Kickstarter.com has approved my project submission. After a couple weeks working on the messaging and the layout, I finally thought it was ready for review yesterday around 6p. This morning I received notification that Kickstarter has approved it. All that remains is hitting LAUNCH! So nervous.
Think I am going to wait until tomorrow to hit launch. Tonight is Halloween. A big holiday for myself and my 5 young kids. Don’t want to be distracted by any emails or communications needing my immediate attention. There may be none, but just in case, I would rather be in a position to respond. While trick-or-treating (hopefully not in the snow we had this morning) I don’t want to have to try to type an email on my phone while the kids are anxious to get to the next house to add to their loot.
Launching tomorrow will give me time to think about who to notify about the project and where else I can spread the word. The campaign is for 30 days. Crossing fingers I meet my goal. If not, it will be a good experience. Something to blog about.
When I have instructed project management professional (PMP) certification exam prep courses over the last 10 years, an aspect all my students really appreciated were my illustrations of the concepts as I discussed them. I would at a minimum draw out the processes included in a knowledge area prior to my lesson on the topic.
The illustrations would be drawn on the whiteboard for every class. Some students would take pictures of the board or attempt to sketch their own versions in their notepads. I must have had drawn them hundreds of times over the 10+ years instructing the classes. Starting with my own studying for the PMP exam. As a visual learner, I prefer to ‘think in pictures’. It helped me prepare and pass the exam, as well as helping many others in my training sessions, I thought they may be beneficial to more people. And with YouTube, it is possible!
The videos of my whiteboard animations are only of my drawings at this point. I did not care my voice as I was drawing. Plus I would like to record my voiceover with a better quality microphone and get rid of any ums and ahs 🙂 Once I have the audio explaining the processes, inputs, outputs, and tool and techniques as I draw them, they will be uploaded to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdjZVoQFYUOOFnLr2R3E4A
Currently there are only project management topics of knowledge areas, processes, ITTOs, and process groups according to the Project Management Body of Knowledge PMBOK (r) 5th edition. As I complete the PMBOK concepts, I may recreate my illustrations for ITIL/ITSM and Agile project management and the PMI-ACP exam.
After writing for this blog and my many course documents/study guides, I have decided to also write a stand alone book for those wishing to learn the foundations of ITIL v3.
It is currently titled, ITIL® V3 Foundations in Plain (American) English. Being American and most of the ITIL documentation and study guides in British English or Dutch, I decided there needs to be a colloquial American take on the topic.
Using a conversational approach and my hand drawn illustrations, Sample illustration from upcoming book I aim to bring a light, entertaining presentation of the complex – and often boring and abstract – ITIL v3 information.
Years developing course materials and comprehensive learning environments for project management, risk management, conflict resolution, quality management, emotional intelligence, project leadership, organizational theory, general how-to, and general management theory, beyond IT service management topics, I have found this formula to work well. Studying research on effective learning strategies and cognitive science as part of my Doctorate program, there is plenty to support the concept of presenting data in comfortable, conversational format. With graphics and supporting material coupled closely to the written text, reinforcing the concepts, the learner is absorbing the complex material in many formats – making retention easier and more lasting. I hope my efforts benefit many who desire to either take on the ITIL® v. 3 Foundation certification exam or simple familiarize themselves with the ITIL framework, purpose, and the processes involved.
Writing a book takes much longer than one thinks. Especially when producing one’s own illustrations and supporting material (not to much contributing to my other projects). With luck, this book project will be completed and published within the next few months. I will see how long I can work for free – I mean “invest” – my time on this endeavor over other projects.
I am in need of reviewers. If you are interested in reviewing rough drafts or advanced copies, please contact me or comment on this blog. Former participants in my PMP and ITIL training classes are accustomed to my style and published study guides. I may have to give a shout out to all of you!
The Crowd Training Blog 