|
|
Stop Guessing. Pick Right.
Issue #015
Date: 13 April 2026
|
Hey there, Reader,
It's Tax Week! (For my US friends!)
And if you're anything like me, you spent some time over the past couple months staring at numbers, second-guessing decisions, and wondering if you made the right call somewhere along the way.
Reflecting on the tax season and process, I couldn't help but see some relationship back to our favorite topic of PMI certifications.
The anxiety most people feel about taxes... did I choose the right filing status, did I miss a deduction, am I leaving money on the table... is the exact same anxiety I hear from project managers every single week about one question:
Should I get my PMP or my PMI-RMP first?
And just like taxes, the wrong answer isn't about which option looks simpler. It's about picking the right option that fits your actual situation.
I've watched project managers waste three months and $3,000 chasing the wrong certification. Not because they weren't smart. Because nobody gave them an honest framework to figure out which one was right for them, right now.
The IRS doesn't let you just pick the form that looks shortest. Your return has to match your situation.
PMI works the same way.
Lets Get Proactive Over Reactive!
Quote of the Week
“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week”
~ General Patton
|
Story of the Week
The Four Gate Framework
This week at "The Bearded Risk PM" channel, I'm giving my answer on the question around getting the PMP® vs. getting the PMI-RMP®.
And the decision is based around the Four Gate Framework.
The idea is simple: instead of comparing these two certifications side by side, you identify which of four career situations describes you right now.
Your gate tells you exactly which certification belongs next, and why.
Here's what I'll tell you in this email: there's one gate where the RMP® absolutely should come before the PMP®. Most people assume that's never the right answer.
They're wrong.
And there's another gate where skipping straight to either one could cost you months of wasted study time and real money... and the fix is something most people have never even considered.
The full breakdown, including which gate you're standing at and what to do about it, is in this week's video.
The Bearded Risk PM on YouTube
Watch the full video on "PMI-RMP vs PMP: Which Certification Belongs in Your Career Right Now"
 Please don't forget to "Like" the video and Comment PMI-RMP® or PMP® Exam Prep Question you have!
|
44Risk PM Courses and More!
If you've been thinking about getting your PMP® or PMI-RMP® in 2026 (and you should - the market demand is only growing right now), below are your next chances:
PMP® Exam Prep
New 2026 PMP® Course based on PMBOK 8th Edition
Dates: 18-19/25-26 April
Format: Virtual, 8 hrs/day, Weekend Course
What's Included: All study materials, practice exam, 35 contact hours, application guidance, and access to me.
|
|
PMI-RMP® Exam Prep
Dates: 16-17 | 23-24 May
Format: Virtual, 7.5 hrs/day, Weekend Course
What's Included: All study materials, practice exam, 30 contact hours, application guidance, and access to me.
|
|
|
Free Training
Get my Free Training on What You Need to Know to Pass the PMP®.
|
|
|
NEW Free Training
The Roadmap to the PMI-RMP® Certification.
|
PM Dad Joke of the Week
Why did the project manager love tax season?
Finally, someone else gets blamed for missing deadlines.
|
P.S. - Are you planning to take the new PMP exam, or are you still weighing whether to go for the old version before July? Hit reply and let me know. I'm genuinely curious where people are landing on this.
P.P.S. - If you're wondering "should I wait until the exam has been out a few months?" — I get it. But here's the thing: the exam is built by PMI, tested by PMI, and I'm teaching PMI's authorized material. You're not beta testing anything. You're just choosing to be first instead of last.
Hit reply and tell me. I read every response, and I might be able to help you figure out your next move.
Russ Parker
Founder, 44Risk PM
PMP® | PMI-RMP® | PMI-ACP® | Retired USMC
PMI-ATP Instructor for the PMP® and PMI-RMP®
|
