Crossing the Finish Line

One thing is for sure, I am freaking EXHAUSTED LOL. I've finally gotten my biggest project to date across the finish line!

Working on projects has been an interesting journey for me, because I was one for a long time to do the actual end-user work, then shifted to being an administrator and from there doing all of the technical stuff like fixing things and troubleshooting. When moving over onto the project management side of the business though, one this is for sure is that it's an adjustment!

I like to be able to get into the trenches and get work done. I know this is a good skill to have because it makes you valuable but there is also another good set of skills to have: managing projects and all of the stuff associated with that! I never thought that I would really enjoy doing this type of stuff but for the moment, I am certainly enjoying it and the fruits of my labors.

This week I've managed to get my biggest project to date from the starting point to the finish line. It has been a hell of a journey and one that I would sincerely hope that I would not have to do again, if I'm going to be honest. I don't love the added attention from folks above me when it comes to working with customers and the high dollar value of the overall project. It's an environment that I am adapting to though, out of necessity. One of the things that I guess I do pretty well is adapt to the situation that I'm thrown into.

If I'm given a problem or a situation, I am one to do what I can to figure out how to get it completed. In this case, it means that I am making sure that the project, with all of the attention associated with it, successfully over the finish line and a happy customer at the end of the day. There is always going to be situations where folks don't like one aspect or another of something but that's the nature of software and a company to end-user experience. We can't please everybody that's for sure!

One of the things that I've learned throughout this process is that I need to be able to take a step back and delegate things to the right resources. I can certainly work with them to figure out a problem, question or knowledge item but I have to make sure that the resources I am working with are the ones who are answering or working on answering those types of things. I cannot be responsible for that because I've got other shit I need to take care of. This has definitely been a learning experience for me! I was not too good at doing that delegation stuff a year ago but as time goes on and I grow more into the role that I have, I have learned a number of things about myself and the way that I work and should work. I know that I've documented a number of personal, as well as software related, lessons learned on this project and process. I think writing these things down in a formal manner such as that has really helped me in a number of good ways! Project 101 stuff but coming from where I was, building it as I go, it was a nice thing to uncover!

I am writing this one a few days ahead of time, with the project not officially over the finish line but at this point, unless there is a cut of the internet wire at the customer, there is nothing stopping it from going forward which is a good thing. We've had a number of hurdles to jump through and across, so it feels good to get to the finish line!