Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogon & Suzette Blakemore & James Wood Summary
Overview of Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager
In a workplace where 80% of your time is spent on projects without formal training, "Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager" delivers a five-step framework that transformed countless accidental leaders into effective project champions. Amazon's top-10 business management staple for good reason.
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Key takeaways
The Hidden Crisis of Modern Work Life
Imagine being handed the keys to a rocket ship without any flight training. That's essentially what happens to most of us in today's workplace. Nearly 80% of knowledge workers spend their days on projects, yet almost none have "project manager" in their job titles. The statistics tell a sobering story: only 8% of organizations consistently excel at project management, 45% of projects run late or get canceled, and for every $100 invested in projects worldwide, $13.50 is lost forever. This hidden crisis affects everyone from administrative assistants coordinating office moves to nurses implementing infection-control protocols. The revolutionary insight? Success depends on a simple formula: PEOPLE + PROCESS = SUCCESS. When both elements work in harmony, projects exceed expectations and build team confidence. Neglect either side, and projects falter. The good news? Whether you're organizing a product launch or planning a family reunion, the fundamentals remain the same. Project management isn't rocket science, but it does require mastering both technical processes and people leadership - a skill that might be the most valuable you'll ever develop.
Building Authority Without a Title
The Five-Step Project Framework
Getting Everyone on the Same Page
Creating Your Project Roadmap
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Harvesting the Value of Your Project
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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