EVERYTHING IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING THE PMP)

If you're reading this newsletter, I think you'll agree: The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a critical step in anyone's career as a project manager.

It's a grueling exam, and most people treat it as such - they study, they cram, they hyper-caffeinate the morning of because they think it'll send their brain into some higher gear of thinking.

They're doing it wrong.

Because the PMP is not an exam; it's a project.

HEAR ME OUT.

We're all PMs here. What are the hallmarks of a project?

• It requires scope.

• It needs a timeline.

• It has risk management.

• It calls for quality control.

Can you say that about any ol' task that needs to be done? Well, yeah. That's why the banner on our website says "Everything is Project Management." And the PMP, last I checked, is a part of "everything."

That's why I want to propose a radical idea for anyone looking to earn their PMP: Treat the PMP like a project.

What does that mean? That means it needs a scope, a timeline, risk management and quality control.

THE FOUR HORSEMEN (OF A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT)

When you define the scope, you're ensuring that you accomplish everything that needs doing, and nothing more. Do you need to pass the test? Well, yes, but is that all? You've also got to be able to apply what you learn to real-world scenarios, or you'll never be successful as a project manager.

Setting a timeline means giving yourself a deadline by which you'll have earned the PMP. Like any other project, you'll also want to set milestones for how far long you are in your study process. 

Identifying and managing risks means anticipating things that can throw you off-course: trips, illnesses, a new episode of White Lotus dropping during your pre-planned study session. Hedging against these will help you meet your deadlines.

Finally, setting quality control measures in place will help you execute with precision. Have someone who is not you review your progress at regular intervals to keep you honest with yourself about how you're progressing.

DON'T GO IT ALONE.

Half of all people who took the PMP in 2024 failed the exam.

Why? They treated it like a casual study session, or went looking for a quick, cheap resource that promised you could earn a life-changing credential for just $60 and a ham sandwich (some don't even ask for the sandwich!).

When you sign up with a resource like Project Revolution, you're signing up to have us Project Manage your PMP for you. We do that through our PMP prep course.

We define the scope, set a rigorous 12-week timeline, work with you to manage the risks along the way, and act as your quality control to help keep you on-track.

And in the end, because we manage it like a project, 99% of our students pass the PMP exam.

So even if you don't take our PMP prep course, treating your PMP exam like a project will take you a lot further than just treating it like, well, an exam.