Jan '09 update

Hi everyone,

Doug Russell here. It has been a while since I sent a blog/story, so I thought an update might be in order. I have been busier than I ever was working for a W2!

(1) Have I stopped writing blogs? No, the earlier blogs ( http://executiveteamleadership.blogspot.com/ ) and a few new stories have been incorporated into presentations and a book proposal that is now with my agent. The book proposal was a lot of work! I had to outline every chapter with a one page summary, include a full chapter (not chapter 1) and a five page synopsis of the book. The whole point is that my agent and potential editors/publishers can see the idea as a whole and not worry that it is half-baked. The proposal took a lot of research. It is a non-fiction book aimed to help managers thrive in the project management jungle. I also snuck some leadership and general philosophy in there. I couldn't help myself!

What I request from you: If any of you (or you know another applicable person) want to include a story with integrity, transparency, accountability, communication, or trust as a central theme (the way the blogs are constructed), I do need a few stories from others in the book. This is ensure that the book doesn't seem to be a paean to my ego, with only stories about me. You do not have to be mentioned by name, we can obscure that by saying "A manager from AZ," Tom from AZ," or similar. What is needed are good stories!

(2) I have volunteered to be the lead for the IEEE Austin Technology Management Council chapter.

(3) I am coaching individuals who hire me after presentations or seminars.

(4) I am coaching Emma and Matt's "Y" basketball teams (both 1-0) and am assistant coaching Matt at his school. His foot surgery has greatly increased his speed (still not 100%) and helped his confidence. He has played decently for his school, is the only 7th grade starter, but not as confidently as he did against the "Y" competition, where he scored 32 points with 20 rebounds on Saturday. Much time is spent on basketball! All three kids are doing well at school work.

(5) I belong to several biz networking groups and have presented to several orgs around town. I plan on doing the same in NC, AZ, possibly Northern CA, depending on a variety of factors. One of the organizations, VISTAGE, has a speaker's bureau, for which I am working to become qualified.

(5) I intend to self-publish my fiction biz novel The Project, which shows the vastly different results on a project managed in two very different ways. It is about 1/4 finished. It had to wait on the non-fiction book proposal, but now I should be able to get back to it.

That's about it for now! Let me know how you are!

Doug