THE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY

Proof of Concept

Issue #010

Date: 9 March 2026

Hey there, Reader,

I sent the email on a random Tuesday afternoon.

Nothing special about it. Just a quick check-in with one of my PMI-RMP® Exam Prep Course students. "Hey, how's the studying going? Let me know if you need anything." The kind of email I try to send because I remember what it's like to prep for a brutal exam and feel like you're doing it alone.

What I didn't even know was she was taking the exam that day.

Then the reply came back later that day........

Lets Get Proactive Over Reactive!

Quote of the Week

“If you don’t know where you are going. How can you expect to get there?”

- Basil S. Walsh

Story of the Week

"I passed." - As I read the message, I had to double check as I was shocked at what I was reading.

She was in my first PMI-RMP® Exam Prep Course, making her one of the first to go through my entire course, apply the strategies, and sit for the exam..... and she had passed.

And I'm slightly embarrassed to admit this, but my wife came running into the room asking if everything was okay. Because I had cheered very loudly and now had tears in my eyes.

I've built 44Risk PM around the Risk Management and now the PMI-RMP® certification. I've spent two years developing the training, refining the material, studying the lessons, obsessing over whether my approach would actually translate to exam success.

I'd put every ounce of pressure on myself to make sure my students could walk into that testing center and walk out certified.

And in that moment, all of that weight just... lifted.

Not because the pressure is gone. I'll always feel that responsibility. But because I finally had proof. The formula works. Students just need to apply it.

She's the first. She won't be the last.

What Her Journey Taught Me About Risk Management

Here's what struck me most about her story.

She didn't stumble into the PMI-RMP® on accident. She spent weeks researching, digging through PMI's Authorized Training Partner list, visiting every single provider's website, comparing offerings.

At the same time, the YouTube algorithm started surfacing my videos based on what she was already searching for.

In risk management terms, she did something most people skip: she performed a thorough analysis before committing resources.

She didn't just grab the first option. She evaluated providers the way a good risk manager evaluates response strategies, by weighing credibility, fit, and probability of success. Then she made her decision and committed.

And when the exam hit her with questions that didn't even mention the word "risk", the ones that make you question whether you're in the right testing room, she fell back on a strategy we practiced together.

Identify what domain you're in. Then apply what you know.

That's risk response execution. You build the plan. You trust the plan. And when things get chaotic, you don't abandon the plan — you lean into it.

She told me there were moments mid-exam where she wanted to panic. Where self-doubt crept in. But she kept coming back to the framework.

That's not just how you pass the PMI-RMP®. That's how you manage risk in the real world.

The Takeaway for You

Whether you're studying for the PMI-RMP®, leading a project, or building something new, the lesson is the same:

Do the research. Build the plan. Trust it when things get uncomfortable.

The people who pass aren't the ones who never feel doubt. They're the ones who feel it and execute anyway.

The Bearded Risk PM on YouTube

Risk and Issue: Two terms that get mixed up all the time. Check out this weeks video where I address these terms and how they show up on the PMP® and PMI-RMP® Exams.

Watch: Risk vs Issue: The PMI RMP Exam Mistake Everyone Makes

Please don't forget to "Like" the video and Comment any residual or secondary risks you've have in your projects!

44Risk PM Courses and More!

Join the FREE Community

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

Dates: 7-8/14-15 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.

ENROLL HERE

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.

ENROLL HERE

I'm also considering launching an April evening cohort: 9 sessions, Monday through Friday, 6:00–9:30 PM EST. Same material, just a different format for working professionals who can't take full days off.

Interested? Click Here