Not just for project managers

As a project manager and organizational lead, you will often hear that projects and organizations do not succeed without someone championing the project's mission or organizational goals. A sponsor is, as defined in the Project Management Book Of Knowledge (PMBOK) 3rd edition, "a person or a group that provides financial resources, in cash or in-kind, for the project". Liking it to the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), our organization runs multiple projects and each with their associated costs. Sponsorships are close to 1/3rd of our chapter's operating expenses so they offset our costs and as a result keep membership fees low and events affordable.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with one of our sponsors, Jamie Williams (right in photo) and Rechele Heath of State Farm, in their Dupont, Wa operating center. Since projects are about effecting change and results, we talked results and not just results surrounding our chapter, but results for our sponsor as well. We discussed specific measureable results in an effort to monetize them or to see the return on investment (ROI) of the project, a key project management term.

One of the key projects we discussed and one that I got truly excited about was to create an event that educates NAAAP members on State Farm’s diversity outreach program and describes opportunities at State Farm. This event would expand beyond the Asian community to include other multicultural groups having both a diverse panel of speakers and attendees. The result would be to have 100 people attend and walk away with a new or renewed perspective on Diversity and Inclusion and to have the opportunity to connect with recruiters at State Farm.

Getting back to the topic of sponsors, let me ask you this, "Ever been on a project where there wasn't a sponsor? How did the project turn out?" If you're not a project manager and want to be one, this is an important key step in the beginning stages of a project; that is to get a sponsor. Even if you don't want to be a project manager but you're on a project, look and see if there is a sponsor and it will tell you how your group is perceived within the organization. As you may realize by now, the sponsor is the main factor for project success.
In closing, I want to thank State Farm for sponsoring NAAAP Seattle as well as other chapters across North America.

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Business Networking at the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce

Within Volunteer Park there is the Seattle Asian Art Museum.  It was the site of a business networking event for the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce members. If you're an entrepreneur, you will want to be part of a chamber of commerce.  Instead of networking for a job, you're networking to get your business known in the community. At this event, there were Capitol Hill community business owners - Edward Jones, EBits, ZipCar, and of course, the Seattle Asian Art Museum to name just a few.

Now in speaking with the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Jack Hilovsky, "its members are dedicated to increasing the vitality of Capitol Hill."  They perform activities like street clean up and ensure the community works with its residents to make it a great community.  In addition, Jack works with the city on issues that affect the businesses of the community. For example, Sound Transit is expanding into the neighborhood to bring Light Rail to Capitol Hill.  More at the Capitol Hill Blog.

Business networking, just like individual networking, is still a skill.  Just have a purpose, be professional and outgoing.  You'll soon find out that there are other successful entrepreneurs just like you.

One last note and that's to give a special thanks to Cara and Nicole from the Seattle Asian Arts Museum.  They graciously provided the venue and wine for the event. 

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Links

• Seattle Asian Arts Museum (Free admission on the first thursday of every month) http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/visitSAAM.asp?val=locationSAAMheader
• Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce http://caphillchamber.org/
• Capitol Hill Blog http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/

Situational Leadership

Let's change it up a bit.  Let's talk about something different for a moment.  Ever notice that when things go right or wrong, what's there? Actually the question is who is there? I'll pause for a moment for you to think it through a bit.

           Pausing.

           Waiting.

           Have you got the answer? 

Since you had me wait, I'm going to take a moment and share this story.  The answer to the question is farther below.

Now regardless of your race or gender, what distinguishes us is our experiences and how we handle them.

As an example, many of you know that I have a dog named Ulysses. What you don't know is that she's been in California visiting my parents.  During my visit last weekend, I was driving my friend's car on the way to Fort Funston, a dog park in San Francisco. My friend was in the passenger seat staring out the window. I would describe the trip as uneventful until this incident: While I was in the intersection the light turns yellow. All of a sudden my friend yells hysterically telling me to stop the car. "Stop the car! There's a camera. You might get a ticket!" For a moment, I stopped, but considering I was in the middle of the street I went through.

"What was my friend thinking?" I thought to myself. "It's quite dangerous to distract me while I'm driving. Why would my friend yell like that?"

Well why I chose to tell you this story is because 1.) I'm sure everyone has had a friend yell at them while they are driving, right? And 2.) this is a universal concept to depict leadership in a situation. I think that two things could have happened. Either I stop in the middle of the street honoring my friend's wishes to stop the car or go through the light. In this situation, I chose to go through the light. The lesson to be learned in regards to leadership is that when you're leading you're the driver. You are responsible for yourself and for others in the car to get to your destination safely 100% of the time. A corollary is to also be responsible for sharing the road and have other drivers get to their destination safely.

Now for the answer to the question of who's there when things go right or who's there when things go wrong?  It's obvious. The answer is YOU.  You're there.  And what's even more obvious is that you can be a leader in that situation. 

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President