What Geese and Woodchuck Can Teach You About Project Management

Last weekend I went to the Minneapolis / St. Paul area with my wife. On the trip, I met some geese and woodchuck who helped teach me a thing or two about project management.

Let me explain.

Your Learning Habitat

While my wife was off at her conference (she is a cake decorating instructor) I took the opportunity to do something productive. It could have been educating myself, writing some articles, working on training materials; I wasn’t sure which.

The Mall of America was right down the road, and I figured I could find a spot in the millions of coffee shops to set up my laptop and get some work done. I left the hotel and started up the car, ready to head towards the land of commerce and materialism.

Then I noticed a sign for the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge and took a left turn.

Very quickly, I decided I would take my latest book, Kanban by David Anderson out on the trail and soak it up in an environment that I absolutely love.

It was wonderful. I’d read a chapter, then hike a bit. Then another chapter, and another hike. Along the way Canadian Geese provided a pleasant interruption as they honked and flew overhead, usually in pairs. Canadian Geese are monogamous, and most couples stay together all of their lives. When I see two flying together, I always remember this and it brings a smile to my face.

I saw woodchuck, raccoon, and all manner of small bird. For me, it was heaven in the middle of a metropolis.

What’s Your Point, Josh?

Ahem.

My point is simply this: When you want to learn, create a learning environment that suits you. For me, the atmosphere of being in nature and taking hikes to think and absorb between reading was a perfect way to learn most effectively.

For you, it may be completely different.

Perhaps the concrete jungle is better for your brain. Maybe you like video training, audio podcasts, or whatever. Maybe you can listen to heavy metal while learning something. I’m not sure how that’s possible, but to each her own.

I learned a lot this weekend about project management from the geese, woodchuck, and all the rest.

So leave a comment now. What’s your optimal learning environment?

What Geese and Woodchuck Can Teach You About Project Management is a post from: pmStudent

I love to help new project managers and working project managers further their careers.

I also offer online project management training for you!