Prompts to stretch the curious Owner Project Manager
An occasional nudge to encourage experimentation and continual improvement.
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OPM.55 (notes on) Small is the New Big, Seth Godin, 2006
Stop making products and start making magic. This has been Seth’s mantra over the years. This book is no exception. It’s a fun read, delightfully nostalgic for someone that live through the internet revolution. Even though this book was about the World Wide Web before social media inhaled the information superhighway, Seth’s encouragement is still…
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OPM.54 RFQ Hacks
I started this letter two years ago. After reviewing another round of RFQ’s, it’s time to publish four ideas that might help. But really the last one is the only one that counts (assuming you already have relevant experience for the project). Take care in your project approach narrative. It’s your only chance to signal…
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OPM.53 (notes on) A Sense of Style, Steven Pinker, 2015
I often write about the grand challenges aspects of this work — eliminating and preserving slack in the system, juggling budget and schedule, fostering a decisive culture, executing a careful process, developing relationships. But in this world of digital communication, much of my time on the job is trying to write good. A well turned…
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Running From or Running To?
When a project hits a snag – run to the problem (advice from my administrator at a partnering meeting with our contractor in 2019.) I often say, problems don’t fix themselves, they only get worse over time. Borrowing a phrase from Jocko Willink, Default Aggressive is the best way to tackle issues (though one of…
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OPM.52 Don’t Wait
My frustration with a superintendent boiled over at the end of a project. Should have done it months before. Yes, he should been doing better work. But if I brought up my concerns early, he could adjust. I waited too long. He had no chance. I need to stay warm hearted but become thick skinned.…
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OPM.51 Do what?
Describing my job as an OPM is easy and hard — I’m the ultimate middleman. The architects, contractors, and users bring specific expertise to the project. I take take care of the weird stuff so they can focus on the work. I navigate the peculiarities of my institution towards a successful outcome. I don’t bring…
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Justus Pang, RA
