Student Profile: W. Douglas Storey, PMP

I am the Director of TransAtlantic Client Relations for one of the original 10 software companies in the world, Cincom Systems, Inc.  Project involvement for me has included customer-focused projects such as implementation, business analysis, and systems migration.  Additionally, I have been involved in internal business initiatives surrounding of practice development and program feasibility studies.  I work in Cincom’s world headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The first thing I studied Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep, Eighth edition as part of a local PMI chapter’s PMP preparatory course.  I enhanced and extended my studies by doing ordering and completing the PM PrepCast and purchasing the PM Exam Simulator.  Additionally, I subscribed to the PM Exam Formula Study Guide.  Of course, I also read the PMBOK, Fifth Edition.

I began each day with a timed exercise to do two “memory dump” sheets.  I then followed immediately with a two-hour exam in the PM Exam Simulator.  I enhanced the exercise by marking every answer that I was unsure of (or just guessed at).  Upon completion of the exam, I would spend most of the day reviewing the answers that were wrong with the handy explanation of “why” they were wrong and referenced the actual PMBOK for further clarification.  I also researched the answers that I got “right” but  had marked as guesses.  This allowed me to actually learn the material I guessed at and examine my “guessing” strategies.  I believe this exercise program was CRITICAL for first-time passing of the PMP exam and would recommend it to anyone.