Last year, I trained for my first half marathon.

I had never been a runner beforeI was always more of a sprinter. As I began building my endurance, each long run became the longest I had ever completed.

One summer morning, I was walking with my parents when we saw someone jogging past us on a trail. He wasnt moving fastjust a steady, slow pace. As we passed him, we found ourselves judging him because of how slow he was running. Shortly after, we all felt bad about it, and I said, Hey, we never know what mile someone is on. That thought stuck with me, and I found myself returning to it each time I ran.

We truly never know what mile someone is on. The person we pass could be on their 14th mile, pushing through the final stretch. They might be recovering from an injury or simply choosing to take it slow and steady. We just dont know.

As more time passed in my running journey, I began to see how this idea applies to life. We never know what mile someone is on in their personal journey. Someone could be facing their biggest trial, experiencing their happiest moment, or just having a tough day. This realization helped me understand that we often have no idea what others are going throughso instead of judging, we should offer encouragement.

This reminds me of a quote from Sister Freeman. In April 2026, she gave a talk called

She said, Because of Jesus Christ, no matter how bad things are right now, your best days are ahead. In other words, the next mile is ahead. Everyone will make it through the mile they are on, whether its their best day or their hardest.

Through Christ, we are helped. He comforts us in our worries and fears. Jesus Christ is our strength. No matter what mile someone else is on, our role is not to judge, but to offer strength and encouragementjust as He would.

While I was studying Come, Follow Me in Dec, I read the story of Jane Elizabeth. She was a Black woman in the early days of the Church. At that time, the priesthood was not given to Black members. Because of her race, she was refused a seat on a wagon traveling from Connecticut to Nauvoo. And because of that, she had to walk more than 500 miles to get there.

Even after she arrived in Nauvoo, her situation did not become easier. No one in her family held the priesthood. She could have felt angry or unfairly treated, and that would have been understandable. However, instead of focusing on the unfairness, she chose to be more faithful.

Jane believed that this was part of Gods plan, even though she did not understand it. In uncertain and painful circumstances, she remained devoted to the Church and to her faith.

Jane passed away at the age of 95. During her lifetime, she never saw the priesthood given to Black members of the Church. Many years later, President Spencer W. Kimball announced Official Declaration 2. It declared:

Jane herself did not receive these blessings during her life. However, because she remained faithful, her family and her descendants were later able to receive the blessings of the priesthood and the temple.

Her story made me think about my own life. As a student and an international student, I often feel uncertain about my education, my career, and my future. Many times, I have wanted clear answers and strong reassurance from God. When I felt like there was no clear guidance, I sometimes felt disappointed or frustrated.

Through Janes example, I learned a deeper meaning of faith. Faith is not always about receiving immediate answers. Sometimes, it is about trusting God without conditions and without full understanding. Janes life taught me that sincere and consistent faith can bring blessings, even if we do not see them right away. Her story reminded me that Gods timing is different from ours, and that trust itself can be an act of faith.

Becoming a parent is an extremely stressful life occurrence. Whenever youre about to go into a new phase of life or achieve something, people always try to tell you how its going to be. People warn you about the joys and pains that you might encounter, or how the system is built, so you can utilize it better than they did. Everyone will offer their advice and their experiences of how certain things went for them, but make no mistake, nothing will ever fully prepare you for what you are about to face.

Dont get me wrong, the experiences of others can help us make the proper adjustments to our own thinking and cover potential gaps that we might have missed initially. Then we go and gain more experience so that when we offer our advice, it's more developed than the previous advice you received. On a large scale, this is how they make medical and scientific breakthroughs. On a smaller scale, its how teams can learn and make adjustments where needed. A similar example is using history books and documents to learn from the mistakes of previous nations and wars.

Evolution is proof that even on a molecular level, all life is capable of implementing the feedback of the environment and the experiences of past generations. Afterwards, they build on them with their own experiences and add them to the database of information. Life itself follows an iterative pattern designed to respond and adapt to change. The ability to learn and implement change is a divine gift given to us directly by our Heavenly Parents. So that we can take information from others past experiences, apply it to our situation, and build more experiences that can later be shared and applied to others.

Being a parent is extremely stressful, but it's also the most fulfilling thing I have in my life. I got a lot of advice from my parents and others, but that will never be a replacement for what I experience every day with my daughter. But I know Im gaining more information to share with her when she has her own family

Growing up in Provo, I always drove to school in the mornings. Back in 2017, Cougar Boulevard didnt have a median barrier separating the two directions of traffic. It was extremely convenientespecially when I wanted to grab lunch from some of my favorite spots like Noodles & Company, Mooyah, or Don Joaquin. I could easily head from class straight to food without much hassle.

Later that year, construction began. The city started building a concrete barrier between the left and right sides of the road, which made it impossible to cross all four lanes directly. My days of making quick left turns to Don Joaquin were over. Now, I had to make a U-turnsomething my impatient teenage self considered an annoying and unnecessary detour. Most of us high schoolers thought the barrier was just a pointless obstacle keeping us from our end goal.

Fast forward eight years. One Saturday afternoon, I was driving again on Cougar Boulevard and tried to turn left at the same spot where that barrier now stands. I caught myself thinking,

Almost instantly, a thought came to my mind:

I remembered how often Id seen or heard about accidents on that street before the barrier existed. Some of those crashes were seriouslives had been lost. The presence of the barrier made a visible difference. That small moment led me to reflect on how often we view barriers in life as annoyances rather than lifesaving structures.

Two key lessons stood out to me:

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is like that barrier. God has given us commandments not to limit us, but to protect us. Some may view religious rules as controlling or arbitrary, but in reality, they keep us on a steady, safe path. Just like a road divider prevents head-on collisions, the teachings of Christ guide us away from destructive choices and bring peace, purpose, and safety to our lives.

2. Agile structure is a professional barrier that serves a purpose. In project management, especially within Agile frameworks, certain practiceslike daily standups or structured sprint planningcan sometimes feel tedious or like obstacles to quick progress. But these barriers actually help keep projects on track, foster collaboration, and prevent costly missteps. What feels like a slowdown is often a safeguard.

Barriers, whether spiritual or structural, arent always convenientbut they are almost always purposeful. What once frustrated me now reminds me that safety, growth, and progress often come from the things that keep us from taking the easy way.

Something Ive been slowly learning at work is that asking questions, the right kind of questions, might be one of the most underrated skills in project management. At first, I thought meetings were just about giving updates, making decisions, checking boxes. But the more time Ive spent in rooms with people who actually move things forward, the more Ive noticed theyre the ones who know how to ask the right thing at the right time.

Its not about being the loudest voice or pretending to have all the answers. Sometimes its just asking, Why are we doing it this way? or What does success look like here? or even, Is this actually a priority? I used to be scared of sounding dumb, but Ive realized those basic questions are often the ones that make people pause and rethink the direction.

Before meetings now, I try to jot down a few questions in advance. I look over the agenda and just think about whats unclear to me or what assumptions we might be making. And during the meeting, Ive found that asking with curiosity instead of criticism helps people open up and work together better.

But Ive seen how just one honest question can shift the entire conversation. It does not have to be deep or impressive, you just need to be interested enough, it just has to come from paying attention. And the more I practice that, the more I feel like I am actually part of the conversation, not just sitting there watching it happen.

Life is full of pivotal decisions, especially in the first 30 yearswhere to go to school, who to marry, what career to pursue. Two years ago, I faced one of those decisions: choosing my major. I was torn between Accounting, a safer and more straightforward option, and Information Systems, which was exciting yet intimidating since I knew little about computers.

Both programs accepted me, but instead of clarity, I felt stuck. I didnt want to make a decision Id regret. I spent weeks weighing the options, considering which path would help me grow the most. On the decision deadline, a professor from the Information Systems program called me. He asked what was holding me back, and I admitted, Im just not sure what the best option is.

He said something that shifted my perspective: The best decisions arent always the easiest. Theyre the ones that challenge you and help you grow. Information Systems might feel intimidating now, but thats why it can open doors you never imagined. His words stayed with me, and that night, I chose Information Systemsnot because it was easy, but because it felt right.

The first few months were difficult. Coding assignments and technical language felt overwhelming, but I persisted. Over time, I gained confidence and found joy in solving problems. That resilience and curiosity prepared me for my current role as a Project Assistant at the Office of Information Technology. Whether Im coordinating project timelines or troubleshooting technical problems, Ive learned to connect technical concepts with real-world applications, communicate effectively with teams, and approach challenges with confidence.

Looking back, this wasnt just about picking a major; it was about shaping who I am. My decision taught me to embrace challenges and trust in my ability to adaptlessons that continue to guide me as I face new opportunities to grow.

Before I became a student coach at BYU, I had the opportunity to work as a team member of the Mo Bettahs staff in Spanish Fork. Mo Bettahs, which is a Hawaiian fast-food chain here in Utah, delivers on making delicious Hawaiian-style food and giving the customer an authentic Hawaiian experience. My time there taught me invaluable lessons about efficiency, teamwork, and consistency.

One of the most profound lessons I learned was about the concept of pono. Pono is a Hawaiian word that can have many different meanings, but the most common definition is that of righteousness, balance and moral integrity. In the workplace, we were encouraged to live pono, which was usually accompanied with a team cheer before we started our shift: 1-2-3, Pono! as we raised our hands together from the hand stack.

The more I worked, the clearer it became that living pono wasnt just a slogan but an essential part of our routine. We began every shift with a pono cheer, and I began to see the intricacy of pono in our work. Living pono meant respecting others, taking responsibility, and approaching every task with integrity. Over time, I came to see every task as a chance to practice integrity. Whether by ensuring accuracy in an order or supporting teammates during busy hours, I realized that small actions rooted in pono can have big impacts.

Working at Mo Bettahs helped me learn to carry the values of pono and integrity beyond work, and apply the pono spirit to any of lifes challenges. It taught me that true integrity is about consistently showing up for others and doing whats right, even in the smallest moments.

Applying for internships and entry-level jobs as college students can be a daunting task, especially in the competitive job market today.

However, I found that my experience as an Agile coach in project management provided me with valuable skills and perspectives that proved instrumental in cracking job interviews in the tech industry as a cybersecurity professional. Let me share how my background in Agile coaching uniquely positioned me for success in the cybersecurity domain.

As an Agile coach working in the project management team, my role centered around facilitating the adoption of Agile methodologies within teams, guiding teams through transformational journeys, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This experience honed various skills crucial for success in any domain, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability.

One of the key tenets of Agile methodology is adaptability to change. In the realm of cybersecurity, where threats are constantly evolving, the ability to quickly adapt strategies and defenses is paramount. My experience in Agile coaching equipped me with the mindset and tools to navigate dynamic environments, identify emerging challenges, and devise effective solutions on the fly.

Effective communication and collaboration are essential skills for any role, but they are particularly vital in the tech industry, where teamwork and information sharing are crucial for thwarting cyber threats. As an Agile coach, I facilitated open dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, fostering a shared understanding of goals and priorities. These communication skills proved invaluable during job interviews, allowing me to articulate complex concepts clearly and engage with interviewers effectively.

Agile methodologies emphasize risk management and mitigation as integral parts of project management. Similarly, cybersecurity professionals must be adept at

identifying vulnerabilities, assessing risks, and implementing strategies to mitigate potential threats. Drawing from my experience in Agile coaching, I was able to demonstrate my understanding of risk management principles and showcase how they could be applied in the context of cybersecurity to proactively address

vulnerabilities and enhance defenses.

During the interview process at tech companies, I leveraged my Agile coaching experience to highlight my transferable skills. I shared anecdotes from my Agile coaching journey that showcased my problem-solving abilities, collaborative approach, and ability to thrive in fast-paced environmentsall qualities highly valued by cybersecurity professionals.

In an era where digital threats loom large, project management has evolved to encompass the ever-growing importance of cybersecurity.

Traditional project management methodologies often struggle to adapt swiftly to the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity threats. However, the agile approach presents a compelling framework that harmonizes well with the challenges posed by cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

While traditional project management methodologies focus on extensive planning and linear execution, they can falter when faced with the rapidly evolving threat landscape of cybersecurity. Agile methodologies, on the other hand, thrive on adaptability, collaboration, and iterative development, making them an ideal fit for managing cybersecurity risks in modern projects.

1. Leadership & Integrity

Leadership plays a pivotal role in fostering a cybersecurity-centric culture within agile teams. Project managers need to champion security initiatives, emphasizing the criticality of cybersecurity in all phases of development. Integrity in upholding security standards amidst fast-paced development cycles is non-negotiable. Integrating security measures without impeding progress is a testament to effective leadership.

2. Innovative Solutions and learning

Agile methodologies encourage innovative problem-solving approaches. Leveraging this flexibility within security frameworks enables the creation of adaptive solutions to counter emerging threats. Continuous learning is indispensable in the realm of cybersecurity. Encouraging team members to stay updated with evolving security practices ensures a proactive stance against potential vulnerabilities.

3. Productivity & Cybersecurity

Contrary to common belief, robust cybersecurity measures do not inhibit productivity; they safeguard it. While short-term gains might seem impacted by stringent security protocols, the long-term benefits in averting disruptions and data breaches significantly enhance productivity. Prioritizing security within agile frameworks ultimately leads to more sustainable and efficient project outcomes.

In project management, seamlessly integrating cybersecurity into agile practices involves several strategic steps:

Educate and Train: Ensure all team members understand the importance of cybersecurity and provide regular training on security best practices.

Embed Security in Development: Integrate security checkpoints within each iteration of the development process rather than treating it as a separate phase.

Collaboration and Communication: Foster open communication channels where cybersecurity concerns can be addressed promptly and collaboratively.

In a landscape where cyber threats constantly evolve, the amalgamation of cybersecurity principles with agile methodologies is no longer a choice but a necessity. By embracing a proactive approach and aligning cybersecurity practices within agile frameworks, project managers can safeguard their projects while nurturing an environment of innovation and productivity.

Remember, the successful implementation of cybersecurity in agile environments requires a collective effort. When project managers lead by example, champion integrity, foster innovation, and prioritize cybersecurity, they pave the way for a more secure and resilient project management ecosystem.

During my final-round interview with Southwest Airlines, I was asked to share an example of how I have used Agile principles and mindset outside of work, in my personal life.

I left that interview reflecting on the wonderful opportunity we have to learn principles and practices that benefit us not only professionally but also in our life approach. Since then, I've been curious about where else I might have observed Agile practice patterns without realizing it. This curiosity led me to consider whether an Agile mindset applies to spiritual matters.

At the core of the Agile mindset is the understanding that outcomes are difficult to predict at the outset. For this reason, delivering a product is characterized by continuous improvement and learning cycles. Consequently, a profound commitment to the product development process is crucial, allowing for prompt iteration and adjustment as more 'light and knowledge' are acquired. Similarly, it's fascinating to draw a parallel, noting that God also leads His people and His Church following these same principles.

In 2018, President Nelson, in his first address as president of the Church, stated, "Good inspiration is based upon good information." This suggests that in our pursuit of truth and knowledge, we might make choices that are partially correct, and we might be inspired to make decisions that are partially right within the scope of what is good. In other words, God may direct us to act one way today, and then, after we gain further insights, inspire us to take a different path than initially thought.

A public example of this occurred two years ago. On June 7th of 2021, the First Presidency announced that the Saturday evening session of general conference would be discontinued. Interestingly, on July 27th of that same year (a little over a month later), the First Presidency announced: after additional study and prayer, we have felt impressed to continue to hold the Saturday evening session of general conference, albeit in a different format than in the past.

To some, this sequence of events may seem to confirm a level of fallibility in the church and its leaders. However, could this not also be seen as evidence that prophets and apostles are mortal men who continually adapt after receiving new guidance from the Lord regarding the church's affairs? Is this not a demonstration on that the heavens are open and that God, as the Product Owner, wishes to communicate with us and ensure our life's backlog is filled with the correct tasks and priorities?

Therefore, I think the next me I'm in an interview and asked to provide an example of how I've applied Agile principles in my personal life, I'll likely recount some of my experiences serving in the church, receiving feedback from the Spirit, or simply recognizing life as a grand iterative journey.

Hard work and determination equals success. Nothing comes easy. Put your mind to something. - Kevin Hart

Every generation and person is unique but one thing that has survived the test of time is the idea that hard work and determination equals success. From parents yelling at their kids on the way to school to celebrities addressing audiences through a television screen, it is a teaching that has been restated and reprised as we progress through different stages in life. Although there is much truth to working hard and being determined leading a person to success they are not the only attributes worth pursuing. Sometimes the little things in our lives can lead to unexpected teachings as well.

Patience

Though Im not yet as good as Id like to be, something that I have always enjoyed is baking. I love getting to work with different tools and ingredients to make something good. However one thing that I have not always been good at is learning that all good things take patience. Once something goes in the oven there is literally nothing I can do for that item except wait for the oven to finish doing its job. And I kind of hate that. Sometimes I wish that there was something more I could do to help the oven or that maybe turning up the heat would speed the process up. But besides hard work all good things take time. Just as I cannot expect my cakes to finish when I want them to, I cannot push unrealistic expectations upon myself or on others to finish things in record time.

Be Kind to Yourself

Have you ever watched a video and thought, I can totally make that only to find out the hard way that you cannot actually make that? There have definitely been times where I spent way too much time and money trying to make something only for it to be lacking in taste or presentation (or sometimes embarrassingly enough both) leaving me discouraged and wondering where I went wrong when I had felt so confident that I had followed the instructions exactly as I was supposed to. Unfortunately, sometimes we can try our very hardest to do everything right and still not feel as though we measure up. It is something very human where no matter how good we are at something we will always compare ourselves to someone better. This is something I felt throughout the IS core and is something I struggle with even now. But pushing yourself past your limits

of the time can be exhausting. I cant be great at everything or expect myself to never struggle. Sometimes there are just going to be things that I wont be very quick in becoming good at and sometimes Im going to make a little bit of a mess of things. But not everything can always be perfect. In both baking and life you cannot expect to discover good and wonderful things without making a few messes.

Dont be afraid to ask for help!

Hard work and determination wont take you as far or as fast if you dont even know what you're doing. Good things can be very difficult, however they dont need to feel so impossible with a helping hand. Even when the tasks seem simple and familiar the agile principles emphasize how counterintuitive things such as multitasking really are. Too often I find myself in the same predicament. Ive invited some friends for dinner and dessert and have declined their offers to help with the cooking or to bring some food over. Although I know that I am capable of doing the tasks that need to be done, theyll be at my apartment in 20 minutes and not only is the kitchen a mess but the ham needs at least another 40 minutes in the oven. This is not the first time Ive known that if I had just reached out or accepted a little help, I could have saved myself the stress and anxiety of having to complete so much in such a short amount of time. The BYU IS program taught me that we should always be willing to give and receive help because we are not alone. Most of the time in reaching out to others for help, I am able to learn and progress a lot faster than I would on my own. Another benefit to receiving help from others is that it better prepares us to help others. In helping one another, we help ourselves in the process! Working with others makes the process more efficient and helps us to work smarter and not necessarily harder in achieving success for ourselves and our teammates! By applying these principles, it becomes much easier to create a delicious meal that everyone can enjoy taking part in.

I spent time with Sage Executive Coaches the other day. They do a lot of their leadership work on the back of a horse. On my ride I re-learned one very important leadership lesson: Enjoy the ride, but be ready to correct when needed.

For most of the trail ride my horse (Duke) just knew the way to go. My job - enjoy the ride, dont get in the way, allow Duke to do his work.

At one point along the ride though, Duke wanted to go in a different direction. I had two choices A) let the 1,000 lb animal just do what he wants, or B) provide gentle yet forceful and positive leadership to keep Duke heading the way I needed him to go.

I exerted my leadership through controlling the reins, using my legs, and a strong positive voice to coach him to go in the right direction. He quickly responded - Dukes a great horse. We finished the ride together, accomplishing the mission.

While on my ride I reflected that working with a sports team or a business team can be similar to working with a horse. For the most part, as long as the horse (and team) are heading in the right direction the leader can simply ride along providing encouragement and enjoy the experience. However, when the horse (and team) starts moving in a direction the leader knows isnt right, the leader must exert leadership to move the horse (and team) in the right direction.

Some horses (and teams) require just a little adjustment - like Duke he didnt need much to keep him moving in the right direction. On the other hand, some horses (and teams) need a strong voice, a strong physical presence of the leader to help make adjustments, hard decisions, and provide the right coaching signals to the horse (and team) so they can have success.

Leaders are important. Its not a popular thing to tell leaders they do have to exert authority or control at times, and yet, it is a reality. Horses (and teams and organizations) will never reach their full potential or accomplish their mission without guiding leadership. While most of the time leaders of teams simply get to enjoy the ride with a great team, there are times when leading people means you have to be willing to exert authority and direct a change at the right time in order to keep the team on track.

I am grateful for my friend Taylor Flake who took me on this ride. Taylor is a retired PepsiCo executive and now runs Sage Executive Consulting. He is a world-class executive coach and leadership developer. He provides one of the most innovative and enjoyable approaches to learning how to become a better leader that Ive seen. Within a short time I had half a dozen new insights and felt a positive energy and strengthened confidence to take to my leadership roles.

Taylor also writes an amazing blog: https://www.sageexecutivecoaches.com/lll.

taylorflake@sageexecutivecoaches.com

When assigned to an IT operations team, or any other team that works on tasks from many different focus areas, you may need to create a board and backlog that can handle different work types other than user stories.

This allows the team to track incidents, along with other work types that they are responsible for, on the same board. A feature that the scrum board does not allow since it is configured to track a single focus and prevent interruptive work like incidents.

Here is a walkthrough of how the board and backlog are made in ServiceNow:

Task Board Walkthrough

What is the difference between a program manager and a project manager?

The simplest way to think about this might be that a program contains a series of projects. Frankly its a loose term in the industry. Here at BYU we generally have Service Managers acting as Program Managers.

A project should be a clearly defined set of tasks that when completed achieve the desired goal. For example, if we say we want to build a website for our PMO team - thats a project. There is a post-operational component to keep that website up and running and valuable. The post project work would be called maintenance or operations in the business world.

A program takes a long-term view of one or more products. The program could include both a series of projects and maintenance/operations on products.

I think the important thing is to not get too focused on one set of definitions. Rather, think about what the business requires.

Very often Program Managers are senior in the organization and they hold a lot of power to make decisions on market, budget, direction, roadmaps, etc. The best Program Managers are tightly connected with strategy and tightly aligned with the strategic leaders of the organization.

They direct the initiation and the execution of the projects that are needed to accomplish the program goals.

One example comes from a company I worked for called CorVel. We provided AI rules that automatically digitized and optimized medical billing in the workers comp industry. The Program Manager reported to the CEO of the company. She was equal to the CIO. The CIO had three Vice Presidents (I was one) who reported to him. The work priorities came from the Program Manager and we created projects and operational processes that drove the execution of the core product vision, which accounted for about $250m in revenue and 75% of the companys profit. That is an example of how a major program and product could be managed.

In this article, I provide eight ideas based on my experiences in industry to help you understand the type of person you need to be, and the type of work you have to do, in order to be a successful senior program/product/project manager...

Read the Whole Article Here

The sixth Agile Principle states: The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation. Deep down, we all know this is true, but sometimes its just easier to ping someone on Teams or CC them on an email thread. Technology, for all its strengths, perilously separates communication from interaction. As a reminder, heres one recent example of how face-to-face communication helped my team find a totally new solution to an important problem.

My team was working on an app that needed data on international students. Unfortunately, the platform we were building in was not playing nice with the database. One of our engineers had spent a little over a week trying various solutions, but nothing was working. One day, I was in the break room microwaving my lunch when James (all names have been changed), someone from a completely different department, walked in. We started chatting and I mentioned our teams problem. James gave me a suggestion and I took it back to Jane, our developer on the case. We turned the problem over and over until we found a way that it just might work! This meant that we had to work with Jake and his team, again, totally different than we originally thought.

When I went to chat with Jake about the viability of our new solution, we were able to effectively iron out how our teams could work together. Then, while we were talking about capabilities and limitations of this new solution, Jake mentioned a feature of the software that would allow us to solve yet another problem for the team regarding another use case of the app we were building. If we had been chatting over Teams, its very likely that this secondary conversation never would have happened, and we would have been left struggling with the long-term problem.

That might sound like the end of the story, but heres the kicker: the conversations I had with Jake and James were not the first time I had ever spoken to them. I already knew them and had built rapport through other projects and spontaneous conversation as we crossed paths. If I hadnt already interacted with either one of them, I would not have felt as comfortable and probably wouldnt have opened up so much about the issues my team was facing. If I hadnt already built that relationship, our team might have kept slogging through half-baked solutions for weeks, hoping to find the right one. As project assistants we cant afford to only communicate when its absolutely necessary or even when its simply convenient. We should be communicating and interacting whenever and however we can. Each interaction is an investment. We never know who will hold the answer to a future roadblock.

Twenty-first century technology has revolutionized the workplace. With clicks and keystrokes, we can send and receive messages, documents, and links at a whim. We can collaborate across time zones, borders, and even language barriers, but this low-effort communication can also become a crutch. On the PMO Team, our client-facing responsibilities require us to get face to face with the clients. So get up! Go for a walk and talk to people. Build relationships. Build confidence. Build a network of people at work that will work for youyou never know what you may find.