Scope Creep.
During my day job, a term was brought up during a project meeting. Our shop was given a task to accomplish with the customer’s needs. As the meeting progressed, the customer started to request more and more without considering budgeting. Although, this was the initial meeting prior to our shop preliminary survey. As professionals, you don’t want to promise the customer anything until there are full inventory and cost estimate that is agreeable to both parties.
Scope Creep is when the customer goes beyond what the project was agree upon and ask to add more adjustment after the project has started. Given the opportunity, it is best practice to make the customer specify what they need and allow the customer to decide on options based on delivery and timeline. Example, Option A has a shorter timeline without X, Y, Z feature and Option B has a longer timeline with all specified feature.
There is a lot of debates on whether to get a certificate or a degree for any sort of specialize job. Essentially, it all depends on your career goals.
Certificates:
Certificates are offered at trade schools and even at some colleges. Although, going through colleges for certificates will require you to take some core classes with no guarantee of a certification. They may only offer lectures to cover the materials for your specific certificate.
- Duration: Typically shorter. Some are self-paced and requires passing difficult exams.
- Cost: Often less expensive than degrees.
- Focus: Highly specialized in a particular skill or area of focus.
- Career Impact: Beneficial for career advancement, skill development, and career field specific.
- Examples: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), coding bootcamps.
Degrees:
Degrees requires a lot of commitments. Some of slow paced, some are accelerated. Depending on the school, it also offer networking and alumni resource that is priceless.
- Duration: 2-4 years for undergraduate degrees and additional years for advanced degrees
- Cost: More expensive.
- Focus: Provides a broad or in-depth understanding of a field, covering theoretical and practical aspects.
- Career Impact: Required for specific professions (e.g., engineering, law, medicine) and can open doors to higher-level positions, promotions, or career shifts.
- Examples: Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
I am currently working both. I’ve learned that the resource and learning material is very broad in a degree specific coursework. But it doesn’t prevent you from using that knowledge or skills to apply to your own research. On the other spectrum, earning a certificate was definitely quicker and cheaper. Although, I believe it was harder because I was cramming a lot of information in a short time just to pass an exam.
One work to keep in mind: Research.
There are lot of pieces that makes up a business. If you are not familiar with everything that has to do with your business then others can exploit you. Ex. Low ball offers on material and labor.
Most business fail to grow because they fail to do research. Business evolves and changes often (or even daily), so it is important to keep up-to-date with your market and how it reacts to the season, customers, and your workers.
I know there are influencers and business guru that is all about GRIND, GRIND, GRIND. But your body can only handle so much. Take the time to rest, especially around/during the holidays.
Benefits of resting:
- Improved Decision-Making: When you take the time to rest, you are removing yourself from the situation. This gives you time to think clearly and see the problem from an outside perspective.
- Sparking Creativity: Creativity flows better when there is no stress involved. Creativity tends to lead to more productivity in a more fun and productive way.
- Better Health: It goes without saying, resting not only helps with your health but the health of the business. when you’re at your peak, the business is also at it’s peak performance.
- Long-term Sustainability: Success is a marathon, not a race. Most business fail within the first 3-5 years. Business that overcome the 5th year are more likely to expand and grow.
These are a few ways that resting can benefit you and your business. Don’t take days off lightly, it can help recharge and improve business decision when you can keep a clear mind.
While traveling, I was seated next to a lady that express herself as a career woman. She believe that every opportunity to learn and acquire new skills gave her the ability to move higher and higher in the respective company she worked for. She use her companies benefits and training courses to become a candidate for higher position she wanted to pursue.
Alternately, not everyone is blessed with opportunities like this lady. Fortunately, we can create our own by sparing some times to improve ourself. I have mentioned before that starting off with just 10 minutes a day on a new skill will eventually turn into 15… 20… 30 mins… or more. Once, it becomes a habit to expand your knowledge and skills, it becomes addicting and watch how more door open up for you.
Let make Wednesday the day for updates and news. This gives me a week to create content and build my website. I will try to come up with a new topic or content each week.
Items that are part of the business need to be separated from those used personally. Creating a list will help identify business properties, as well as, inventory items for daily use.
Making a list will help you find what you need instead of roaming the store trying to remember what you need in the first place.
A list, just like a grocery list, will help you stay organized and remind you of your daily or required tasks to get to the next stage.
I am currently working on multiple projects and doing school online. There won’t be many big updates or noticeable changes, but like any big project, you just have to take one step at a time.
Last week my little sister ask for my option on her resume. I mention to her that she needs to update anytime she receive a certification or qualified on a skill. In the last two days, an old buddy of mine is planning to switch jobs also ask for advice on his resume. With all the help and suggestions that I have given, I have yet to update mine. Resume isn’t something that you can just brush off. It is something we need to update regularly. In addition to that, it proves to us that we have progress and gain lots of experiences. If not, then this should be a wake up call.