A cold can of V8 sparked a flood of memory—fishing trips, a convenience store that sold worms, and a father who made ordinary moments feel solid. That small joy became the on-ramp to a bigger truth: after ten years of delays, detours, and self-doubt, I’m finally sitting for the PMP. Not because life got easier, but because life didn’t—and I’m choosing to move anyway.

I open up about the real reasons big goals stall: caregiving and grief that drain focus, a layoff that reshapes priorities, and the tug-of-war between how projects run at work and how a standardized exam wants you to think. Along the way, I chased an urgent ITIL certification to keep opportunities alive, learned to pivot without losing the thread, and accepted that momentum often looks like a chain of small, unglamorous wins. If you’ve ever stared down a four-hour exam while juggling sick days, snow closures, and a noisy house, you’ll hear your own story in this one.

Then we get tactical. I break down the study plan that fits a chaotic schedule: 15-question sprints to build the PMP mindset, a 100-question block for endurance, and daily reps to keep scenario thinking sharp. We talk about avoiding terminology overlap, choosing people-centered answers, and staying calm when the wording gets tricky. Most of all, we sit with fear—naming it, not feeding it—and hold the line on a test date that’s easy to move but costly to postpone.

If you’re navigating certifications, career shifts, or any long-haul goal, join me for a candid, practical boost. Press play, share your best focus tips, and send a little luck my way. And if this resonates, subscribe, leave a quick review, and pass it to a friend who needs a nudge to finally start.

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