This Week in PMI-PBA Certification Study

                 I have made significant PMI-PBA progress. I have outlined BABOK chapter 4 and taken my first traceability & monitoring drill. I am glad that I have done this because the drill has forced me review BABOK chapter 4 and pay more attention to BABOK chapter 6 and PMBOK chapter 11. Having earned my PMP certification using PMBOK fourth edition instead of the fifth edition, I am unfamiliar with the new edition. I must master this PMBOK fifth edition to pass the exam. I will write down PMBOK page 61 twice a day plus write down all of the chapter 11 risk management processes.

                The next week is essential towards preparing the October 28^th Business Analysis Practice Guide publication. I will finish outlining BABOK chapter 6, PMBOK chapter 11 and take another traceability & monitoring drill plus another practice exam. When October 28^th rolls around, I will be well-positioned to incorporate the practice guide and pass the PMI-PBA exam the first time.

Pushing Ahead with my PMI-PBA Studies

                Yesterday I completely outlining my Business Analyst’s Mentor Book that I purchased from Amazon last Monday. It was a milestone because before then I would stop and start reading BABOK and my other business analysis book; however, I stuck with it. During this past week I learned more concepts and vocabulary words that would help me pass the PMI-PBA exam the first time. I also wrote down entire BABOK definitions to ensure that I fully understood everything I read. Rewriting some of these definitions down multiple times helped absorb their meanings. It wasn’t just okay that was a requirement but I understood which sequence that requirement was in. Throughout this process I developed the requisite endurance to spend 3-4 hours daily towards highlighting BABOK chapters 4 and 6 this week. Once I completely highlight them, I will take another Watermark Learning requirements traceability and monitoring practice drill and another PMI-PBA 50-question practice exam. I do feel that by the end of this week my online practice drill and exam scores will increase by 15 points and I will start reading my other business analysis book. 

PMI-PBA Self-Investment and Learning that PMI Will Publish a Business Analysis Practice Guide

                Buying the Business Analyst’s Mentor Book is my best PMI-PBA investment thus far because it deciphers all of the business analysis jargon into understandable concepts. I have read 41 pages. Even though I am resting my fingers, I do see myself completing another 41 pages tomorrow and finishing the book by Wednesday when my physical book arrives.  When I get the physical book, I will reread the book and write down anything this is new. I might even write down BABOK definitions to incorporate the formal business lexicon that is on the PMI-PBA exam.  I know that this Handbook will increase my PMI-PBA online exam score. This week when I take another 50-question practice exam, I will score over 75%.  I have to because I am working on improving my scores.

                Furthermore, I have learned through my LinkedIn PMI-PBA study group that PMI will publish its Business Analysis Practice Guide online on October 28^th.  It’ll be free. In between now and then, I will read Business Analyst’s Mentor Book, BABOK, and PMBOK chapters 5, 6, 8, 10, 13. I am will be well-read and prepared to read the PMI guide. I know that following this plan gives me a very good chance of passing the PMI-PBA exam the first time.

PMI-PBA Weekly Progress

                This week I will improve my PMI-PBA exam score by reading BABOK chapter 4 and taking two traceability and monitoring drills. I have scored 25% in this domain which is completely unacceptable. By next Sunday, my traceability and monitoring score will move up to 62% (61% is the minimum passage rate). These two drills give me more practice to see more exam-related questions. I know that I am capable of passing the PMI-PBA on the first try. I have passed the PMP the first time. I am happy to have purchased the PMI-PBA online exam simulation instead of cross-referencing the CBAP practice exam because the former has shown me my weak areas. I am no longer walking around blind anymore because I know how to address my weaknesses. That’s the one thing I don’t want to do when I walk into Prometric this fall and take the PMI-PBA exam.

                The PMI-PBA certification affords me more cross-disciplinary opportunities out there. I have received a phone interview for an adjunct position. The college combined its economics and business administration departments. This benefits me because I have economics and business administration degrees. Also the PMI-PBA can fill the void because this is a small private college which does not have anyone who can merge the two disciplines. Obtaining the PMI-PBA certification not only bridges the gap but makes me indispensable. I love teaching because I get to communicate and share ideas and information. This motivates me to earn my PMI-PBA.

My Brownies Are Finally On the Right Side of History!

                I am so happy that the Cleveland Browns have won today especially after starting 28-3. My Brownies have managed to come back from 25 down to win the game 29-28 making history in the process. This is the first time in NFL history that an away team has rallied from 25 down to win a game. Finally, my Brownies are on the right side of NFL history!

Summoning the Strength to Review My First PMI-PBA Online Exam Results

                I have summoned the strength to rise above my muscular soreness to start writing down all of my PMI-PBA online exam wrong answers. Writing them down by hand makes me reread the questions and understand the reasons behind the right answers. I also have discovered that I need to learn more of the business analysis terminology and reread PMBOK fifth edition chapters 5, 6, 8, 10 and 13. In a LinkedIn PMI-PBA preparation group most test takers say that they’ve studied chapters 5 (scope management), 8 (quality management) and 13 (stakeholder management). However, while doing the online test, I’ve noticed the importance of chapters 6 (time management) and 10 (communications management). I will also rewrite PMBOK page 61 every single morning to get back into the habit of remembering each process and their interdependencies. I am intent on scoring above 62% on my next online practice exam and over 80% on my final PMI-PBA exam.

Technical Difficulties

                I awoke hungry and jetted to the DuPont doughnut spot because Google said that it was opened until 2am. Wrong! It closed at 12am because it was Wednesday L. You meant that I walked down N street with crazy people cursing each other out for a closed restaurant? I huffed all the way to the 24-hour CVS got food and returned back home. Sheesh! 

Getting All of the Fear of Failure Out of the Way

                 I scored 72.72% (16 out of 22) on the RMC CBAP/CCBA exam prep chapter 3 today. I took it cold without reading the chapter. I just wanted a baseline to see how well I would do. There was so much overlap between project management and business analysis. Although they had different terminologies, I understood most of the concepts. Given that 61% was the PMI-PBA passage rate (I was using the CBAP exam prep book since the PMI-PBA certification exam was new and there weren’t any prep materials), I knew that I would pass the exam the first time.   I also stopped fearing failing the exam because it was unknown. I just took a stab at it and what did I know: I scored 72%! Scoring that high also helped me decide that earning my PMI-PBA first ahead of my PMI-ACP would had been a way better move. 

Cleaning My Plate and Clearing My Mind

                Internally I have been thinking about going for my PMI-ACP and PMI-PBA certifications. I am actively looking for a new opportunity but the feelings are so strong. I just want to clear my plate. Getting these two certifications free up a lot of mental space in my head. The PMI-ACP goal has been stuck in my brain since 2012 and the PMI-PBA goal has been stuck in my brain since May 2014. Earning these two certifications increase my earning potential. I need them gone right now to go onto bigger and better things. 

Staying Started

                Everyone talks about getting started but how many people stay started? It’s east to start something new. It’s hard to stay committed throughout the process. When the pursuit isn’t shiny and new, it’s hard to muster enthusiasm doing the rote, mundane tasks. I admit that at times I am guilty of this behavior. Inertia erodes things. I need to stay started instead of staying stagnant. Therefore, I am going for these three things the rest of this year: 1) finding the job that I want; 2) earning my CBAP certification; and, 3) earning my PMI-PBA certification; and, the only way to accomplish these three things are to stay started.

This Will Be a Phenomenal Week

                This week will be phenomenal. I am riding the positive momentum from last week. It feels great to be buoyed professionally. I know that I will build upon it creating something even greater. I am ready for it because I am getting closer to what I really want: more freedom to create the future that I want.

Silent No More

                Until now, I’ve remained silent and others have taken this to their advantage. People have told me to polite, courteous, and ‘to trust the process’. That stops today because I’ve reclaimed my voice. I refuse to let others and my enemies speak for me and write my story. I’m telling my story and my truth. I’m reclaiming my voice and my life. I’m giving life and voice to all of my dreams and aspirations. I have stopped fearing the future and what might happen. I am living in the present, taking each day as it comes and making the most of it. By being present and capitalizing upon all current available opportunities, I will make the future better; and, all of these things start with my declaration of not being silent any more.

A Google Doodle for My Birthday

                How cool is this? I have my own personal Google Doodle for my birthday! Check it out below.

PMI-PBA Certification Pilot Exam Update

This is the final weekend of the PMI-PBA certification pilot exam and I haven’t taken it because it has been chaotic as of lately. I do feel that I will get it done this year regardless of what has been happening to me.  What I have done in the meantime is improving my Excel 2010 and SQL programming skills. I scored 92% on the advanced Excel 2010 final exam and 86% on the Introduction to SQL final exam.  So my time hasn’t been wasted but the PMI-PBA certification has not materialized.  What I have learned is to centralize my focus and write down to do one thing every single day towards the goal.  I know that practicing this will put me farther ahead than now. 

Stop Trying to Make It Perfect

I have delayed posting new posts because I have been trying to make it perfect. Now I will stop this whole paralysis of analysis thing, I will be back soon.

Writing the End to a Story

                In 2014 I have been trying to get into a new phase in life. I have tried accumulating new skills, different industries, I mean everything but I am still stuck. I’ve listened to an empowerment coach’s podcast where the interviewer says to ‘envision the end.’ That’s it. I have been churning along but never truly define what the end (new job) would look like. There is freedom in knowing how it will end because I’ll at least have a roadmap guiding me down the road. Right now I am in the wilderness but describing in detail what the end would look like would be very helpful in me getting over this hump. 

What the PMI-PBA Pilot Deadline Has Taught Me

                I have just completed my PMI-PBA pilot certification Excel verification spreadsheet documenting all of my projects. I am moving on this application faster than my PMI-ACP certification application because the PMI-PBA pilot program has a deadline. It forces me to push through all of the mess that I am dealing with currently. After passing my PMP exam in June, I started studying for the PMI-ACP certification in July. However, with all of the craziness that I experienced for the past 11 months stopped me. There was never a prolonged peaceful time period so I never established a rhythm. This pilot program forced me to keep going regardless of the chaos. Right now the chaos is constant yet the PMI-PBA pilot program deadline is August 4^th. August 4^th is going to come and go whether or not I’ve completed the application or have taken the test. Understanding this, I’ve decided not to let work and people further obstruct me from my certification goal. I will not only submit my PMI-PBA application but will sit for the certification exam and pass it this October. I have bigger dreams and taking the PMI-PBA certification exam is the first step. I will use this experience to prepare for the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) exam this fall. Furthermore, clearing the PMI-PBA exam liberates my time and energy to revisit the PMI-ACP certification exam with a renewed mentality. By then I will be able to push pass the chaos and confusion and will even be out of my current work environment.

Quick 1st Half of 2014 Assessment

                I must admit that I hadn’t expected to be where I am at today, June 21, 2014. On January 1, 2014, I expected to have my PMI-ACP certification but then PMI announced that it was having a PMI-PBA pilot program. Immediately I jump at the opportunity.  I must also admit that in the past 6 months I have become a Small Business Book Award judge, attended the White House spring garden event snapping photos, and have an article published.  With today being 9 days until the halfway mark, I do see myself accomplishing these key objectives:

·         PMI approving my PMI-PBA certification application

·         Completely outlining PMBOK chapters 5, 8 and 13 to prepare for the PMI-PBA

·         Finished reading BABOK chapters 2 and 3

·         Scored 80% on the RMC Project’s PMP scope, quality and stakeholder management knowledge area practice exams.

·         Completed Ed2Go Introduction to SQL and Advanced Excel 2010 online courses

·         Enrolled in the USDA Graduate School SQL course for in-person assistance

·         Expand my personal and professional network

·         Have fun the entire time

Although this looks like a lengthy list, I am already in the process of completing many of these tasks so I will meet all of these obligations before June 30, 2014. Furthermore, here are my prospective 2^nd half of 2014 goals below:

·         Transfer the PMI-PBA knowledge and start studying for the Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) exam by October at the latest. I think that I will finish it before then.

·         Get promoted

·         Seek more challenges

·         Travel more

·         Improve my SQL and Oracle programming skills

·         Pass the PMI-ACP certification test

Showing Compassion for Yourself at All Times

                Sometimes I am too hard on myself wanting to do more. Someone today has let me know that I am doing more than a whole lot of people. Furthermore, once I know better, I do better.

Transition to Mentor

I have been a member of a particular Linkedin test-taker support group for a couple of years. This week a person posted that he has failed the exam twice. I feel sorry for him because everyone else in the Linkedin study group has been passing.  I’ve never known anyone who has failed once let alone twice. I don’t want him to fail a third time because then he would be disqualified.  I know the pain of failing the CAPM the first time.  I’ve used that pain as motivation to pass the PMP exam the first time.  One of the study pages contains all of these study links. I’ve copied them for him emailing them privately.  Even though I have stopped studying for this exam to prepare for the PMI-PBA certification exam, I just want to be a blessing to someone.  This certification exam has a lot of cross-industry portability.  I want that man to be able to pass it and help his family have a better future. Heck, I just want him to pass and not feel like a loser.  After sending the email, it hit me that I am now a mentor, a den mother, if you will in this group.  I do have a considerable amount of influence, it’s due to offering people congratulations when they’ve posted passing the exam.  This is the first time that I have actually contacted someone and provided resources to a test-taker.  I am happy that I have been a blessing to this man and nothing more.