From Maestro to Manager: An Adventure in Progress

Do you know me as a musician – The Maestro?

I conducted my first ensemble when I was 16, soon became a professional musician throughout the UK and Europe, and since immigrating to the USA some 20+ years ago have been conducting amateur orchestras, bands and choirs ever since.

So what’s with all this talk of operations and project management?

The cultural shift

Live music is viewed very differently in this culture than in other locations in our vast and wonderfully diverse world. It’s not an integral part of life here, and mostly found in clubs & restaurants, school competitions, football fields, and inflated college applications.

Pity.

Especially as almost no-one seems to be encouraging those with an early interest or skill in music to actually attend concerts as audience members. Many young musicians are either focused on performing opportunities, or they are simply burnt out from being so intensely programmed. Unfortunately, one expectation is carried throughout adulthood, and the other experience stirs repelling feelings.

When I chose to live in a different culture, I had to shift my own expectations, too.

So now the dayjob is helping people and organizations accomplish far more than they ever thought possible through business operations and individual productivity.

This is actually something I enjoy, and seem to be really good at.

But you’re “The Maestro!”

Maestro means “teacher” and is not reserved just for conductors. Although I admit it was a pleasing title bestowed upon me later in life that has carried over into the business world.

My Dad was a project manager in the UK government and my sister was a PM for a while, too, and it seems to come naturally. So, naturally, whether helping to set up not-for-profit organizations, supervising 192 events in one year, coaching executives, or helping corporations improve their daily activities, I live a project-based lifestyle.

When that became obvious to me, I decided to learn more.

In 2005 I came across the Project Management Institute and earned their entry-level certification, the CAPM the following year. Now I’m a fully-fledged PMP (someone who gets the work done) and recently earned the coveted PfMP (someone who makes sure it’s the right work!)

Crafting a new journey

As my consulting is formalized into a proper company – e3ops.com – I hope you will let me share what I learn about that process as it happens.

The music is fun.

The project management, biz ops, leadership and productivity have become my craft.

The journey now is finding and helping the folk that you know to… say it with me… accomplish far more than they every thought possible!

Will you let me share this journey with you?