that book a few times fate the Bootcamp. Richards YouTube videos have been helpful and his Study Guide. To be honest I have not mentally comitted to really studying. I need to stop making excuses and just do it. My goal is to study and take the exam before it changes January 11th. I’m not a good test taker, I have test anxiety really bad, but I know this is something I want to accomplish for myself.
Ayanna,
Did you study today? How long did you study? Did you write down your notes or type them into my PMP study guide template? What’s your plan for studying tomorrow? Have you built your PMP project plan?
Did I make my point?
You can pass the PMP test but you only have two months to do so. Realistically, if you want to take the test during the last week prior to January 11, 2016, you should reserve a seat at ProMetric today. If anyone assumes they will get a seat for the test during the last week in their home town, guess again. As you read this, other people are reserving their PMP test date at ProMetric in your town. Believe it.
I have text anxiety. It’s mentioned in my YouTube videos. In college (that was a while ago) I purposely avoided classes with tests and preferred to write papers of 10 to 20 pages in length.
I remember sitting at my computer realizing that I hated taking tests and that the PMP would be the most difficult test of my life. I remember it very clearly. I told myself that I would attack every question with the same ferocity that I used to grab rebounds while playing basketball. It’s the truth, that’s what I told myself. And when I played basketball, I believed that every time a basketball bounced off a rim, that was my basketball.
It’s funny, some guy I never met, in a country I’ve never seen, thanked me for my “rebound” story. You can find him somewhere on http://www.PmZilla.com . He said he used my “basketball method” to pass the PMP. That story makes me smile every time I think of it.
So embrace every PMP question. Honestly, you can train yourself to do that. Attack every question with ferocity.
Face your fear Ayanna. Test anxiety? Become a “PMP athlete”, conquer your test anxiety fears, and pass the PMP test.
Best Wishes on Passing the PMP Test,
Richard
Hi Richard,
I just read the post of Ayanna, Ida, Jeff et at… You are an awesome teacher & trainer Richard.
I too am a basketball player. That rebound story is really inspiring. I accidentally came across your YouTube video while searching for PMP related tutorials. After watching your memorizing technique lesson, I visited your website.
I wish to meet you sometimes, God Willing, after I pass my PMP test. I too am afraid. Can you help me join a study group?
Andy,
I wish I could find some magical study group for you. I tried starting an online study group here on my website but there wasn’t enough demand.
Re-read this post. Stop being “afraid” of passing the PMP test. Fear is just a waste of time.
Since we both played basketball and you liked that analogy, let’s talk basketball.
I was almost 6 ‘2″ tall. I never feared any player although they were taller or better. They may have beaten me, but they had to earn their points. I owned the paint. I’m talking Chicago street ball, not some polite basketball games with referees.
What’s the problem Andy? Too old? Bad with math? Trouble with tests? Identify the problem and get over it.
Didn’t I mention it in the blog post? I think the biggest obstacle to passing the PMP is the person you see in the mirror every day.
Every day, if passing the PMP matters, during your morning coffee, write this down: I will pass the PMP in 2016.
Stop being afraid and pass the PMP in 2016.
Richard