Savipra Gorospe's Blog

Akito Hayasaka (Ren Nagase), the boy born in Fall & Haruna Sakurai (Natsuki Deguchi), the girl born in Spring.

I haven't been writing anything in this online journal of mine, though I think it helps if I do pour my thoughts again from time to time. Not at a regular schedule. I just can't help to write about the intensity of emotions I felt after watching Drawing Closer last night.

So there's this bittersweet Japanese film about two teenagers who are terminally ill and have 1 year (Akito) and 6 months (Haruna) left to live.

I just can't help but to fall in-love with their characters. As I was watching the film, I had a rollercoaster of emotions, from "kilig" to ugly crying and it had those moments that catches you offguard.

Their love was pure and fragile, in those fleeting moments, they knew what it meant to actually live! More than the rest of us would actually have as we take most of our waking day for granted. It reminded me how we truly value something when we know it has a time limit.

We all have a time limit, an expiration date, before we go home to where we came from. The only difference is that they knew their expiration while most of us don't.

I missed the kind of feeling I felt as I was watching the film, I never had that ugly crying and bittersweet kind of experience for a long while now.

Ren and Natsuki were awesome for being the perfect cast to play those two main roles, even the supporting characters is not to be missed! Aya, the flower vendor, and Haruna's mom played such great roles as they support the remaining times of our main characters.

I know that I won't be able to move on from this film for a very long while. I'd still simmer into the emotion, the melancholy, the bittersweet memories. It's always a tearjerker whenever I think of the film.

I'm planning to watch it again on Japanese audio with English subtitles. My first time watching it was in English dub, but I think I'd have to pay respect to the voices of Ren and Natsuki and the whole cast.

I'm following both of them on social media as I look forward to their upcoming films. I've fallen in-love with the film that I can't let go of it just yet, even the characters were to fall in-love with.

As a project management consultant who's witnessed countless meeting finales fizzle like damp squibs, I know the power of a well-crafted closing. But fear not, meeting maestros! Ending on a high note isn't about applause lines – it's about ensuring clarity, engagement, and momentum even after everyone hangs up. Here's my secret symphony for turning meeting endings into energizing echoes:

Recap the Rhythm: Review the Agenda and Outcomes

Don't leave anyone humming the wrong tune. Briefly recap the agenda and key points discussed. Highlight decisions made, next steps identified, and any outstanding questions. Remember, clarity ensures everyone leaves on the same page.

Assign the Instruments: Confirm Action Items and Responsibilities

Don't let melodies fade into forgotten chords. Clearly assign action items and responsibilities. Use a shared document, visual aids, or even a playful volunteer sign-up to ensure everyone knows their part. Remember, ownership fuels accountability.

Applaud the Musicians: Appreciate and Acknowledge Participants

Don't forget the human orchestra. Thank everyone for their time, contributions, and insights. Offer specific praise for outstanding contributions and acknowledge quieter voices to boost participation in future sessions. Remember, appreciation fosters engagement and a sense of belonging.

Set the Next Tempo: Schedule the Next Meeting and Follow Up

Don't let the silence linger. Schedule the next meeting, if applicable, and outline potential follow-up communication. Share meeting notes, recordings, or key resources to keep the momentum going. Remember, keeping the conversation alive builds anticipation and sustains progress.

Bonus Tip: Remember, People are the Melody!

Don't just stick to the sheet music. Be adaptable, respond to the group's energy, and inject a touch of humor or personal anecdotes. Remember, a warm and engaging presence leaves a lasting impression and makes even the driest topics resonate.

By following these tips, you can transform your meeting endings from forgettable finales to inspiring encores. So, go forth, meeting maestros, and conduct your closing melodies with confidence! Remember, with clarity, ownership, appreciation, and a touch of human connection, you can ensure your meetings leave participants humming with excitement long after the curtain falls.

It's been a few days since I've posted something here, aside from my Spotify music activity results.

I guess I don't have much to write here, though I think the coming days will be busy.

So currently, to recap where I stand, I have a full-time job as a Project Manager at a Pharmaceutical giant, a part-time job as a Consultant at a startup, and also another part-time as a Recruiter for a Financial Advisor.

I just wanted to write an entry about how I still haven't moved on from my driving.

I was able to drive our newly bought car from Tagaytay to Manila. I had to go through all sorts of terrain from a rocky one to a smooth as silk asphalt.

I am thankful to God, the driving instructors, our driver, and my family for supporting me in my driving lessons. I really had this fear that I wouldn't be able to drive, only stuck with motorcycles, but I'm now actually doing it. I'm actually driving, and I've driven for almost 300km already.

On my second day of writing again, journaling my thoughts.

I wrote yesterday that I wanted to lose weight. Currently, I'm at 73.8kg which is alarming for me. I want to get back to the 71kg that fits my BMI.

So for today, I didn't eat breakfast, ate minimal amount of rice, trying to cut down on my calorie intake, and will also do some brisk walking later this evening.

Right now, I'm just studying for the Insurance Commission exam to be held tomorrow, Saturday. I'm studying using Brainscape, which is an awesome tool for studying since it uses science to back up its purpose. It uses spaced repetition to ensure better knowledge absorption since it uses my confidence level to check if I'm already competent in the knowledge in question.

I have achieved around 75% mastery of the entire 110-item content. The actual IC exam only consists of 50% of the content of the 110, so being able to get 100% of it, I will then take the mock exam to better gauge my grasp of the subject matter.

What I think about writing and journaling is like a SAVE POINT in games. I get to store in memory, and brain dumping seems to ease my mind, allowing clarity to come in.

I love the feeling of writing again, thanks to the new keyboard that was given to me by a good friend.

I write for no one but myself in this blog, but if anyone wishes to get a glimpse of my thoughts, they're welcome to do so.

Am I languishing? Not so sure, I am not stagnating, but I'm not thriving or so it seems. I'm not so sure.

However, I need to focus on my weight, as I want to remain at 71kg. I just weighed 73.8kg this morning. I think that's the most important aspect that I need to focus on.

If I start exercising, I will be able to tap into that keystone habit to affect my other habits. Would be best if I spent some time walking in the morning for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

I'll see if I can do brisk walking in the afternoon today so that I can feel better about myself.

I haven't written for quite a long time now, so I think it's a long time coming that I begin this habit of writing again. Writing allows me to achieve clarity in my thoughts.

I used to write in this Tumblr blog during my high-school days, but due to the business of college and employment, it has been forgotten.

Looking back at what I achieved, I now have a desktop with good table and chair, and even better keyboard to type away my thoughts.

I just need to get into the habit of writing again. Writing allows me to dump my thoughts into this online journal and reflect the things I need to prioritize.

Understand the project management framework: Familiarize yourself with the different project management frameworks, such as Agile, hybrid, and predictive (waterfall). This will help you eliminate options that are not valid based on the framework being used in the question.

Know the process group and knowledge area mappings: Understand the relationship between the process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) and the knowledge areas (Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resources, Communications, Risk, Procurement, Stakeholder). This knowledge will help you identify the appropriate process group and knowledge area relevant to the question.

Focus on situational questions: When encountering situational questions, read the last sentence (the main question) first before reading the entire prompt. This will guide you on what to do, what to do first, what should have been done, or what not to do. Pay attention to keywords like "most important," "least important," "likely," and "may/might/claims" to identify the nature of the question (risk or issue-related).

Serve as a servant leader: Adopt a servant leader mentality, thinking about the team's needs and facilitating effective communication. Consider face-to-face communication as the preferred option and prioritize training and coaching to empower team members.

Assess, review, and take action: Understand the sequence of steps in problem-solving and decision-making processes. Assess the situation, review relevant information or plans, and then take appropriate action or make informed decisions based on the assessment and review.

Follow formal change management processes: Recognize that any changes to the project should go through formal change management processes. Change requests should be approved following the appropriate procedures and never implemented without proper approval.

Utilize appropriate tools and techniques: Understand which tools and techniques are suitable for different project management aspects. For example, bottom-up estimation is best for cost estimation, prototypes are effective for demonstrations, and meetings and coaching are recommended for conflict resolution.

Adhere to project management principles: Remember key project management principles such as stakeholder engagement, quality control, following acceptance criteria for deliverables, and following formal project closure processes.

Communicate and collaborate effectively: Maintain open communication channels with the project management office (PMO), stakeholders, customers, and team members. Report project status and updates regularly to keep all parties informed.

Apply risk management practices: Identify and address risks throughout the project lifecycle. Update the risk register when new risks arise or when there are implications due to new laws or information from the internet.

Consider contractual and vendor management: If there are issues related to vendors, consult the appropriate department for guidance. Address vendor-related problems through meetings and brainstorming sessions with the team to find solutions.

"12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos" is a self-help book written by Canadian psychologist and professor Jordan B. Peterson. The book combines psychology, philosophy, and personal anecdotes to provide practical guidance for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. Here is a summary of the book's main ideas and some of its important learnings and insights:

Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back:

This rule encourages individuals to adopt a confident posture, both physically and metaphorically, in order to navigate the challenges of life.

Rule 2: Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping:

This rule emphasizes the importance of self-care and self-compassion, urging readers to prioritize their own well-being and take responsibility for their own lives.

Rule 3: Make friends with people who want the best for you:

Peterson stresses the significance of surrounding yourself with supportive and positive individuals who genuinely care about your well-being and success.

Rule 4: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today:

Rather than engaging in unhealthy comparisons with others, this rule encourages individuals to focus on personal growth and progress, considering their own journey as the benchmark.

Rule 5: Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them:

This rule addresses parenting, advocating for firm yet compassionate guidance that helps children develop into responsible and respectful individuals.

Rule 6: Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world:

Peterson emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility and addressing one's own flaws and shortcomings before attempting to critique or change the world.

Rule 7: Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient):

This rule urges readers to identify and pursue a purpose or goal that brings deeper meaning to their lives, rather than settling for short-term pleasures or easy paths.

Rule 8: Tell the truth—or, at least, don't lie:

Peterson highlights the value of honesty and integrity, encouraging individuals to be truthful with themselves and others, as deceit can lead to chaos and further problems.

Rule 9: Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't:

This rule emphasizes the importance of active listening and open-mindedness, recognizing that everyone has unique experiences and insights to offer.

Rule 10: Be precise in your speech:

Peterson emphasizes the significance of clear communication, encouraging individuals to choose their words carefully and articulate their thoughts with precision and accuracy.

Rule 11: Do not bother children when they are skateboarding:

This rule highlights the importance of allowing children to engage in activities that involve risk and exploration, recognizing the value of freedom and personal growth.

Rule 12: Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street:

Peterson uses this rule as a metaphor for finding moments of joy and appreciating the simple pleasures in life, encouraging readers to take notice of the beauty around them.

Project Management has always been a challenging field, requiring a blend of technical skills, leadership, and a comprehensive understanding of the project lifecycle. Aspiring project managers often take the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam to demonstrate their proficiency in project management. To pass the PMP exam, it is essential to have an Agile mindset, which is becoming increasingly important in the field of project management.

The Agile mindset is a set of values, principles, and practices that enable project teams to respond to change and deliver value to stakeholders in an incremental and iterative manner. Agile methods are widely used in software development, but their principles and practices are also applied in other industries, such as construction, healthcare, and finance.

To pass the PMP exam, project managers need to understand the Agile mindset and its implications for project management. The PMP exam tests knowledge and skills in five project management process groups: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. The exam also covers ten knowledge areas, such as project integration management, project scope management, project schedule management, and so on.

The Agile mindset can be applied to all process groups and knowledge areas, but it is particularly relevant in the executing and monitoring and controlling process groups. In the executing process group, project teams use Agile methods to deliver value to stakeholders in short cycles, called iterations or sprints. The Agile mindset emphasizes collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement, enabling project teams to adapt to changing requirements and customer feedback.

In the monitoring and controlling process group, project teams use Agile methods to track progress, identify issues, and take corrective actions. The Agile mindset emphasizes transparency, inspection, and adaptation, enabling project teams to detect problems early and respond to them quickly. Agile methods also promote continuous learning, enabling project teams to improve their processes and practices over time.

To pass the PMP exam, project managers need to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in both traditional and Agile project management methods. The PMP exam covers traditional project management methods, such as the Waterfall model, as well as Agile methods, such as Scrum, Kanban, and Lean. Project managers need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each method and choose the most appropriate approach for their project.

In addition to technical skills, project managers need to demonstrate leadership skills, such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. The Agile mindset emphasizes these skills, enabling project managers to work effectively with their team members, stakeholders, and customers. The PMP exam also tests knowledge and skills in ethics, professionalism, and stakeholder management, which are essential for project managers to maintain trust and credibility with their stakeholders.

Life has a way of throwing a curve ball at you.

When you think you're at the top of your game, suddenly you'll be reminded not to take things for granted.

There have been things that happened recently that were stark reminders that I should be humble.

If my desire is growth from where I am, I need to step up my game and manage in such a way as if I'm hungry for it.

There is no room for complacency. No room for mediocrity. I need to rise up and be accountable for my own growth. I can't let myself suffer another recklessness from my complacent part.

No room for that complacency. I should be vigilant like how I was before. I need that spark to ignite the embers of my ambition.

In order to rise up to that ambition, I need to stay humble and focused.

When you have faith that the right things will be in your life and show up as they are designed to, then all of the fear of what might leave begins to disappear.

As with all things, they are meant to come and go. But we love to hold on. We love to grip everything so tight even to the point of sometimes not giving it enough freedom.

Relax your grip. ⁠

Breathe.

The things that are meant for you will be there.

This has been one of the greatest lessons I have ever learned (and am still learning every single day). I used to be at war with life.

I had such a hard time with "going with the flow." I figured that if I just hiked upstream against the rivers will that I could just "make things happen."

But the problem was I couldn’t adjust when things inevitably ended and thought that the heavens themselves had something against me.

What I failed to see in those younger years is that things were leaving for a very good reason.

Of course it would hurt. Sometimes it hurt badly.

But every single time, something better came along. Something that would teach me, help me grow, and put me on the right path.

I know it can be hard to deal with the coming and going of things. It can be difficult to understand. But if you hold onto your faith and trust in whatever you believe in, you’ll be okay. In fact, you'll be more than okay.

Keep that heart open.

Never close off.

Heal your wounds.⁠

TL;DR

Reasoning about causes, effects and rules requires different approaches given what we know and don't know.

In logical reasoning, we usually deal with causes (= premises or preconditions) and effects (= conclusions or consequences) as well as rules that govern the relationship between cause and effect.

In the real world, we usually observe either causes or effects or we know of certain rules that should produce effects given a cause — and we try to find out about the missing part.

For example, the goal of medical diagnosis is to find the cause for observed symptoms (effects), while applying a vast body of knowledge about diseases and biology (rules).

The cause is abduced, given the rule and an effect.

In economic forecasting, however, one tries to make a prediction about the future growth of the economy (effect) given observations about economic activity today (cause) and theories about how the economic system and its relationships (rule).

The (potential) effect is deduced from the rule and the cause.

In yet another situation, you might observe that many birds are coming to your local lake (effect) whenever it is summer (cause). This can lead to you to conclude that summer makes birds come to lakes (rule).

Given the cause and the effect, the rule is induced.

The above are examples of three different main forms of logical reasoning (= main forms of inference), applied depending on what we observe and what we want to know.

Abduction

Given an effect we observe and a rule we know would produce the effect, we reason towards understanding what might have caused the effect.

Abduction is used in medical diagnosis (see example above), and in both scientific research and business management to generate hypotheses about which causes are present that lead to the observed effect.

Abductive arguments never guarantee their conclusions (about the cause), as there could be other causes producing the same effect. However, good abductive arguments give us very good reasons to believe their conclusions.

This sort of inference is called inference to the best explanation.

Deduction

Deductive reasoning goes from the general (theory) to the specific (observation). Given a true rule, a good deductive argument guarantees that an effect will be true if we observe a cause. In other words, if the rule between cause and effect is true and a cause is correctly identified, the effect has to follow necessarily.

Deduction is used to test hypotheses in scientific research and other fields, as well as make predictions about outcomes.

In reality, rules are often uncertain (hypotheses and theories) or causes are not specified or understood accurately.

Induction

Inductive reasoning goes from the specific to the general. Given observations about causes and effects, patterns, models and generalizations (rules) that are in line with the observed are generated.

Induction generates hypotheses about the relationship between observations and is used in scientific research (together with both Abduction and Deduction) as well as in our personal lives when we try to figure out why, for example, people behave a certain way.