Thirty New CSMs in Gods Waiting Room!

Hi,

Need to explain the title first (smile).

I grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, and for those of you who know the area will concede that a LOT of very very old ancient people live there; the same holds through for Tampa.

During the winter, these people are called “SnowBirds”; during the rest of the year they just smell up their houses with old grandma and grandpa smells.

You all know what I am talking about (smile… really!).

Aneeehow… I had a GREAT Thursday and Friday CSM Workshop in Tampa this week. It was made up of a huge variance of expertise and skills of people implementing Scrum.

And.

It seemed like all people really were there because they wanted to be there. This helps immensely.

Now, normally my “sweet spot” for a class (based on experience around the world) is 16 people, with my max today being 26 at the most. Good guideline, and we exceeded it a bit. The largest class I was on my own for was almost 40 people in a foreign land. Oh joyous rapture was that for all (smile).

Last night (Thursday) i met up with a few people who are trying to get a local Agile / Scrum group kicked off the ground in Tampa. If you need more information about this — please contact me and I will make the connections for you.

A huge shout-out to Maureen for setting it up. THANK YOU!

The comments today were pretty typical (some people felt rushed, some people felt overwhelmed, some people absolutely loved it, etc.). The bottom line I can say is that each person in the workshop walked out knowing more about Scrum than they did just 48 hours earlier.

How they now go out and implement this in their organizations is up to them.

And as a Certified Scrum Trainer, I am OK with that. I know my job is done for now, until they continue the journey and as for more help in the future (or I ask them for help in the future).

Got some great ideas for comic strips and more blog write-ups too.

One final note: I am now charging up my latest toy Productivity Enhancer and will be planning on debuting it out in California next week. If all goes well, readers of the blog should have some new media to look over.

Have fun.

Let’s try.

And keep learning!

Peace Out.

Thank you!

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

p.s. And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

p.p.s. –> Meet me in Irvine next week!

Posted in Announcements, Certification — by mvizdos on 06/14/08 Anyone?




Wednesday Night: Tampa, Florida

Hi,

Well, I landed this evening to my home State of Florida — still a five hour drive across the state to get to where I grew up, so that will not happen this trip.

But.

Tonight I was lucky enough to meet my ex-next-door-neighbor (his name is Ed) from when we were kids. The guy is like a brother to me. And last month, I was able to re-connect with another great childhood friend when I was in Michigan.

So anyway, tonight Ed and his awesome wife (a EE) met me for dinner a little way up north of Tampa. It was great.

And on the way back to the hotel, I was reminded of the great Florida “Heat Lightening” at night (like there is any other kind)?

And.

Now I am sitting on my deck at the hotel looking over Tampa Bay and thinking things here do not suck.

Hot yes.

Lots of lightening, yes.

But definitely not sucking.

I am excited that tomorrow I will be working with a rather large CSM class, and hope that all attendees learn as much as I do about Scrum while I am teaching it.

Huh?

Does this mean I do not know what Scrum is about?

No.

It DOES mean I learn from every class I teach. Be it seven or seventy people.

Each one is different.

Like the teams you work on.

Hmmm.

Nice how it all pulls together tonight.

I’ll have more tomorrow.

For those of you in the USA, I’ll give you my sneak-peak at the 30+ cities I will be in for the rest of this year.

One of the things I love doing is meeting up with either University or local Agile Groups. So if you see any city near you on the list, let me know if you’d like to coordinate something with me.

That list will come out tomorrow as a preview to you.

For tonight, I think I will continue watching the lightening show.

Peace Out.

Thank you!

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

p.s. And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

p.p.s. –> Meet me in Irvine next week!

Posted in Certification — by mvizdos on 06/11/08 Anyone?




Limited Charter Memberships Available for Premium Content Area

Hi.

[This is a message from the heart / full transparency "on" / and not specific to Scrum --- more of the "State of the Site at www.implementingscrum.com and, "Where do we take it in the future...."]

Last week I asked a specific question that I have received a ton of feedback as of today (thank you to everyone who responded).

For people who have been regular readers of this blog for a while, I hope you can tell that I am constantly “creating” this site using feedback from you — inspecting and adapting — eating my own dog food as it were. For new readers, please expect this trend to continue.

If you have not noticed… I have removed all google advertising from the site; per feedback from you I thought this would be best (even though it was a car payment [plus] a month in revenue!).

And, the site as it stands today (and in the future) the blog entries and comics will continue to be “free” (just your time, which I appreciate) in the future.

Please continue to tell your friends and teams around the universe about this site (thank you). If you have not done so already, now is a great time (smile).

As you may not realize, I own a company (Vizdos Enterprises, LLC) and work around the world helping clients Implement Scrum at all levels in hundreds — at this point probably over a thousand — of locations.

I am also a Certified Scrum Trainer (one of less than 50 in this great Universe) and spend a lot of time on the road doing the CSM Workshops (although it is not my main revenue stream).

I will be in more than 30 cities in the USA between now and the end of the year.

And I have some plans to head overseas too.

Lots of travel. And that is what is just currently booked.

I need to update both the Scrum Alliance site with these new dates, along with my public google calendar.

Be sure if you are in the USA I should be arriving to a city near you!

I DO have a family and one of my personal goals is to start to cut back on travel again.

My five and eight year old boys are growing up. And… for anyone who travels extensively… you know how this works. If you are interested in doing what I do, we can talk about the pros and cons anytime!

This is where I need you (sorry for the long intro… but this is like having a one way conversation!).

The results of the “voting” for more blog entries were positive. Both as they stand today and in more video/audio formats.

And, starting next week you will start to see different flavors of them being produced more often (maybe more than Dominc (my oldest son) and I doing youtube videos.

There will be other avenues and distribution channels over time.

Again… inspect and adapt.

The comic strips and blog entires about those comic strips will continue to be free.

This next part is not a sales pitch — it is to gain serious interest (although you may consider it a pitch).

I am starting a “Premium Content” area of the site.

Ah.

That means dinero/cash/euros/whatever out of your pocket (or your company or organization).

I am looking for a limited number of people who would be interested in becoming “Charter Members” of the Premium Content area of implementingscrum.com.

I will request each of the limited Charter Members pay a fee, and, in return this fee will continue to remain the same forever for you (if the price goes up, you will pay the same subscription amount as long as you are a member).

I am looking for an initial three month commitment from you (and me) to actually “test” some new features as they are developed.

So, in addition to becoming “Charter Members” you will help guide the content and delivery mechanisms for the future subscribers of the site — both “free” and “Premium”.

Are you interested in doing something like this with me?

The journey will be fun.

And — as a Charter Member — you will have a safe place as part of a new community to help yourself — and others — learn even more about Scrum and other Agile Practices.

I only want serious people who have a positive attitude and a true spirit of adventure.

Is that you?

If so, please let me know.

Who knows?

Heck, when I started this site I could not believe the impact that one person (actually two — Tony (the artist) and I) could have on an industry.

Change happens one person at a time.

And good Karma is always a good thing to possess, even if only for a millisecond of time in your life.

If you are interested, stop by www.implementingscrum.com/premium for a bit more information and sign-up to become a Charter Member for the Premium Content.

Risk free.

This is an incredibly limited opportunity and I will cut it off on or before June 30, 2008 for new Charter Members (if there is too great of a response, a waiting list will begin).

Part of this limitation is to take it in small steps and inspect and adapt along the way.

Thank you for reading all of this.

If you are not ready to sign-up as a Charter Member today, please pass this information on to others who may be interested.

I do sincerely appreciate it.

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

PS: And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

Hi.

[This is a message from the heart / full transparency "on" / and not specific to Scrum --- more of the "State of the Site at www.implementingscrum.com and, "Where do we take it in the future...."]

Last week I asked a specific question that I have received a ton of feedback as of today (thank you to everyone who responded).

For people who have been regular readers of this blog for a while, I hope you can tell that I am constantly “creating” this site using feedback from you — inspecting and adapting — eating my own dog food as it were. For new readers, please expect this trend to continue.

If you have not noticed… I have removed all google advertising from the site; per feedback from you I thought this would be best (even though it was a car payment [plus] a month in revenue!).

And, the site as it stands today (and in the future) the blog entries and comics will continue to be “free” (just your time, which I appreciate) in the future.

Please continue to tell your friends and teams around the universe about this site (thank you). If you have not done so already, now is a great time (smile).

As you may not realize, I own a company (Vizdos Enterprises, LLC) and work around the world helping clients Implement Scrum at all levels in hundreds — at this point probably over a thousand — of locations.

I am also a Certified Scrum Trainer (one of less than 50 in this great Universe) and spend a lot of time on the road doing the CSM Workshops (although it is not my main revenue stream).

I will be in more than 30 cities in the USA between now and the end of the year.

And I have some plans to head overseas too.

Lots of travel. And that is what is just currently booked.

I need to update both the Scrum Alliance site with these new dates, along with my public google calendar.

Be sure if you are in the USA I should be arriving to a city near you!

I DO have a family and one of my personal goals is to start to cut back on travel again.

My five and eight year old boys are growing up. And… for anyone who travels extensively… you know how this works. If you are interested in doing what I do, we can talk about the pros and cons anytime!

This is where I need you (sorry for the long intro… but this is like having a one way conversation!).

The results of the “voting” for more blog entries were positive. Both as they stand today and in more video/audio formats.

And, starting next week you will start to see different flavors of them being produced more often (maybe more than Dominc (my oldest son) and I doing youtube videos.

There will be other avenues and distribution channels over time.

Again… inspect and adapt.

The comic strips and blog entires about those comic strips will continue to be free.

This next part is not a sales pitch — it is to gain serious interest (although you may consider it a pitch).

I am starting a “Premium Content” area of the site.

Ah.

That means dinero/cash/euros/whatever out of your pocket (or your company or organization).

I am looking for a limited number of people who would be interested in becoming “Charter Members” of the Premium Content area of implementingscrum.com.

I will request each of the limited Charter Members pay a fee, and, in return this fee will continue to remain the same forever for you (if the price goes up, you will pay the same subscription amount as long as you are a member).

I am looking for an initial three month commitment from you (and me) to actually “test” some new features as they are developed.

So, in addition to becoming “Charter Members” you will help guide the content and delivery mechanisms for the future subscribers of the site — both “free” and “Premium”.

Are you interested in doing something like this with me?

The journey will be fun.

And — as a Charter Member — you will have a safe place as part of a new community to help yourself — and others — learn even more about Scrum and other Agile Practices.

I only want serious people who have a positive attitude and a true spirit of adventure.

Is that you?

If so, please let me know.

Who knows?

Heck, when I started this site I could not believe the impact that one person (actually two — Tony (the artist) and I) could have on an industry.

Change happens one person at a time.

And good Karma is always a good thing to possess, even if only for a millisecond of time in your life.

If you are interested, stop by www.implementingscrum.com/premium for a bit more information and sign-up to become a Charter Member for the Premium Content.

Risk free.

This is an incredibly limited opportunity and I will cut it off on or before June 30, 2008 for new Charter Members (if there is too great of a response, a waiting list will begin).

Part of this limitation is to take it in small steps and inspect and adapt along the way.

Thank you for reading all of this.

If you are not ready to sign-up as a Charter Member today, please pass this information on to others who may be interested.

I do sincerely appreciate it.

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

PS: And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

Posted in Announcements, Teams, Transparency, Video — by mvizdos on 06/09/08 Anyone?




Tomorrow. A Mind-Blowing Post. Game Changing. Stay Tuned.

Hi,

Dunno what else to say the describes the title of this blog entry any better.

Tomorrow.

Stay with me.

Please.

Thank you!

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

p.s. And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

Posted in Announcements, Training — by mvizdos on 06/08/08 Anyone?




Tampa CSM Class Sold Out - Join us for BEER?

Hi,

Although the Tampa CSM class has been sold out this coming week, if you are interested in meeting us for beer Thursday evening I’ll post the location as an update later this week.

Looking forward to an awesome class down there this week.

My next public CSM class is in Irvine, California on June 17-18. Details can be found at www.michaelvizdos.com/enroll.

Thank you!

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

p.s. And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

Posted in Announcements, Certification — by mvizdos on 06/07/08 Anyone?




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