I have got mixed reviews for the PMP book on Kindle, and it is heartening to see that over 90% of them are 5 stars – which means that the book is serving it’s purpose.
This is my very first book on Kindle platform and I have been learning a lot by looking at the stats, feedback, reviews and few experiments.
I decided to write a short post highlighting what I have learned from my experience of publishing first Kindle book. It’s been roughly two and a half weeks since the release.
(Image on the left is for representation purpose only, it is not yet available in printed form.)
Here are some stats as of today (write to me if you want to help with authoring a Kindle book yourself!) –
- The book was downloaded 972 times, in 13 countries. Canada, Japan, UK, US, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, France, India and Italy – in no particular order.
- Roughly half the number of people than ones that got if for free, bought the book.
- Few people went ahead and bought the book even when I was giving away the book for free. This was their way of showing support. I am indebted to you guys (you know who).
- The best seller author rank I noticed is 4826 (I checked on random days and time, so I don’t know whether it went any better than this). Which I thought was cool, considering there are possibly gazillion authors on Amazon.
- The book has received 30 reviews – 27 of them 5-star, one 4-star, one 3-star and one 1-star rating.
- One of the reviewer said the book is not a study guide, and she preferred HeadFirst PMP instead. While I agree on her assessment, it was an Apple-to-Orange comparison. I only hoped she’d read the description before the purchase, because it is mentioned clearly in the description that the book is NOT a PMP study guide. It’s a blueprint approach based on experience of hundreds of PMP students (including mine). I did learn a lesson – communicate the obvious more clearly.
There was one particular review that I enjoyed the most. [continue reading…]
PMI changed the way they tested your ITTO knowledge in the new PMP Exam in Jan 2016. There are no more direct ITTO questions. Instead, the ITTO questions are based on concepts so you can deduce the answer out of given choices.
So, the question is – how do you prepare yourself for ITTO questions now?
Quite Simple.
* Step #1 – Understand the Data Flow Diagrams for each process from PMBOK.
* Step #2 – Understand the concepts of Project Management basics and each of the 10 Knowledge Areas.
To help in this regard, here’s ‘Concepts For ITTOs Series’ of 11 book series –
– Over 298 pages of pure PMP concepts
– Concepts broken down with simple examples, mnemonics and illustrations – making it easier to understand and recall
– Each of the Knowledge Area specific concepts explained in one an ebook
– You can also use these as a revision tool just before your exam
– Hailed by many students as instrumental in their PMP studies
– Note – these books have over 50% more concepts than that covered in PMP Study Blueprint emails
**Note: Currently the updated exam content is not included. Updates to follow soon.
Two ways to get these for FREE now –
>> https://www.pmexamsmartnotes.com/pmp-exam-preparation-books/
>> http://bit.ly/best-pmp-resources
This time around I decided to get a Skype interview of PMP experience and Harine readily agreed. Here’s the gist of her NEW PMP exam preparation experience.
Shiv: Hi Harine, thank you so much for taking time to share your PMP exam experience. First of all, can you share a little bit about your background on project management?
Harine: I have about 9 years of experience, and all these 9 years I worked in the SAP field. I was in an IT consultant and I was a lead for around 7 years and I had been managing a couple of project. I’ve had exposure on how project management works, so this was helpful for me in taking a PMP.
Also I have had experience in the knowledge areas required by PMP I spent most of my time walking on areas like Resource management, Schedule management, Quality and I was involved with Closing processes as well. My experience was peripheral in certain areas like Cost Management when I was involved like an assistant PM so I had a little bit of hands-on experience there as well, so all of that helped.
Shiv: Great! When did you exactly pass your PMP exam?
Harine: I took up the exam after the new pattern was introduced, I tool the exam on February 18th. I had the plan of taking up my PMP exam around 2 years back. There is a funny story behind it – back in 2013 I promised myself an iPhone if I passed PMP.
Unfortunately had due to the hectic schedule, professional and personal commitments that never happened. So towards year end of last year I was on the maternity break and I decided to use this time and I told myself this time I should do it. And I was able to clear it on my first attempt and now I have a shiny you iPhone 6s!
Also read: PMBOK + PMESN + Prep Tests = PMP : Sunil Narula
Shiv: Wow. That’s quite a motivation you had. So can you take us through your PMP journey.. like, when did you started planning and how long did it take for you..
[continue reading…]
Shiv, I cleared PMP in First Attempt on 12/31. Thanks to the “I want to be a PMP group” created by Mr.Oliver Lehman for keeping me inspired throughout. This is my 50 cents for all PMP aspirants.
Usually, I have seen people wanting to clear PMP for 2 reasons
- To comply to certain (Personal/Official) mandatory certification needs.
- To enhance knowledge, add value to their career & Organization and get certified in the due course
The critical difference between the two approaches may be that of Developing Surface Intellect vs Developing Core Intelligence. If you are looking to clear PMP for certification needs, it shouldn’t take you anywhere more than a month to prepare and there are a lot of website that can help you do that.
PMP Study Plan that worked for me
- Took a boot camp training from M/S. International Institute of Project Management (IIPM), Chennai
- Read Rita once followed by PMBOK. Didn’t try hard to cram the information and took time relate the concepts to real world project management. This is where I found RITA extremely useful. (~45 days)
- Did Mock Assessments & noted down all areas where I had to second guess the answers.
- Referenced Rita, PMBOK and used online materials (especially Fahad Usmani’s PM Study Circle website & Saket Bansal’s izenbridge website) to bridge the knowledge gap.
- Completed 6 Full Mock Assessments and corrected all weak areas before the Exam Day.
Mock Exam Tips
Do as many as computer based Mock exams as possible. Get used to the timer and reading lengthy questions.
Review the answers for “Not so straightforward questions” to see if the logic on which you based the answer is right.
Note down all areas where you had to second guess the answers, even if the answer is right.
Gradually your scores should improve to 80% before taking the actual exam.
Actual Exam Tips
[continue reading…]
Crack the New PMP Exam in 4 Weeks
Using Simple, Proven, Step-by-step Approach
Update 20Feb16 – Thanks to your awesome support, our book has hit #1 Best Seller Spot in ALL 3 categories that it was listed in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
-Shiv
Yay! The book is published today at Kindle Store. It’s amazing how all this came together nicely over last few weeks.
This book was made possible due to your feedback, suggestions and recommendations. I am truly thankful for all of it.
You can find out more about this here –
Crack New (2016) PMP Exam In 4 Weeks – Using Simple, Proven, Step-by-Step Approach
Please feel free to share this link with your friends that may find this book useful in their PMP journey.
I appreciate you!
-Shiv
Shiv, I passed PMP on 1/11/16, last day of old exam. I thought it’d be nice to share my PMP tips with your readers.
Here’re my PMP Tips
– Read the boring PMBOK. I prayed to GOD to help me do the impossible, and he let me read it, for real.
– Read the RITA book and play the RITA games, worksheets and questions
– Prepcast from Cornelius will seal in the knowledge if you do each knowledge area in sequence, eg, PMBOK, RITA, then Prepcast before going on to next knowledge area. Your preferred order may differ, but you get the drift.
– Rita sheets showing the Sequence of planning activity is a must memorize, that and the PMP 47 KAs and processes are crucial
– Key to situational questions is your overall knowledge of PMP think, and knowing the sequence, eg know what comes first or next, eg, quantitative risk analysis or qualitative risk analysis, the exam will trick you. Another example, you must Collect Requirements before Defining Scope.
– Other key to situational questions is knowing who performs a particular role or activity. Is it the PM, sponsor, customer, head of department etc,. And, not only whose role, but what can they do or not do. The exam will trick you. [continue reading…]
