PM Happy Hour

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PM Happy Hour PM Happy Hour is the place for frank and honest discussion about real world issues in project management.

We do it in a way that’s not too dry, though it may get a bit salty from time to time. Come and join your hosts Kim Essendrup and Kate Anderson! Each episode, we will cover a problem faced in project management today, and share practical advice, real-life examples and the occasional project horror story. Not only that, but every podcast is also an online class! Our host is a PMI Registered Educati

on Provider, who has structured each podcast as an easy-to-listen-to lesson. To get credit, go to our web site at PMHappyHour.com, purchase your class, take the test (based on the content from our podcast) and you get your PDU certificate instantly!

Ever had that moment where you bring up a risk and someone says, “Why are you being so negative?” Um. I’m not negative. ...
31/07/2025

Ever had that moment where you bring up a risk and someone says,

“Why are you being so negative?”

Um. I’m not negative. I’m just realistic with a calendar and a spreadsheet. 😎

In Episode 005 of PM Happy Hour, we talk about the fifth critical project question:

“Where can this go wrong?”

This isn’t about doom and gloom—it’s about owning your role as the Risk Translator. You don’t fear-monger. You guide the conversation, so the right people make the right calls, with eyes wide open.

We share how to: 🧠 Frame risks so they’re actionable—not just scary 🎭 Roleplay risk convos (it works, I promise) 🎬 And learn from real-life PM horror stories (the kind that end in success because someone spoke up early)

PMHH is all about giving you the tools—and confidence—to handle real-world chaos with clarity, humor, and just enough sass to stay sane.

Tune in 🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/005-first5questions-5 and sign up for the newsletter at pmhappyhour.com.

What’s the boldest risk you ever called out early—and how did it turn out?

Ah, risk planning. The part of the kickoff where half the room nods seriously… and the other half quietly checks out bec...
30/07/2025

Ah, risk planning. The part of the kickoff where half the room nods seriously… and the other half quietly checks out because “nothing’s gone wrong yet.” 😅

Let’s get real: if you’re not asking “Where can this go sideways?” at the start, you’re basically planning a road trip without checking the weather—or your tires. 🌪️🛞

In Episode 005 of PM Happy Hour, we talk about the fifth essential question to ask when launching any project: where it can all go horribly wrong. Because spoiler alert—something always will.

Here’s the kicker: you don’t need a crystal ball. You just need curiosity, a willingness to be the buzzkill (with love), and a structured convo with your sponsors.

➡️ Start the risk talk early.
➡️ Don’t sugarcoat it.
➡️ Let sponsors make the call—you’re not the one who signs the checks.

Bonus move? Role-play the hard conversations ahead of time. It might feel silly now, but it’s way better than panicking mid-project when the risk you didn’t prep for strolls in like it owns the place 😬🎩

Hear the full conversation here:🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/005-first5questions-5/

So let’s hear it—What’s one risk you did catch early that saved the day (or your reputation)?

“Well, no one could have seen that coming.” Actually… they could’ve. You probably did. But maybe you didn’t say it out l...
29/07/2025

“Well, no one could have seen that coming.”

Actually… they could’ve. You probably did. But maybe you didn’t say it out loud.

Risk. The fifth essential question every project manager should ask at the start of any project:

“Where can this go wrong?”

In Episode 005 of PM Happy Hour, we talk about what separates good PMs from great ones: proactive, structured, and realistic risk conversations. Not dramatic. Not doomsaying. Just real talk. Early and often.

We cover: 🎯 How to frame risks so stakeholders actually hear you 🎭 Why practicing risk convos (yes, with roleplay) helps you avoid the dreaded stakeholder shutdown 🧠 And why, at the end of the day, you don’t make the final call—your sponsor does. Your job is to raise the flag, not storm the castle.

Project success isn’t about eliminating all risk—it’s about knowing what you’re walking into and preparing your team (and sponsors) to navigate it.

Want to know how we do it? Listen here: 🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/005-first5questions-5/ and check out pmhappyhour.com to sign up for our newsletter.

What’s the one risk you flagged early that saved the day later?

You made it to kickoff. 🎉You’ve got success defined ✅Scope in place ✅Budget nailed down ✅Schedule sorted (well, kinda) ✅...
28/07/2025

You made it to kickoff. 🎉

You’ve got success defined ✅
Scope in place ✅
Budget nailed down ✅
Schedule sorted (well, kinda) ✅

Now… what could possibly go wrong? 😅
(Spoiler alert: A lot. It’s project management, not a spa day.)

In Episode 005 of Project Management Happy Hour, we tackle the final (but oh-so-crucial) kickoff question:

👉 “What are the biggest risks to this project?”

Here’s how seasoned PMs keep projects flying (and avoid crash landings):

🔥 Start risk conversations early – Don’t wait for smoke. Go looking for the sparks.
💬 Make risk real – Talk with your sponsors like grown-ups. Use structure, not drama.
😎 Stay optimistic, not oblivious – Hope is not a risk strategy. You can be positive and prepared.
🎭 Practice those tough convos – Run through it with your team. Play the skeptical exec. Be the panicked stakeholder. Get the awkward out early.
🌍 Steal from real life – Want perspective? Check out our tales of global infrastructure chaos and what went right (yes, really) when risks were called out early.

🎧 So pour yourself something delicious and pull up a chair — this episode brings the PM reality check and the laughs. 🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/005-first5questions-5/

Spill the tea! What is your go-to solution for saving projects from risks no one else wanted to hear about?

Last call: PMP course starts next week!⏳🚨 Heads up: our live PMP® prep course starts next week.And it won’t be back unti...
28/07/2025

Last call: PMP course starts next week!⏳

🚨 Heads up: our live PMP® prep course starts next week.

And it won’t be back until next year.

If you’ve been:
📌 Waiting for the right time
📌 Doubting whether you’re ready
📌 Wondering if the ROI is real

This is your sign.

✅ 35 contact hours
✅ Live + recorded sessions
✅ Real-world teaching by Kim Essendrup, PMP
✅ PMHH community support
✅ Practice exams & PMP app help

Don’t miss it.

🎯 https://pmhappyhour.com/product/pmp/

“We need this launched by Q3.” Project managers, you’ve been there. Someone drops a deadline on the table like it came f...
26/07/2025

“We need this launched by Q3.”

Project managers, you’ve been there. Someone drops a deadline on the table like it came from a higher power—and you’re expected to nod and make it happen. 🚀

But at PM Happy Hour, we say: challenge it. Politely. Professionally. And if needed, with flair.

In Episode 004 of the podcast, we dig into one of the trickiest topics in the PM toolkit: how to deal with deadlines that make zero sense.

🧠 We talk about how to use right-to-left planning to reverse-engineer your schedule from the real, business-driven need. 🧩 We unpack dependencies early—before they become flaming blockers. 🛠️ And yes, we give you a few tips on how to push back on date mandates without sounding like a blocker yourself.

You are not a magician. (Although if you pull off half the stuff we’ve seen PMs do, you’re pretty close.) But magic needs planning. And planning needs to be real.

Check out Episode 004 🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/004-first5questions-4/
and sign up for our newsletter at pmhappyhour.com. It’s where sanity meets schedule, with a cocktail and a laugh. 🍸

What’s your best move for turning a weird “deadline” into something real?

Ever walk into a project and hear the magic words: “We have to launch by [insert random date here].”No reason. No logic...
25/07/2025

Ever walk into a project and hear the magic words: “We have to launch by [insert random date here].”

No reason. No logic. Just ✨vibes✨ and executive enthusiasm.

Welp… it’s time to talk schedules. ⏳

In Episode 004 of Project Management Happy Hour, we tackle the fourth essential question you need to ask when starting a new project:

👉 “What’s really driving this timeline… and does it make sense?”

Here’s what experienced PMs do before the countdown clock starts:

🧠 Challenge “just because” dates – If a deadline is based on nothing but wishful thinking, call it out. We’re managing projects, not granting wishes.
🔍 Plan backwards – Start from the finish line. It’s not time travel, it’s just smart planning.
🔗 Spot the dependencies – Legal? Procurement? That one VP who ghosted your last three emails? Yep, they all need time.
🧱 Right-size your plan – 30 lines in your Gantt? Great. 300? You're writing a novel, not a schedule.
👂 Ask your team – If you want a realistic plan, talk to the people doing the work. Shocking, I know.

🎧 Want to hear real stories, real talk, and some really spicy scheduling truths? Grab your headphones and join us at Project Management Happy Hour.

🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/004-first5questions-4/

How did you handle the most absurd deadline you were asked to hit? 👇

Confidence isn’t optional. It’s essential. And right now, it’s $200 off.“The confidence that the PMP gave… was invaluabl...
25/07/2025

Confidence isn’t optional. It’s essential. And right now, it’s $200 off.

“The confidence that the PMP gave… was invaluable.” — Episode 099 – The Iron Triangle of Getting a PM Job, with PM Career Coach, Kayla Quijas https://pmhappyhour.com/ep099/

When you walk into a meeting with “PMP” behind your name, things change.

You stop second-guessing. You speak the language. You lead with clarity.

If that’s the version of you you’ve been waiting to meet… 👋 Let’s make the intro.

Our live PMP course kicks off August 4.
Live instruction + practice exams + a PMHH community that’s got your back.

Ready to stop winging it and start owning it?

Want all that—and a serious discount?

⚡ Save $200 if you register by July 26 with code PMHH-PMP-2025

Our next live cohort starts August 4.

🎯 Don’t wait. This is your moment. https://pmhappyhour.com/product/pmp/

Raise your hand if you’ve ever inherited a project plan with 672 lines, no actual task owners, and a Go Live date that’s...
24/07/2025

Raise your hand if you’ve ever inherited a project plan with 672 lines, no actual task owners, and a Go Live date that’s… next week. 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋

In Episode 004 of PM Happy Hour, we talk about one of my favorite truths: a schedule is not a spreadsheet.

It’s a living, breathing promise. And if that promise doesn’t involve your team in its creation? It’s just a fancy to-do list with a built-in meltdown.

We unpack:
🧠 Why team-led planning leads to stronger buy-in and fewer nasty surprises. 🚨 How to spot early schedule red flags (hint: too many tasks and no one to do them). 🧭 And how to ask the right questions when something feels off—because your gut is a tool, too.

Our goal at PMHH is to help you feel confident walking into the chaos. To look at that 672-line plan and say, “Let’s fix this—together.”

Because you deserve real tools, real talk, and a real community that gets what you’re up against.

Catch the episode🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/004-first5questions-4/
and join the PMHH newsletter at pmhappyhour.com.

What’s your go-to move when a project schedule starts throwing up red flags?

Ever walk into a meeting knowing you’re supposed to lead—but without the title, the org chart clout, or the magical “bec...
23/07/2025

Ever walk into a meeting knowing you’re supposed to lead—but without the title, the org chart clout, or the magical “because I said so” powers? 😅

Yeah. Us too.

That’s why Episode 095 with Kory Kogon of Franklin Covey hits so hard. It’s all about building informal authority—the kind that doesn’t need a fancy title or a corner office to get things done.

We break down 5 foundational behaviors that help you build trust, lead with clarity, and influence without steamrolling. (Spoiler: bossing people around is not on the list.)

Leadership doesn’t always come with a promotion—it often starts way before that. And if you can’t get people aligned, onboard, and moving forward without formal power? Well, that’s a skill worth leveling up. 💪

We’re loving the feedback from listeners discovering the pod through this episode. Welcome to the party—we’re thrilled you’re here!

If you haven’t already tuned in here, it is 🎙https://pmhappyhour.com/ep095/

🧭 Your turn: What’s one behavior or habit that’s helped you lead without the title?
And—what would you love us to cover in a future episode? Leadership landmines? Navigating PM life in matrix orgs? Something else? Let’s hear it!

You’re not “missing” something. You’re just missing this.You’ve got the grit. The instincts. The experience. Now get the...
23/07/2025

You’re not “missing” something. You’re just missing this.

You’ve got the grit. The instincts. The experience. Now get the $200 discount!

What you might not have—yet—is a PMP certification.

And that one piece can change everything:
✅ Recruiters start calling
✅ Hiring managers take you seriously
✅ You finally feel confident in your PM voice

“When I got my PMP, that’s when people started taking me seriously.” Kayla Quijas, PMP—Episode 099 – The Iron Triangle of Getting a PM Job, with PM Career Coach, Kayla Quijas https://pmhappyhour.com/ep099/

Now’s the time.

Enroll in the PM Happy Hour PMP course for live support, on-demand training, and a proven roadmap to your cert.

🔥 Sign up by July 26 with code PMHH-PMP-2025 and save $200

This offer won’t last.

Details here ➡️https://pmhappyhour.com/product/pmp/

📅 Nothing breaks a schedule faster than a timeline nobody agreed to… because nobody helped build it.  Here’s the truth b...
21/07/2025

📅 Nothing breaks a schedule faster than a timeline nobody agreed to… because nobody helped build it.

Here’s the truth bomb from Episode 004 of PM Happy Hour:

If you build your schedule without the people doing the actual work, it’s not a plan—it’s a hopeful story with a sad ending.

We’re big fans of working backwards from a real, business-driven deadline. But only if that plan is shaped with the people who know the risks, dependencies, and “that never takes just one day” realities.

Want a timeline that doesn’t explode?
🛠️ Get your team in the room.
🎯 Push back on fantasy deadlines.
🧩 Identify those pesky external constraints early.
🎈 And for the love of all things agile, resist the urge to overstuff the plan with 200 microtasks that’ll be obsolete by Friday.

Because when your team helps shape the schedule, it becomes their schedule—not just yours. And that’s when the real magic happens ✨

For more scheduling wisdom, listen to the full podcast here:🎙️https://pmhappyhour.com/004-first5questions-4/

What’s the wildest “schedule bomb” your team saved you from… after you invited them into the planning?

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