Hello, readers.

There is a reason you are reading this student guide right now. Maybe you are looking to get certified, or to learn about formal project management for career advancement, or perhaps you are looking to make a career switch. I applaud all of those triggers for embarking on this journey. But how will this undertaking in project management certification affect you? That is what I'd like to share. You'll see the world with a different lens. A project management lens will help you interact with those around you, predict success or failure, mitigate major risk events, and exploit opportunities.

It is the little things that you'll learn through this journey that will change you. Take, for instance, the discussion of how organizations operate. As a project manager, you'll interact with teams that are already slammed with work. How will you get the resources you need if they don't report to you? How will you get the most out of the individuals that are involved in your project? You'll be more likely to get the team you need if you know how to negotiate for them, motivate them, get them through tough times, and then stand back when they are on a pathway to success.

You will learn how to look at metrics and detect whether you'll have cost overruns, miss a schedule milestone, or deliver as planned. Ultimately, a good project manager is a coach, a firefighter, a referee, and a mathematician all rolled into one. The role of project manager is multifaceted, challenging, and rarely the same day to day. A good project manager can completely change the dynamics of an organization for the better. I'm hoping this all sounds exciting to you! It is a rewarding profession, and we need more good project managers in this world.

If you've picked up this book, you are in good hands. J. Ashley Hunt and I have known each other and worked together for a long time. I met Ashley in 2002, in what is the infancy of the group that I run at StormWind Studios now. Ashley was a great project management instructor back then and is even better now. She is the quintessential PMP^?, Project+, CAPM^?, and PMI-ACP^? instructor. She'll help you learn the formal information, apply that information, and not bore you to tears or force something on you that is impractical.

She is an authority you can trust, and in doing so, you can give yourself up to her as she shepherds you through this journey. As I say to all my own students, I wish you the best of luck to you in all your pursuits. Exploit this opportunity. Project management knowledge and certification can make a world of difference for your career and your organization.

Dan Young, CCIE & PMP
Vice President of Operations
StormWind Studios