The Good PM Life Podcast

Ever sat in a technical meeting thinking, “Am I supposed to understand all of this?” You’re not alone and you don’t have to be the technical expert in the room to be a good project manager.

After almost 20 years in IT project management, I’ve learned that the PM’s job isn’t to know every technical detail. It’s to understand what those details mean for the project: what’s blocked, what decision is needed, who owns the next step, and whether the schedule, scope, cost, or risk has changed.

In this episode, I talk about how to stay useful when a conversation gets technical, ask clear questions without pretending you know more than you do, and help the team leave the meeting with a real next step.

Ever feel like everything is your responsibility, but nothing is actually within your control?

The deadline slips? Your fault. Resources aren't available? Your problem. Leadership can't make a decision? Somehow, that's on you too.

Sound familiar?

As project managers, we're expected to deliver results, solve problems, and keep everyone moving forward. But what happens when we're held accountable for decisions we don't have the authority to make?

In this episode of The Good PM Life, we're talking about one of the most frustrating realities of project management: all the responsibility, none of the authority.

And here's the uncomfortable part: sometimes we're making the situation worse by constantly stepping in to save the day.

In this episode, we'll cover:

• Why project managers end up taking the blame for things outside their control
• How being the constant problem-solver can actually backfire
• The difference between managing a project and owning everyone else's decisions
• How to push back professionally without looking difficult
• Three practical ways to stop absorbing problems that belong to leadership

Here's the bottom line:

You're a project manager, not a miracle worker. Your job is to lead, communicate, identify risks, and help people make informed decisions—not carry the weight of an entire organization on your shoulders.

So, are you managing your projects, or have you become the company's punching bag?

Let's talk about it.

Thanks for listening to The Good PM Life, where we tackle the real challenges of project management that don't always make it into the textbooks.

#ProjectManagement #ProjectManager #ProjectLeadership #PMP #TheGoodPMLife

Every project has a Bob.

You know Bob. He doesn't answer emails, misses important meetings, and sits on approvals for two weeks. But the minute your project falls behind schedule, guess who's suddenly available and wants to know what went wrong?

BOB!

In this episode of The Good PM Life, we're talking about one of the most frustrating—and important—parts of project management: dealing with people.

From disappearing stakeholders and last-minute executive requests to conflicting priorities and those lovely people who agree with everything in meetings but complain afterward, we're getting into the messy reality of stakeholder management.

Through relatable stories, a little humor, and practical advice, Sandy shares how to navigate difficult personalities, manage expectations, and keep your projects moving without losing your mind.

Because sometimes the biggest obstacle to delivering a successful project isn't the budget, the timeline, or the technology. It's Bob.

Stop Rejecting Yourself Before They Do

Have you ever found the perfect project management job—then decided not to apply because you hadn’t used the exact software listed? In this episode, Sandy explains why knowing a specific tool isn’t the same as knowing how to manage a project. You’ll learn how to recognize transferable software skills, answer interview questions about unfamiliar platforms, choose the right tools to learn, and stop eliminating yourself from opportunities before the employer even sees your résumé.

AI is changing project management—and fast. In this episode of The Good PM Life, we tackle the big question: Is AI coming for your project management job? We’ll look at which PM tasks are likely to be automated, why that doesn’t mean project managers are going away, and where PMs need to start adding more value. From embracing AI tools to strengthening leadership, business knowledge, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills, this episode is about preparing now for what’s next.

This Meeting Could Have Been an Email

We’ve all been there: sitting in a meeting, watching the clock, and wondering, “Why am I here?”

Meetings aren’t the problem. Bad meetings are.

In this episode of The Good PM Life, Sandy takes on one of the most universally frustrating parts of the workday—the unnecessary meeting. Whether you’re a project manager, team leader, business owner, or simply someone whose calendar is packed with invitations, this episode is about being more intentional with one of our most valuable resources: time.

We’ll talk about why meetings have become the default solution for almost everything, when an email really is the better choice, and when getting people together for an actual conversation can save hours of back-and-forth.

In This Episode

• Why a one-hour meeting with 10 people actually consumes 10 hours of organizational time
• The difference between sharing information and actually needing collaboration
• When you should skip the meeting and send the email
• When you should stop emailing and get everyone together
• Why vague meetings like “Project Discussion” are a red flag
• How to decide who really needs to attend—and who simply needs the outcome
• Why every meeting doesn't need to be 30 or 60 minutes
• The dreaded “meeting after the meeting” and what it tells you
• Three questions to ask before sending your next meeting invitation

🎙️ The Good PM Life Real-world lessons about projects, people, leadership, and getting things done—whether “Project Manager” is in your title or not.

Ever finish a workday completely exhausted…only to wonder what you actually accomplished?

For project managers, it’s incredibly easy to spend the entire day answering emails, responding to Teams messages, sitting in meetings, chasing updates, and handling everyone else’s “urgent” requests—without actually moving the project forward.

In this episode of The Good PM Life, I’m talking about the difference between being busy and being productive, and why your biggest challenge may not be time management at all. It may be priority management.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

• Why project managers are especially vulnerable to the “busy trap”
• How your inbox and Teams messages can quietly start running your day
• Why urgent doesn’t always mean important
• How to identify the work that actually moves your project forward
• The danger of letting the loudest stakeholder determine your priorities
• Why PMs need protected thinking time
• The simple Big Three strategy you can start using tomorrow

🎧 Listen now and start taking control of your workday instead of letting your workday control you.

The Good PM Life — practical conversations about project management, leadership, careers, and making life as a PM a little bit better.

What can project managers learn from the world's biggest sporting event?

In this episode of The Good PM Life, Sandy Lawler explores the surprising parallels between project management and the FIFA World Cup. From years of preparation before kickoff to leadership under pressure, stakeholder alignment, risk management, adaptability, and team culture, the World Cup provides a masterclass in the fundamentals that drive successful projects.

Whether you're leading a technology implementation, business transformation, or organizational initiative, the same principles that help teams win championships can help you deliver successful projects.

In this inspiring episode of The Good PM Life, host Sandy Lawler sits down with none other than Amy Landino—renowned YouTube creator, keynote speaker, coach, and author of Good Morning, Good Life. Amy opens up about her journey from launching videos in 2007 to building an internationally recognized personal brand. But what does all this have to do with project management? Everything.

Amy and Sandy dive into the often-overlooked truth: many aspiring project managers already have the skills—they just haven’t given themselves the credit yet. Amy shares powerful advice on taking the leap before you feel fully ready, embracing your past experiences, and managing self-doubt along the way.

***To get exclusive access to the Extraordinary Action Framework Amy mentioned during today's episode, follow Amy on Instagram and send her a direct message with the text "Good PM"***

🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How creating content can teach you project management principles
• Why courage often comes before clarity in your career journey
• How to reframe “I’m not ready” into action and growth
• The parallels between managing a brand and managing projects
• Why sharing your voice publicly (like on LinkedIn or YouTube) builds confidence and community

💬 Notable Quotes: 🗣️ “You learn so much by putting yourself out there.” — Amy Landino 🗣️ “If you’ve ever planned, organized, scoped, or solved a problem—you’ve practiced project management.” — Sandy Lawler

📚 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Good Morning, Good Life by Amy Landino
• Amy’s YouTube channel: AmyTV
• Connect with Amy on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/schmittastic/?hl=en

🌟 Who Should Listen:

• Aspiring project managers questioning if they’re “ready”
• Creatives looking to turn passion into process
• Anyone navigating a career leap with fear and excitement

🙌 Connect with Sandy:

• LinkedIn: Sandy Lawler
• Website: The Good PM Life

Are you stuck in task-mode as a project manager and wondering what it takes to truly lead? In this episode of The Good PM Life, host Sandy Lawler shares the game-changing mindset shift from simply managing tasks to becoming a confident, people-first leader.

Sandy gets personal with real-world stories and practical tips from her 25+ years of experience managing projects across tech, infrastructure, and enterprise environments. You’ll learn the difference between being a task chaser and a team anchor—and how leadership can be quiet, consistent, and deeply impactful.

Whether you’re new to project management or looking to grow into a more strategic role, this episode gives you the roadmap.

www.thegoodpmlife.com