Masonry Magazine July 2007 Page. 58
Full Contact Project Management
Sluggin' It Out – Just Like Rocky!
FULL CONTACT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Gary Micheloni
There must be a hundred or so "Rocky" movies out there, or so it would seem to me. But the best one ever, according to the Coach, is the first "Rocky." Okay, now; simmer down. I hear the objections out there, all across the country. You can hardly believe your eyes and fear that Coach is about to showcase Rocky as some kind of a PM guru. You are convinced that, this month, Coach has finally flipped out entirely! Rocky the PM? "Absurd," you say. And I'd agree.
But I'll bet you agree with this: To a PM, Rocky is a fantastic example of someone who sets and achieves his goals. Gotcha! So, let's take a quick look.
Hear the music? Sure you do, because everyone knows that theme. See Rocky running through the neighborhood, up the steps, then dancing around and imagining victory with his fists in the air? Using a side of beef as a punching bag - see it? Of course! Finally, can you see him in the ring, going toe-to-toe with Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champion of the world?
At the end of the fight, Apollo wins by decision. He tells Rocky that there's not going to be any rematch; he's had enough of this upstart, this new guy, this unknown. It's harder to recall that part of the movie the losing part. But the fact is this: Rocky gave it all he had more than Apollo ever imagined he could give him because Rocky left it all in the ring.
Rocky lost, but what did he gain? Respect! Not just from Apollo, but also from his "team" of coaches, trainers, family, the referee - everybody. And when Rocky did get his rematch, he made the most of it, because - this time everyone knew that he deserved to be there and it wasn't just some fluke. I would argue that Rocky's first loss was the best thing that ever happened to him career-wise.
You see, fighting a good fight against a world-class opponent, even if you lose, puts you into an elite category. Rocky knew he had weaknesses, but he also knew his strengths and how to make the most out of them. Rocky believed in himself; he was fearless and he knew he could fight against anyone.
To a PM, Rocky is a fantastic example of someone who sets and achieves his goals.
And that brings us back to our own real-world and real-life battles in the arena of project management. How you can set and achieve your