She almost quit. Then the light bulb clicked.
7 days ago • 2 min readThe Proactive Risk PM Weekly Issue #19 May 11, 2026 Hey There, Reader, Something looked different in your inbox this morning. Same Russ. Same 44Risk PM. Same newsletter. New look. The 44Risk PM rebrand is officially live... new colors, new logo, and a website I'm no longer embarrassed to send people to. And honestly? It's long overdue. For two years I built this business the way most of us manage projects when no one's watching, incrementally, reactively, duct tape, and good intentions. I...
READ POSTWe said 2 days. It took a week. Here's why.
14 days ago • 3 min readTHE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY Red Air Ahead Issue #018 Date: 4 May 2026 Hey there, Reader, It was supposed to be a 2-day convoy movement in Afghanistan. We had it planned. We knew the route. We knew the resources. We had Marines who had done this kind of movement before... experienced, trained, ready. Two days. Simple. It took almost a week. Somewhere in the middle of that movement, we hit "Red Air." That's what we called the sandstorm conditions where aircraft, including medevac helicopters,...
READ POSTI knew it was a risk. I called it an issue anyway.
21 days ago • 3 min readTHE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY Know Your Battles. Issue #017 Date: 27 April 2026 Hey there, Reader, I walked out of 20 years in the Marine Corps feeling like I had this thing figured out. I'd led people in high-pressure situations. I'd managed risk in environments where the consequences weren't a missed deadline. I had my PMP®. I had my PMI-RMP®. I was ready for corporate America. Corporate America had other plans. Alright, Now Lets Get Proactive Over Reactive! PMI-RMP® Exam Prep Course kicking...
READ POSTTwo risk factors nobody puts in their register
28 days ago • 3 min readTHE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY Stop Guessing. Pick Right. Issue #016 Date: 20 April 2026 Hey there, Reader, Something big is happening behind the scenes at 44Risk PM. If you've visited 44RiskPM.com recently, you've probably landed on a "Website Under Construction" page. That's not an accident, I'm working with a professional to give the 44Risk PM brand a full upgrade, and I can't wait to show you what we've built. While the site gets its glow-up, you can still access the full course schedule...
READ POSTChoosing the wrong cert costs more than a bad tax filing
about 1 month ago • 3 min readTHE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY 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...
READ POSTWhy I almost got fired before I ever deployed to Afghanistan
about 1 month ago • 3 min readTHE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY No Copy-Paste Zone! Issue #014 Date: 6 April 2026 Hey there, Reader, I almost ended my career before it started. I was a brand new Marine Lieutenant. I had a training range to run. I was busy, overwhelmed, and behind on everything. So I did what a lot of project managers do when they're stressed. I grabbed a buddy's old plan. Hit Ctrl+F. Swapped out his unit name for mine. Changed the dates. And submitted it. I didn't even read the risk section. Forty-eight hours...
READ POSTWhy the PMs who refuse AI will be replaced
about 2 months ago • 3 min readTHE PROACTIVE RISK PM WEEKLY Claude Cowork for Project Managers Issue #012 Date: 23 March 2026 Hey there, Reader, When I was a brand-new Major in the Marine Corps, I arrived in the country of Bahrain and immediately got handed the lead planner for a multi-country exercise planning effort in the country of Egypt. Pregnant wife. New country. First time living in the Middle East vs. deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. And I now had to lead a cross-functional team of military technical subject...
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