My Next PMP Study Group Webinar is Saturday, March 28, 2015
Would you like to learn more about the March 28 webinar and to register for it? Please click here.
(Out of respect for my global audience, I am now quoting webinar times in Greenwich Mean Time. Login time for the March 28 webinar will be 2:45 PM GMT which is 9:45 AM CST or Chicago time.)
Meet my Newest PMP Friend from India at the March 28 Webinar: Akhilesh
This week’s webinar features a new PMP from India and how he passed the PMP. I spoke with Akhilesh yesterday for the first time on Skype. I think you will learn how to “remain calm” before your PMP test after meeting Akhilesh in the Saturday, March 28, 2015 webinar.
Also, the 90 minute webinar will feature, as always, a discussion on a PMP process. This week we discuss Plan Communications Management.
Would you like to meet my new PMP friend Akhilesh as he describes how he passed the PMP? The webinar is limited to only 25 attendees. Register today.
25 15
15 seats still available for the March 28 webinar
How much will this PMP Study Group cost?
Cost: $14.95 U.S.
[nicepaypallite type=“cart” name=“The 47 PMP Processes Excel Spreadsheet” amount=$14.95]
Do You Need a PMP Study Group?
Are you a PMP student? My name is Richard Kraneis and I want you to join a PMP study group. You can either join my PMP study group or build your own group.
Please read this entire post. If you don’t have much time, just skip to my section below on What will be the Format of Your PMP Study Group.
(This blog post is being written for my customers from around the world. Whether you are a customer or not, please leave a COMMENT on this blog post with your good ideas.)
Too many PMP students take a class and then study in isolation. That’s a horrible idea. I bet that if I had the statistics, I could prove that students who study for the PMP in groups do better than PMP students who study alone.
The Basics of Running a PMP Study Group
Who will lead your PMP Study Group?
You need a PMP to lead your class. I’m a PMP from Chicago, IL USA. If you plan on building your own PMP study group, you need a PMP to lead the class.
When will you have the PMP Study Group Class?
You need to run the PMP study group at least twice a month. Give your students the ability to interact with each other with or without the PMP leader.
Where will you have the PMP Study Group Sessions?
If you can do it locally, that’s great. But I’m doing my PMP Study Group on the Internet as a webinar.
If you can do a class locally, you might have 3 hour sessions. If you’re doing a webinar, keep it under 2 hours. That’s my advice.
Why are PMP Study Groups a Good Idea
Again and again, from my hundreds of customers, I have heard that they are having trouble learning alone. Take a class, find study partners, join or build a PMP study group.
I absolutely believe that being in a good, structured PMP study group will improve your chances of passing the PMP test.
In February of 2013 I began driving 30 miles one way to a PMP study group in Chicago with a woman named Sandy. Her driving scared me so I would drive on Saturdays and Sandy would talk. I learned that Sandy was deathly ill yet she insisted on going to our PMP study group.
Meeting Sandy through my PMP study group inspired me to study even harder and to pass the PMP. (Thanks Sandy.)
How will you run your PMP Study Group?
For my webinars, I will use some user friendly webinar technology. I am thinking of using Fuze for webinars. Obviously, if you’re doing local PMP study groups you won’t need Fuze. But if you do a local study group, then you will need different technologies for in class presentations.
What will be the Format of Your PMP Study Group?
This is really why I wrote this blog post. I want feedback from my customers and readers.
PMP study groups need to be both structured yet adaptive. PMP students need to know what is being taught so they can prepare. Yet the PMP guide or leader needs to be adaptive to change. To be a good teacher or trainer, you refine your teaching techniques constantly.
So here is my 90 minute webinar format, subject to change from your good ideas. I might stretch a 90 minute webinar into 2 hours, but never more.
Please, Leave a Comment
Please, please, please, leave a comment with your feedback or suggestions for my webinar format. Did you like the content? Would you like to see other regular topics? Is my 90 to 120 minute format to long or short for a webinar? Thank you.
Join Richard’s Virtual PMP Study Group or Build Your Own Study Group
So, you can build your own PMP study group format or you can join my group. If you are a customer of my products (any purchase), you will receive emails on my upcoming PMP study group webinars.
- FREE. Saturday, March 14, 2015 PMP Study Group Webinar – This first webinar will be a practice webinar for my PMP Prep Test students only. My 7 students will help me test my webinar format using Fuse technology. They will receive instructions on attending the Fuse webinar.
- FREE. March 21, 2015 PMP Study Group Webinar – This second webinar will be for as many of my current customers who want to participate. I have over 400 customers and will have only 35 “seats” or spots available for the webinar. If you’re a customer, you will receive an email on how to get a seat about a week before the webinar takes place.
March 14, 2015 PMP Study Group Webinar – Summary
I believe this free webinar went well. I had 5 people attending and we followed my outline shown on this blog post. The webinar lasted 1:45 (one hour and 45 minutes). We discussed:
- Sample project from real life. Recently, on a snowing Sunday in Chicago, there was a 28 car collision on Chicago’s Kennedy expressway. Was it a project? How would you save lives and straighten out a 28 car collision in only hours on one of Chicago’s busiest expressways?
- Process Discussed: Identify Stakeholders. I discussed Identify Stakeholders for approximately 45 minutes using my notes and PMBOK 5.
It was the first webinar I had ever led, I enjoyed it immensely. Read the comments for this blog post.
March 14, 2015 PMP Study Group Webinar – Summary
I believe this free webinar went well. I had 10 people attending from both the United States and India. We followed my outline shown on this blog post. The webinar lasted 1:45 (one hour and 45 minutes). We discussed:
- Sample project from real life. I discussed the The London Whale project from J.P.Morgan which as a project, cost 6.2 billion dollars in lost revenue. It was probably the worst recorded Microsoft Excel disaster in history (and it was a project). Then I discussed a project I worked upon where Microsoft Excel saved the day, and saved customers a great deal of money. Both were projects.
- Process Discussed: PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. I discussed PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for approximately 45 minutes using my notes, PMI’s Code of Ethics on the Internet, and Sohel Akhter’s book Project Management Professional Certification Exam Prep.
It was the second webinar I had ever led, again I enjoyed it immensely. Read the comments for this blog post.
What Richard Kraneis Learned in his 2nd PMP Study Group Webinar
I learned a few valuable lessons on my 2nd webinar. I’m an adaptive learner, I hope.
- Free vs paid webinars. Sadly, people who said they would come to the free webinar did not attend. I missed them. 16 people said they would attend, only 10 people attended. In the future, all webinars will be fee based. I think that when people pay a fee, they take attendance more seriously and build it into their schedule.
- Greenwich Mean Time. Doing a worldwide webinar is a bit like “herding cats” as we say in the U.S. Even some of my U.S. audience misunderstood the start time. So here’s what we need to learn as project managers, as PMP’s, as PMP students. We work in a world where we have meetings with people from around the world. Learn Greenwich Mean Time. I will quote my webinar times in GMT and CST (Greenwich Mean Time) and CST (Central Standard Time). This is important since I have a world wide audience. If I ask you to login to my Fuze meetings at 15:45 GMT, that means 9:45 AM CST (Chicago time). It is more respectful to my global students and customers to quote webinar times in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
- Login at 9:45 AM CST, Start at 10 A.M. CST. I spent 10-15 minutes beginning the webinar and then trying to greet late comers. I won’t do that again 🙂 I ask people to login at 9:45 AM, I hope to have an assistant help them with logins, and then I plan on beginning on time with the webinar.
- Dress appropriately. I guess I am old school, at my 2nd webinar, one attendee wasn’t wearing a shirt. Perhaps he didn’t realize his webcam was running. Everyone, please dress as if you were meeting in-person. This is a sign of respect to all attendees. Thank you.
- Record the webinar. For the 2nd time, I forgot to record the webinar. I am asking all attendees to remind me to begin recording the webinar when we begin. I will record with SnagIt and store the recording “on the cloud” using Google. I hope it goes well.
My next webinar is shown below.
March 28, 2015 PMP Study Group Webinar – Proposed
25 15
15 seats still available for the March 28 webinar
I will be running a PMP Study Group Webinar on Saturday, March 28, 2015.
- Login time. 2:45 PM GMT which is 9:45 AM CST or Chicago time.
- Begin webinar. 3:00 PM GMT which is 10 AM CST or Chicago time.
GUEST SPEAKER: I am delighted that a new PMP I have met from India will be speaking on how he passed the PMP a few weeks ago. I spoke with Akhilesh on Skype today and he was well informed, articulate, and a pleasure to meet. I think you’ll enjoy meeting Akhilesh on this Saturday as he presents for 10-15 minutes.
PROCESS Discussed: Plan Communications Management
This process seems fitting since I already know we have a new PMP from India speaking at our webinar. In a project world where you have projects spanning the globe, PMI’s Plan Communications Management process is a necessary process for every project. The process discussion will last 30-45 minutes.
If possible, pre-read the process before the webinar and send me your best imitation of a real PMP question using your Plan Communications Management knowledge. Please include your question, your answer, and the source of your answer. This homework on your part will make the webinar more worthwhile for you.
How much will this PMP Study Group cost?
Cost: $14.95 U.S.
[nicepaypallite type=“cart” name=“The 47 PMP Processes Excel Spreadsheet” amount=$14.95]
I am purposely pricing this webinar at a low cost. I am hoping for a nice turnout for my new PMP friend from India: Akhilesh. And, you will receive 90 minutes of training in a PMP Study Group session.
I think this is an affordable cost for a large audience for 90 – 120 minutes of training, a featured PMP speaker, and meeting different people. You will decide if it’s the right price for the right service.
As mentioned before, I no longer use free webinars since it means attendees are less likely to keep their commitment. People seem to attend more when they pay for it.
Openings: I will have 20 openings for this webinar. I am reserving 5 attendee seats for my own use. When you pay with PayPal, leave a comment on this blog indicating you have paid. That will be my easiest method for keeping track of open seats.
Best wishes on Passing the PMP and thanks for reading build your own PMP study group today.
58 comments
Richard,
Please add me to your list of invitees for your PMP webinars.
Thank you
David Esquibel
David,
The first PMP Study Group webinar will be 3/21/2015 and will be free to existing customers.
However, I have many, many customers but I think the first webinar has only 30 seats. On webinar day, I will send an email invite to all customers and the first to sign in on 3/21/2015 will attend the webinar.
Watch your customer emails for information on availability for the 3/21/2015 webinar. Thanks.
Richard
I am PMP asipirant and would like to gain the certification through your webinar as its motivational and encouraging.
Regards
Sujiesh Geetha Sadasivan
Sujiesh,
My future PMP study group webinars do not qualify for the 35 hour required PMI/PMP classes. It’s for people who have taken the 35 hours of training and need help studying and passing the PMP.
If you’ve taken the 35 hours of training already, the webinars could help you. My first two free webinars are for my existing customers.
Just purchase my “47” spreadsheet (a small purchase), and you will be emailed details on future webinars.
Best Wishes,
Richard
I would be interested in your study groups. I understand the free ones have limits to your existing customer, I would love to find out about your offerings and am happy to pay for your time,
Thanks!
Jon
Jon,
I just sent you a longer email from one of my Gmail accounts.
Check your email and send me a question directly.
Yes, the webinars are coming…
Richard
I can send some questions/comments to you. What is the best way I can communicate with you?
Thanks,
Leena
Leena,
Thanks for your comment.
I did email you from one of my Gmail accounts. Check your email.
Richard
I’ve been waiting for this Rich.. I’m fully on board and can’t wait…
Kenzie,
You will be in the first webinar 🙂
Richard
I can not wait to start your study group. I completed my Project Management coursework in January. I am so afraid that I will lose all of the momentum that I had during the in class work, by studying alone. A webinar study group would be an excellent idea.
My suggestion to you is to hold the webinar as scheduled on Saturdays, and possibly make available access to a rebroadcast of the webinar on demand.
Ida,
Thanks for your comment. I did send you an email from one of my Gmail accounts.
If I can record a Fuze webinar with some technology, I hope to store it privately on YouTube or on a Microsoft SharePoint site for future viewing.
Richard
That would be awesome!
Richard do you have any more seats open for the 21st?
Anthony,
I checked and see that you are a customer of my 47 spreadsheet.
On March 21, a Saturday, I have invited all of my customers to consider attending my free PMP study group webinar. I think my webinar software can only handle 30 seats.
I am not taking reservations so it will be “first come, first served” on that Saturday. Sorry, I can’t take reservations, it’s too much work and too many emails for a free webinar.
I hope you can make the Saturday March 21 webinar. Details will be emailed to my customers (and to you).
Best Wishes,
Richard
Hello Richard
If you still have space in your March 14th webinar, I would be delighted to join!
I am consistently executing my study plan and am pleased to share that I lead my first round table discussion for my companies PM Talk Forum – representing Communication Management!
Looking forward to your reply!
Kindly
Carol Tom
(Canada)
Carol,
The March 14 webinar is for my PMP test prep students.
March 21 seems booked with 30 people wanting to attend with only 25 spots available.
Based on March 14 and 21, I hope to do more webinars. In time it will be a paid service that I plan to offer.
Best Wishes,
Richard
I attended the first webinar and found it extremely useful.
Richard followed the agenda, led the group with professionalism and opened it up for discussion several times. He allowed the group to ask questions and to share information with one another. I loved the active audience participation — Richard asked us a lot of questions!
I also enjoyed how Richard made our PMP studies equate to real life. For example, he presented a recent news story and we were able to determine that it was a project. We took what we’ve learned thus far and examined why that event was a project. We listed the ITTO’s that were relevant to the incident and discussed how we would manage that specific project.
It was the best study group I’ve ever been to… lead by a PMP!
Thanks, Richard!
Lisa,
Thank you for being part of my first PMP study group webinar.
There will be more webinars, thanks to people like you.
Richard
I attended the March 14 webinar and found the study group experience very helpful.
Insight on study, tool, techniques but most important moral support.
Studying for the PMP exam can be a daunting task. I guess we’ve all prepared and taken tough test in our past. The PMP exam was probably the most difficult exam I’ve taken. I can say that I was woefully unprepared for the PMP examination. Humbling is the word that comes to mind. It’s my opinion that if you have group of your peers attempting to achieve the same goal, it doesn’t feel so overwhelming. I look forward to continuing in a study group, I certainly hope this can be facilitated going forward.
Best regards,
Rhonda Loya
Rhonda,
Thanks for leaving a comment and thanks for attending the March 14, 2015 webinar. It’s the first webinar I ever led, anywhere, anytime.
Before putting together last week’s webinar I made a note that I wanted interaction in the webinar, not just me talking. Trust me, when I led in person classes, no one ever slept or napped in my class. Drinking coffee or diet coke before my webinars might be a good idea for everyone.
As for moral support, I agree that it’s very important. When I was in a PMP study group as a student, I was amazed there were 30 people struggling with passing the PMP, all in the same classroom. I came to know and to like my PMP study group friends. And when we passed, we celebrated.
Yes Rhonda, I plan on moving my virtual PMP study group forward.
Best Wishes in Passing the PMP,
Richard
Yes. I would like to attend
yes
Joy,
Your email doesn’t match any of my customers. Are you from Maryland? Just tell me your PayPal date or the town you live in and I’ll know how to find you on my database of customers.
Thanks.
Richard
“Yes” I am interested in the webinar for March 21st , please include my name too. Thank you Richard
– shubha
Richard,
Yes!
Please add me to your list of invitees for your PMP webinars.
Vangie,
Are you a customer? I can’t find you in my database. Can you send me the date of your PayPal purchase?
Thanks a bunch.
Richard
yes
Yes, please add me to your list!
Thanks!
Greetings.
Yes.
Please add me to the list.
Thank you in advance
Yes, I would like to attend. Please add me.
Thanks.
YES!!!!!
YES. Richard please add me to the list of webinar attendees.
There has been a suspected violation of efforts by a fellow PMP at your company. What is the correct sequence of events for PMI Ethical decision making?
1) Assessment, action, application, alternatives & analysis
2) Action,application,analysis, alternatives & Assessment
3) Action, application, analysis, Alternatives & Assessment
4) Assessment,alternatives, Analysis, application & action
4) Assessment,alternatives, Analysis, application & action
Janie you are correct!
Richard I have paid for the Webinar on 3/28. I really enjoyed the topic of discussion last week. Looking forward to Plan Communications!
Richard I have encountered several trick questions concerning stakeholders and communication channels, are they included or excluded?
Yes, please sign me up! Thanks!
Yes
Richard,
Count me in for your next webinar!!!
Brandon,
You are IN.
This closes the webinar for this Saturday. About 15 scheduled from 4 countries. I look forward to it.
Richard
looks like i missed out, I will try for the next one.
Shawn,
Yes, closed for 3/21/2015. Close to 20 people from 4 countries.
Watch your emails from me for the next one.
Richard
Richard,
I loved the format of the webinar on 3/21. I am also an educator and find that keeping the pace and flow moving is best for all. Perhaps after intros; topic intro; examples of questions both direct and trick would assist in the flow? I’d love top hear your thoughts.
ATB,
Olga
All paid for Sat 3/28/15 🙂
Tatianna,
You are the first person ever to be a paid webinar customer. Thank you so much.
You are confirmed for 3/28, a Saturday. Read the time details and ground rules in my blog post.
Thanks a bunch.
Richard
Please add me to the webinar
I’m at. Paid and attending. Thanks Richard for your dedication.
Paid and attending 3/28/15 webinar on Plan Communications Management
Ida,
Thank you so much. I look forward to you joining us on Saturday.
Richard
I think I am too late in registering for the webinar. I had not read the instructions well and assumed that I was a part of it.. Apologies
Shubha
I can not thank you enough for providing the insight today in the study group. It was pure genius to invite Akhilesh. His words of wisdom helped to calm my anxiety, and to maintain an aura of keeping it simple. The webinar was phenomenal, as well as the words of encouragement and support. Reading PMBOK5 in addition to supplementary reading material. Thanks Richard. I look forward to attending more study groups.
Ida,
Thank you for your kind reply.
Our guest speaker and new PMP from India named Akhilesh, was, and is a delight. Ida, you and I are both from Chicago, IL USA. It’s amazing to have a webinar with 9 people from the U.S. receiving encouragement and good advice from a 10th person, a new PMP from India.
If there is enough demand from my customers and website visitors, I’ll do more PMP study group webinars.
Best Wishes on Passing the PMP,
Richard
Ida,
I also would feel overwhelmed with understanding ALL the material. I would get in the test center and get confused and blow the test. I like you have taken the test and want to be successful at the next opportunity. When do you plan on taking the test?
All the best,
Olga
Hi Olga,
I have not taken the test yet. I ended the PMP study class in January. I felt as though I was not prepared to sit for the exam. As suggested, I am now reading PMBOK and taking online practice exams.
I will take the PMP test right after I take the Six Sigma Green Belt certification exam in June.
When are you taking the PMP certification exam again?
Regards
Ida
Hey Ida I am a certified LSS Black Belt. I just updated my project work with PMI today. God willing I’d like to test no later than Mid-June. I can assist with any green belt questions you may have. Ive focused on Richards 47 and have found that approach easier to retain the process steps.
Richard,
I got more out of this webinar than anticipated. Yes, I wanted to study plan communications management. However, I received invaluable advice from people who are in my similar situation.
The following directives were hammered into my head:
1. Take the exam as soon as possible.
2. Do not read PMBOK5, Rita McCauley is the PMP exam bible.
3. Do not fail the exam, eventhough the program has a 55% passage rate at this training facility.
I no longer feel alone in my struggles, and have found direction. I am keeping it simple! That is priceless!