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Volume X - Issue II - February 2008

Personal Stories

 

“But we don’t do that here!”

By Ammar Mango

I love telling the story about how I got into project management.  It would be nice to say that I had it all planned and that I wanted to be a project manager all my life, but the truth is that it was pure kismet.  Actually, if I did anything, it was almost blowing my one and probably only chance to get into project management.  Here is the story, and I will let you be the judge.

I was finishing up my graduate studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the field of Construction Engineering and Management.  It all started with a phone call from a classmate who went with me through the same masters program.  “Ammar, I don’t have much time to explain.  You have not signed up to work for anyone yet, have you?”  He asked as if he was rushing me to give a negative answer.  Unfortunately, the answer was no.  I was just finishing my Masters degree and have not been able to land a job yet, and I was getting a bit agitated by that.  The market at that time was slow and not much work was available.

“I am still considering my options” I said, trying not to sound too desperate.  “I am happy to hear that,” he quickly replied, “listen, I promised someone to help them find someone for a position, and I think you are a great fit for it.  I am at the airport, my plane is departing in a few minutes so I cannot elaborate…just write down this phone number, tell them I gave you this number so they arrange an interview for you.  Good luck with that… I have to go now.” I tried to catch him before he hangs up “Wait!  you have to tell me a bit about the….” But it was too late, as he had already hung up. 


Read complete paper in English

 

About the Author:
Ammar Mango

Ammar Mango
PMForum International Correspondent
in Jordan

Ammar W. Mango, PMP, CSSBB, is an International Correspondent for PMForum in Jordan. He is also principal consultant for Method Corporation, a project management consulting, product and services company based in Amman, Jordan. With over seventeen years of global experience in Project Management & Leadership consulting and training, he is considered an international expert on the subjects and enjoys a superb reputation as an inspirational trainer and consultant. Mr. Mango has provided his services in the United States and the Middle East to global organizations like Visteon Systems (USA), Ford Motor (USA), Detroit Edison (USA), Fermi II Nuclear Plant (USA), Qatar Petroleum (Qatar), Saudi Telecom Company (KSA), Al Fotaim Group (UAE) and many others. Mr. Mango is a published author and columnist on organizational leadership and project management. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jordan University and a Master's Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. He has been certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute (PMI) since 1991, and as a Six Sigma Black Belt by the American Society for Quality. He served as Vice President, Education, PMI Great Lakes Chapter in 1993, and is the founder and currently active member of the PMI Jordanian Chapter. He has been a guest speaker at a number of international Project Management seminars and symposiums around the world. Information about Method Corporation can be found at http://www.methodcorp.com.
Ammar can be contacted at amango@methodcorp.com.

 

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