Learn to Launch: A Guide to Starting New Projects


Book Description

Launch, don't lurch. Make your next project soar. A new project is like a rocket. It needs to go somewhere, but it must first get off the ground. It needs a launch. But what powers the launch? How can your project overcome the gravity of the status quo, propel itself into flight, and hold its trajectory? An inimitable blend of project management, poetry, history, and personal anecdotes, Learn to Launch introduces the three launch engines so critical to successful beginnings: a vision, a team, and a plan. Learn how to avoid common failures and ignite the engines to power your next project at work, school, home, or anywhere else.




Creating the Project Office


Book Description

Creating the Project Office is written for managers who are searching for ways to transform their organizations into more effective and efficient project-based workplaces. As this important book reveals, there is no more effective way to make that change than to create a project office tailored to the needs of the organization. While a project office model leads to better products from projects, it is also a vehicle for generating overall organizational change -- by transforming the organization from function-based to project-based. This model incorporates projects into the very fabric of the organizational strategy and revitalizes organizations, creates competitive advantage, and increases shareholder value.




Project Management in Practice


Book Description

This book is a practical guide to more effective delivery of capital infrastructure projects. Current manuals tend to be impractical and heavy on terminology with an unnatural focus on the project management requirements over the actual deliverable, the infrastructure. This book addresses how to effectively deliver infrastructure projects and provides practical tools, methods, and procedures to enable a diligent project manager to increase their productivity and delivery of infrastructure (from typical 35% to as high as 95%). To enable effective implementation, strategies are laid out for a conscientious Project Manager to better communicate clearly, completely, and effectively with all project stakeholders.







The Interior Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating, and Budgeting


Book Description

This second edition is updated throughout and includes additional material on time management and numerous interviews with leading designers. Empowered by the step-by-step guidance in this book, interior designers will be able to establish prices and budgets that make their clients happy and their businesses profitable. Written by a designer and veteran expert on pricing, estimating, and budgeting systems, the book provides practical guidelines on how to value the cost of designing commercial or residential interiors, from the designer's creative input to the pricing of decorating products and procedures. The book shows how to determine a profitable and fair hourly rate, balance the client's budget with his or her wishes and needs, negotiate prices with suppliers and contractors, write realistic estimates and clear proposals, manage budgets for projects of all sizes and types, and position the firm's brand in relation to its practices. Interviews with experienced interior designers, case studies, and sidebars highlight professional pitfalls and how to master them, from daily crisis management and self-organization to finding the perfect office manager.




The Creative Professional's Guide to Money


Book Description

The Creative Professional's Guide to Money teaches creatives everything they need to know about the financial side of running a creative business. Creatives - which include anyone promoting their own creative services (designers, copywriters, photographers, illustrators, interior designers, web designers, and more) - are great at their work, but when it comes to running the financial side of their business, most would rather not talk about it. This book focuses on proven techniques and resources used by a wide range of successful creatives to manage their business finances. Expert advisers are interviewed on topics such as accounting, taxes, contracts and financial planning. Using examples, case studies, and real-life stories from actual creatives, this book addresses: How to build the financial structure of a creative business from the ground up How to set up and achieve long-term financial goals and plan for a prosperous retirement Common financial mistakes small business owners make and how to avoid them How to handle taxes and insurance How to perform day-to-day accounting tasks How to create a budget and adhere to it What to charge for work and how to determine a profit margin How to talk about money with clients and prospects




Physical Security Assessment Handbook


Book Description

Physical Security Assessment Handbook: An Insider’s Guide to Securing a Business, Second Edition has been fully updated to help you identify threats to your organization and be able to mitigate such threats. The techniques in this comprehensive book outline a step-by-step approach to: Identify threats to your assets Assess physical security vulnerabilities Design systems and processes that mitigate the threats Set a budget for your project and present it to company managers Acquire the products through competitive bidding Implement the recommended solutions Each chapter walks you through a step in the assessment process, providing valuable insight and guidance. There are illustrations and checklists that help simplify the process and ensure that the right course is taken to secure your company. This book provides seasoned advice on the competitive bidding process as well as legal issues involved in facility security. After reading it, you will know how to assess your security needs, specify the right products, and oversee and manage the project and installation. It concludes with project implementation, and the necessary follow-up after installation, to verify the proper use of the new security solutions. Physical Security Assessment Handbook, Second Edition provides a structure for best practices in both specifying system components as well as managing the acquisition and implementation process. It represents the culmination of the author’s 44 years of experience in the design, installation, and project management of security system solutions. This is a valuable resource for security managers, security consultants, and even experienced industry professionals to best approach and organize security assessment projects.




Physical Security Systems Handbook


Book Description

A practical reference written to assist the security professional in clearly identifying what systems are required to meet security needs as defined by a threat analysis and vulnerability assessment. All of the elements necessary to conduct a detailed survey of a facility and the methods used to document the findings of that survey are covered. Once the required systems are determined, the chapters following present how to assemble and evaluate bids for the acquisition of the required systems in a manner that will meet the most rigorous standards established for competitive bidding. The book also provides recommended approaches for system/user implementation, giving checklists and examples for developing management controls using the installed systems. This book was developed after a careful examination of the approved reference material available from the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS International) for the certification of Physical Security Professionals (PSP). It is intended to fill voids left by the currently approved reference material to perform implementation of systems suggested in the existing reference texts. This book is an excellent "How To for the aspiring security professional who wishes to take on the responsibilities of security system implementation, or the security manager who wants to do a professional job of system acquisition without hiring a professional consultant.* Offers a step-by-step approach to identifying the application, acquiring the product and implementing the recommended system.* Builds upon well-known, widely adopted concepts prevalent among security professionals.* Offers seasoned advice on the competitive bidding process as well as on legal issues involved in the selection of applied products.




The Complete Guide to Writing Effective and Award Winning Business Proposals


Book Description

The text covers the three key phases of a business proposal--preparation, writing, and presentation--and includes examples of different types and styles of business proposals, such as sales proposals to clients, letters and memos as business proposals, proposals to government entities, internal proposals to top management, and business plans as a special type of business proposal.




The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting


Book Description

Chicks, start your sticks! This time it’s all about knitting Stop letting worry knit your brows, ladies. Let go of your fear of knitting, and take hold of The Chicks with Sticks® Guide to Knitting. With more than 30 simple, chic projects plus simple step-by-step instructions, this book is the complete guide to starting and enjoying this fun, rewarding hobby. New knitters can finish up their first projects in a weekend; more advanced beginners (that is, the ones who have knitted scarves before) can move to the next level. Call your posse and settle down in the living room or at the coffeehouse. The Chicks with Sticks will take care of the rest, from essential tools and materials to basic lessons to more than 30 doable projects, including cool belts, beautiful scarves, felted bags, stylish wraps, and snuggly sweaters.