Learnings.org

To have projects or leads in queue ready to be started.

As in...
I don't have that now, but I have a few things in the hopper.

A change or issue that arises which changes the course of a project or ends it.

As in...
Gretchen didn't get the report in on time. It was a showstopper.

What you're going to do regarding a specific objective or commitment over a fixed period of time. Don't call it a plan or a project. It's a roadmap.

As in...
James: "What I think we should do is touch base Wednesday PM to lay out the roadmap and schedule a cadence for the deliverables. Right now I need to go and slam my head in a door while emitting a discordant screech of self-loathing."

Verb: to quickly categorize a list of projects into approximate sizes; example: small, medium, large, extra-large

As in...
"Bob, stay late tonight and t-shirt size that long list of cross-functional projects."

Verb: to quickly categorize a list of projects into approximate sizes; example: small, medium, large, extra-large

As in...
"Bob, stay late tonight and t-shirt size that long list of cross-functional projects."

To analyze and begin work on a new project.

As in...
We still need to get our arms around moving this work offshore so we can leverage upskill training for our human capital overseas.

Something that doesn't warrant any effort

As in...
Steve, you better put that email in the round file. I've worked with Jacoby and Hobins before, and that project is definitely a non-starter. Don't waste your time.

When a very large amount of data that doesn't individually matter, feeds a huge beast of a machine, project, company, or team in a way that does matter.

As in...
George the Cable Network Sales Guy: It's really amazing, really. All those points, just floating around out there, millions and millions of them. My boss likes to say it's like a whale eating plankton.

End of Day: (1) The time when your boss, team, or the company is most likely to ask you to do something they forgot needed to be done; (2) When you are most likely to get something you need for your piece of a project from someone else; (3) When you are most likely to get something dropped on your lap, which you need to run up the flag pole, yet everyone else is already home, enjoying their evening, and it is due "first thing tomorrow".

As in...
William (timestamp of email: 5:59:01.344455): Giligan, I need you to complete that Opp Buildout on the Scorpions Widget for our meeting first thing tomorrow. I know you're going to do a great job for us, and I'm counting on you. Giligan: Isn't that meeting at 9:00AM? William: Yes. Yes it is. See you bright and early. I've got a free MSN dinner to go to... Louis XIII shots... Nobu... you know. Peace.