The Sugar Daddy Podcast
Ready to normalize talking about money? Then welcome to The Sugar Daddy Podcast. Every episode will get you one step closer to your financial goals. Whether that is learning how to invest, budget, save, retire early or simply make better money choices, Jess & Brandon have got you covered in a way that's easy to understand, and easy to implement. Tune in as they demystify the realm of dollars, so it all makes cents, while giving you a glimpse into their relationship with money and each other.
Brandon is an award winning licensed financial planner, and owner of Oak City Financial, with over a decade of experience and millions of dollars managed for his clients all over the United States.
New episodes published the first three Wednesdays of every month.
The Sugar Daddy Podcast
79: A Fast-Track To Your PMP: 30 Days to Certification with Tamara McLemore
Discover how to fast track your career by obtaining the PMP certification in weeks, instead of the traditional 6-8 months, with Tamara McLemore's innovative Boot Camp. In this episode, Jess and Brandon dive into the importance of this credential, how it can significantly increase your salary, and the experiences Tamara has gathered throughout her career. Whether you’re considering the PMP or not, this episode is filled with career advice to help you level up at any stage.
What you’ll learn about:
• Overview of the PMP Certification
• Benefits of obtaining PMP for career advancement
• The importance of community and networking in career growth
• How Tamara streamlined the traditional PMP certification process
• Insights into mindset shifts required for professional development
• Real-life success stories of past Boot Camp participants
• Discussion on skills transferability and the relevance of project management
Watch this episode in video form on YouTube
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Notes from the show:
https://www.iwantmypmp.com
In today's episode we talk about the Project Management Professional PMP certification and how you can obtain it in 30 days or less through Tamara McLemore's Boot Camp and Training Program. The PMP is a professional certification you can get to help you increase your salary by $30,000 and up and is valuable to any organization. If you are looking to advance your career, then this episode is for you.
Speaker 2:Sugar Daddy Podcast. Yo Learn how to make them pockets grow. Financial freedom's where we go. Smart investments, money flow. Hey babe, what are we talking about today?
Speaker 1:Today, we are talking about how people, specifically women in the mid-level of their career, can really level up through a certification that I think is becoming more popular. I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn and I'm seeing a lot of people obtain this PMP certification, and that's what we're going to be talking about today with Tamara McLemore, who is a PMP professional speaker all the things and we're going to dig into why this certification is so special and how it can really help advance women's careers into, you know, that six-figure realm that we're all striving for, put some credibility behind all of the hard work that we're doing, and so we're going to dig into why this PMP is so important and, more importantly, through Tamara's program, how you can quickly achieve the certification. So, tamara, we're really excited to have this conversation with you today, so thank you for being with us.
Speaker 3:Thank you for having me. I'm super excited to share with your audience all the gems that they need to level up their career. I'm super excited.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. I'm excited, too, because we're all about getting women paid, making sure that people are living in a career that they love right, because, just like money is a tool. Having a career that you are passionate about, that you don't mind going to work for every single day, but also making sure that you're being properly compensated, is really important. So giving people these kinds of tools and having this conversation today is going to be really important.
Speaker 2:And also the thing is, too, is that, you know, for the fellows that are listening out there, don't tune out just because we kind of prefaced it with, you know, a focus on women, because the same information is applicable in your situation. But, let's be honest, most things are tailored towards us, so there's no need to even, you know, speak specifically on that.
Speaker 1:Let's focus on the women for a little bit, that's right. Thanks, babe, love that All right.
Speaker 3:Tamara, no, go ahead. You must have talked to my husband because when my organization started it was just for women during COVID and he was like, wait a minute, women have so many organizations and programs and the whole Me Too movement. He felt like it was reverse discrimination. And so I do let a few good men in my program. So, absolutely, I have some really great men in my program and they actually provide a different dynamic to the group. So I appreciate you saying that, brandon, men are welcome, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's perfect. We are all inclusive here. But sometimes it does make sense to focus on the women because, like Brandon said, a lot, especially in the corporate world right, a lot revolves around men and then the women often get left behind, and we know that from all the surveys and research that's done about women rising through the ranks and all of that. So we just want to make sure that women are getting theirs. You know, but it's a great call out. All right, let's get into this bio, because we have a lot of things to talk about today.
Speaker 1:Tamara McLemore is the founder of Tamara McLemore Enterprises. She is an executive consultant, certified project management professional instructor and sought-after, award-winning speaker. Her expertise lies in coaching. Mid-career professional women empowering has successfully shortened the traditional preparation timeline, enabling candidates to pass their PMP within 30 days, a process that typically takes six to eight months. That's incredible, because I've looked into my PMP and who has six to eight months? So we're going to talk about that. The accelerated timeline not only aims to achieve certification, but also position women in the careers they truly deserve.
Speaker 1:With a wealth of experience spanning over 25 years in various industries, including technology, federal government and aviation, tamara's expertise has been recognized through her appearances as a guest on the Women of Project Management and the Harvard Business Review Women at Work podcast, and has been a keynote speaker at prestigious events such as the Women of Project Management Conference, ae Ignite Conference and the Wonder Women Tech Summit. She is also a LinkedIn top voice in project management and has shared her knowledge by teaching project management at universities and organizations worldwide, including appearances in India and Dubai. Outside of her professional endeavors, tamara enjoys traveling extensively and lives by the motto to be a service to all mankind. Thank you, tamara, for being here. That is quite the bio, ma'am.
Speaker 2:I feel like I need to up my game. My bio is like one fourth of that.
Speaker 3:We all have to strive for something. I'm like, who did all that? Who has the time for all that? But it's necessary because, you know, we as women have to do so much more to get the same or less. So, yes, unfortunately, that doesn't include my bag.
Speaker 1:Whenever I read these bios, that's exactly the thought that I have of like who has the time? When do you sleep? How do you get it all done? But I mean spanning over that 25 year career and all all done. But I mean spanning over that 25 year career and all the different industries. I mean you have been busy, so kudos to you. Thank you, tamara. We like to start all of our guest conversations with your first money memory, because obviously we are a financial literacy podcast. We're going to talk into how we can level up our coins with that PMP, but first, we want to know a little bit more about you and your first money memory.
Speaker 3:So I would have to say it was around the time that we're in. Right now, as we're recording this, it's almost the holiday season, and so growing up I remember my mother. I guess she was trying to prep me for what I was and was not going to get for Christmas. And I tell this story because I'm teaching a bootcamp now and I use the analogy in that bootcamp. When we gather the requirements, your customer wants everything in the kitchen sink. They have champagne, taste and beer, money, and so that's the same thing with our Christmas list. We have all this stuff.
Speaker 3:And recently, when the Barbie movie came out, my mom's like, refresh my memory, did you ever get the Barbie house? I'm like, yes, I didn't get the main house, I did get the summer home. So maybe that's why I like to travel all the time. I got the summer home. That was the compromise, probably with the cost, and so there's some things my parents made me understand during that time. We have some wants and we have some needs. I'm going to get underwear, pajamas. I'm going to get savings bonds which I hated, that brown envelope, but as an adult. I liked it, you know, and so they just. I guess she started prepping me at a very early age and I was gathering requirements and you know, and softening the blow of what I was going to get for Christmas. So that is my early memory of money to understand wants and needs in the household and what I was going to get for Christmas.
Speaker 1:I love that we talk about that a lot. And even Brynn, he has to check me sometimes and he'll be like, is that a want or a need? And I'm like, boy, if you don't leave me alone right now because, but it is so important.
Speaker 2:And now we're she likes to replace things that are perfectly fine with something else.
Speaker 1:We don't have time for that conversation today, cameron, do we necessarily?
Speaker 2:need to replace it, or do you just want to replace it?
Speaker 3:So when you're talking about requirements as far as project management, I've been told that I'm a great litigator, Like I can. I have all the pros and the cons and I am going to convince you that is actually a necessity, a need. So I can go on and on with that, because I learned at a very young age.
Speaker 1:I might invite you into our home during the next want versus needs conversation and you can help me with that list, because, yeah, but it's a very valuable lesson, no-transcript, like we need the trucks, we need the Ninja Turtles or whatever. And then my daughter, who's a little bit older. She said, well, you have to have underwear, you have to have clothes that fit, you know. And so having those discussions early on, they don't need to be intimidating, but they really to your point, they stick with you, you know, throughout your life. So it's so vital.
Speaker 2:I would also say it as a kid, when I learned that early on from my mom I didn't ask for crazy things. Later on, like I think, if you were to talk to my mom and you know like some kids ask for crazy things later on, like I think, if you were to talk to my mom and you know like some kids ask for, like when they're like teenagers and stuff like that, ask for like asinine things, and like I never did that because I was like you knew, I knew I knew where my, I knew where my limit was in regards to you know, asking for certain things.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely. And the way my logistic brain works is it's yes, I'm in project management, my mom, I'm in project management. I grew up in St Louis but my mom is from Chicago, and so I had to. My logistic brain was like how is Santa going to last minute get XYZ from St Louis to Chicago if we have to go the last minute? And so that was my little kid logistic brain as well, like I got to make it easy for Santa, because if I don't, then I risk not getting anything.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, might use that one.
Speaker 3:I love that, I know Santa can't bring all that from here to there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll tuck that one in our back pocket? Yeah, have you been listening to our podcast and wondering how am I really doing with my money? Have you been listening to our podcast and wondering how am I really doing with my money? Am I doing the right things with my investments? Am I on track to reach my financial goals? What could I be doing better? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it's time for you to reach out to Brandon to schedule your free yes, I said free 30-minute introduction conversation to see how his services could help make you the more confident moneymaker we know you could be. What are you waiting for? It's literally free and at the very least, you'll walk away feeling more empowered and confident about your financial future. Link is in our show notes. Go, schedule your call today. Let's get into why you're here, because you know you're a little girl. We just talked about Christmas. You did not grow up correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm going to guess you did not grow up saying I'm going to be a project management professional.
Speaker 2:How did we get here?
Speaker 1:Right, right. How did we get here, Tamara?
Speaker 3:It is a funny story. So growing up, I'm just going to let you. If I was to ask you what my major was in undergrad and what I was really good in high school, you would never guess. So I'll go ahead and tell you. I wanted to be a journalist. I was cover story editor of the school newspaper, I was editor of the yearbook I can go on and on. I was in the summer programs at Mizzou University of Missouri, columbia, which is one of the best journalism schools out there. I wanted to be Hannah Storm, I wanted to be Barbara Walters and then fast forward, oprah. That's what I wanted to be.
Speaker 3:And I went to undergrad at Xavier University and they're known for putting African-Americans and minorities into med school. And I would take my friends to study for the MCAT, to get in med school. And the guy was like what are you going to do? Like literally, you're dropping everybody off to study for the MCAT, to get in med school. What are you going to do? And I'm like dang, I'm feeling the same way. What am I going to do? Because I just thought your undergrad was it. But all my friends are going to med school, going to get their MBA. So they had me take an assessment and it said I was good at, I was an analytic person and I should go to law school. I'm like, oh. So. Then I started studying for the LSAT because the test told me so, but I could not go through with it. I just like I do not want to be a lawyer.
Speaker 3:Fast forward. My aunt worked for MCI WorldCom and she was like you need to get in technology. That is an industry that is up and coming. This is before Y2K, so I have dated myself. She was like this is the next thing, and at that time you didn't push back. When people told you what to do, you did it, and so it's as simple as that. That's how I got in technology, because I was told to.
Speaker 1:There you go. Well, it's so interesting because you know you're supposed to have your whole life figured out by the time you're 21, 22 years old, right? And then I vividly remember I had, like, I think, a panic attack of like what am I going to do with my life? Like graduation was right around the corner, and I think we put so much pressure on young people to have it all figured out. And you know, I'm knocking on 40. And I don't know if I have it figured out yet. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, you know. So it's too much pressure, but it's interesting how you made those pivots, because a test told you or somebody told you you know to do this or to do that.
Speaker 2:I know exactly how you feel because I actually did a year of law school and yeah. So like I was the kid in high school that you know I want to be an attorney after I undergrad, went straight to law school, did a year and then like realized that that is not the life for me and I had zero idea what to do after that, like I had no backup plan. I'd like at that time, most of the time when you say you want to be an attorney, you're decent, yeah, I was. You know, I did well in school no one was like, oh, maybe you should have a backup plan.
Speaker 1:Not at all Right, never thought about it. Too much pressure. So, you wound up in tech. And then what was your journey there? Because something led you to understanding the value of this PMP certification.
Speaker 3:Well, I had amazing mentors and at that time tech was just for techie people and it was all male dominated and most of them were out of the military, very few women of any nationality. But in that situation I got promotions every six months, definitely every year, and this is before. Imposter syndrome was a thing and I'm like why am I getting all these promotions, these bonuses, why am I getting on these high profile projects? What is going on? And executives pulled me aside and they were. They were frank. They were like Tamara, when you're not here, shit don't move. You know. They were like and they were just like if you're sick or you're on vacation, I'm like, I don't understand. I have everything outlined for them. My auto office says who to contact, what to do. It is. I don't know how I can make it any easier. And they were just like. They're just not capable.
Speaker 3:And here goes this is where the communication skills come in. I can speak the tech language because I was able to learn it, being with the engineers with the switches and the cell sites when the equipment delivered in the field the capacity engineers, the dimensioning engineers, and then I'm also with the end users and the less technical people. So I was the one to bridge that communication gap, making sure everybody had all the material they needed the warehouse workers and it was just my jam and I thought can't everybody talk to people? They're like no, no, no. Can everybody stand up in front of the C-suite and report, you know, and break hard news and bad news to people. That is going to sting, but you got to deliver it so we can get it out the way and resolve it.
Speaker 3:They're like heck, no, most people run and hide and act like that. It's not happening. And so very, very early on in my early twenties, I was told I had this gift over and over and over. As a matter of fact, in my professional development and my appraisals I would get deemed as a female for not speaking up more and they would say Tamara, you, you, you know all this stuff and the men are looking to you and you're quiet. You need to speak up in the meetings. Everybody's looking for you, looking to you, because they know you have the answers and you're just quiet. And so they just groomed me and taught me how to have my voice and I haven't shut up since.
Speaker 2:I would say that sounds like it's the rarest scenario, especially during that time frame, for you, you know, as a black woman, uh, being in a corporate atmosphere where you are empowered to speak up and have that voice, because I would say that, I would say, for most individuals that would not have been their experience, more than likely.
Speaker 3:Yes, and let me say this this was not a US company. So let me say this I work for Eric and they are a Swedish company and so they have very different values and very different culture and I bring that culture to every organization that I work with. I'm searching for that just inclusive organization, that family oriented. People say you can't have that anymore, I've had it, and so I know what it feels like and so so, yes, I do realize I was in a very unique situation to be raised in corporate that's amazing.
Speaker 1:So when was the pivot from? Okay, you're in your early 20s, you've started off in this career, people are telling you use your voice, everything falls. Okay, you're in your early twenties, you've started off in this career, people are telling you, use your voice, everything falls apart when you're not here. So then your value, you know, is exponential year over year. When did you realize? All right, there's a certification behind this, because, like you said at the beginning, that wasn't always a thing. And then why teach people? Where did that fire and passion come from?
Speaker 3:Okay, buckle up for this, buckle up. So I was told to get the PMP early, like very early on in the late nineties, early two thousands. But I went to the class and I was like what is this? I don't get it. And it was a preschool teacher teaching the class to executives and tech people and so we were building a sandbox and in the jungle gym and I was like we do technology, cell phones and switches, like lady, what are you talking about? And I was like it's a lot of work. So I'm going to just go get an MBA because I know what this is and I know what this is.
Speaker 1:And so from a certification to a whole degree this job.
Speaker 3:You went from a certification to a whole degree, got it A whole degree, and so fast forward. The degree did serve me well, but fast forward to the last recession. With my MBA and my office experience I am an SAP super user. I have all these accolades. I could not get a job. And this is back in the olden days when they actually called you or actually brought you in to say, oh, we really want to hire you. If we had two positions, we would, unfortunately, we have to hire somebody that doesn't even have an undergrad, let alone an MBA, but they have their PMP certification.
Speaker 3:Jessica Brandon, I was told this over and over and over again and I was like, after I got from up under the covers crying because I missed that opportunity to get the PMP years ago, I was like this will never, ever, ever, ever happen to me again. And so fast forward. I worked for the federal government. It took me two years to get my PMP through their program, but you got a master's certificate in it. I couldn't pass the exam. My husband got me a tutor and it was just excruciating pain and I did not want anybody to go through what I went through to get it, and so I streamlined the process. I picked out the good parts, eliminate the bad parts and put my secret sauce on it, and that's how it came to be that easy.
Speaker 1:Wow, it's really incredible that undergrad degree, master's degree or, excuse me, MBA, which is obviously focused on business, your years of experience it sounds like you were working on high visibility, high impact projects. I mean all of that combined and what they wanted was a PMP certification. I mean that's pretty mind blowing. What is it about the PMP that's so special?
Speaker 3:So, it takes the business process from beginning to end, and so all the way from sales to invoicing, including procurement, contracting. So it has the harder skills quality, risk management but also the people skills, the HR, the managing a team, the team building, communication and so you have to have all those skills to manage a project effectively. And so some people you hear people on the internet streets I've been doing this, I'm an expert, I don't need it, and I some people you hear people in the internet streets I've been doing this, I'm an expert, I don't need it. And I just kind of chuckle. I'm like, yeah, I thought that too, and it really does sharpen your toolbox.
Speaker 3:It's like you know that nice fancy toolbox we have in that closet. What do we actually use? The wrench, the screwdriver, the power drill we use the same little bolts, but every once in a while we break out that tool that we don't even know what it's used for. But we know that those normal tools that we're using is not getting it to put together this furniture. The tool that came with it is just not getting it, and that's what the PMP certification does.
Speaker 1:You're not going to use all the tools every day, all day, but did this for yourself, right, you were getting passed up for jobs, even though you had years of experience and tons of expertise, right, you just didn't have that certification. How did you go from? I'm going to do this for myself to let me teach others Like where did the others come in and why?
Speaker 3:So I'm one of them people if I can do it better, I need to go do it better. So I first started volunteering through PMI Atlanta and I was doing their 12 week study group and people were going passing left and right and you know my husband. One day he was like um ma'am, I'm going to need you to do some basic math. At the time, the PMP certification bootcamp may have been a thousand dollars. Well, I got 25 people in that in those classes with with the waiting list. Brandon just laughed like oh, he know where the story is going. You should be getting a little bit of money.
Speaker 3:Yeah, my husband was like girl, if you don't get an EIN and an LLC and start doing it on your own? And I have to be honest, I still didn't. Because I want to help people. You know, women, we just want to help people and make a long story short.
Speaker 3:I was a contractor at Delta Airlines and one of my program managers had the pin box under her arm, walking to a class, and I'm like you're studying the wrong book. And I did a quick lunch and learn for them and they're like you know what? We want you to teach it. I'm like, oh, absolutely not. I am helping Delta set up a new subsidiary. I'm teaching in the evening through PMI Atlanta. I do have a family.
Speaker 3:When do I have the time? Well, the program managers at Delta, they just kept asking, very casual, they would slip it in, and one day they called me slipping and they were like what are you doing? I'm like, oh, nothing. They're like, okay, fine, you can teach our bootcamp, what? So that's how I started teaching and I taught my first corporate boot camp at Delta Airlines in the evening. So I literally worked there day and night and I got the bug. I literally got the bug. I was like OK, this is it, I want to do this all the time, and then fast forward to COVID. That's when I got the opportunity in between contracts. And now people want to upskill, people have time, and so since COVID I haven't been able to go back to work because of the demand.
Speaker 1:So that is my short and sweet story on how my business started. That's amazing.
Speaker 1:I love stories like that, because clearly there was a need, people saw your talent and they needed to kind of reel you in to actually convince you to get it done, so that there's nothing better than that let's pivot into because I so I'm in project and program management. I do not have my PMP, it's on my radar, I know. I see you, girl, I see you. We need to get into how you took six to eight months of studying, because that's been my, that's my. You know I'm like who has time? I work full time. I've got my family, the kids, the podcast. I mean I don't have time, but now you're saying you can teach me what I need to know for this exam in two weeks.
Speaker 3:Absolutely Well. It takes, I would say, less than 30 days. So the bootcamp is two weeks, but the first thing we do is we prioritize our professional development. It is the mindset. So you're getting things done for corporate, for everybody else. This is self-care, because you're going to get a return on investment on this. So once you say, okay, I can dedicate 30 days or less, that is the hardest part Then the first thing we do is we baseline yourself. Nobody is starting from scratch, nobody, even people fresh out of college that have worked a year or two. They're not starting from scratch. And so once we baseline and we understand your strengths, that you focus on your weaknesses in the bootcamp and after the bootcamp, and so everybody's going to be different.
Speaker 3:We're in a data driven society, so the data is the data is the data. So that is in a nutshell. Because I'm a coach, I make sure that you can quickly translate what is in a textbook to something you're doing every day. I don't care if it's planning a wedding or a family reunion. People are really getting. You know this immediately, not after they pass the women in my bootcamp, they're using it the next day. I had somebody yesterday say, oh my God, we did a team charter, we did our kickoff, we did this. Like it is only day three of this new bootcamp and she is using everything we learned every single day.
Speaker 1:That's amazing and well, and what you said, too, I think is really important to note that just because it has the word boot camp. When I hear boot camp, I think everybody's starting together, starting from the same page. But what you're saying is, you know, whether you're a new grad, early in career, or you know somebody who's an advanced level in their career, like myself, we're going to take that knowledge that you have and that's going to be our starting point, so we're not all starting, you know, on the same page, one which I think is really amazing.
Speaker 3:Correct. And then the community. We learn from each other and we get to know each other, and I have so many incredible women and unfortunately, we downgrade ourselves, water ourselves down. So this one person in particular I'm thinking about she has a lean Six Sigma black belt. I have the starter white and yellow belt. She works in IT. Her quality score was down, really low. The whole bootcamp was like girl, you know quality, you can run circles around the whole bootcamp. So a lot of times it is not to continuously study. My recommendation is to go change the sheets and take an Epsom salt bath and get some good sleep and eat a good meal. And some women are looking at me like I'm crazy. I'm like that is. My recommendation is that you get some good quality sleep and we quality study. We don't study six, seven, eight hours a day. We study in 40, 35 minute increments and so I just I'm different. I'm different and so I have a non-traditional approach to everything, and that includes the bootcamp as well.
Speaker 2:I always, I've always felt that women always downplay their abilities, just in general, it's, and I mean like, obviously, like this, well, it's, society, society teaches women, unfortunately, you know, to try to be smaller than they are, take up less space. But like men, on the other hand, like we all, I mean like the saying, like you know, have the confidence of a mediocre white man. You know it's, it's of a mediocre white man, it's the reality. We all, everybody knows, like a Chad or something like that.
Speaker 1:No offense to the good Chads.
Speaker 2:That's the, that's what you need to you know the spirit you need to channel and, like I said, I mean even with Jess, as amazing as she is, there's times where she's like you know, she thinks smaller than when I'm like you know this Like this is like you can.
Speaker 3:You can do this in your sleep Like exactly, yeah, exactly, I have in this. In this current boot camp I have somebody that worked on. She works on Navy ships and I had to have her say it three times. You know, and I'm like you need to repeat that. You know and I'm like you need to repeat that I want you to write that on the chalkboard, like you're saying it's so low. Yes, I work on no girl. No, I need you to shout it. I have somebody that has worked on some confidential it's not confidential anymore but but the, the, oh, but some high powered war aircraft.
Speaker 3:When I say, women in my boot camps are heavy hitters working in healthcare, on how medicine is being administered throughout the not the country, the world, and they're just downplaying what they do. And so that is the biggest draw to my boot camp you now have the confidence to talk about your accolades in those meetings which you have done quickly in bullets, which that's how you get your raises and your promotions, because a lot of women sit back and wait. No, no, no. My PM bootcamp is going to have you say I plan managed, I reduced this, I increase this, and you say it with confidence. That's how you're going to get the raises and the promotions.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so many people don't realize that 50% of the battle is just standing with your chest out.
Speaker 1:Stay with your chest, that's right Well. I mean it sounds like, aside from the shortened timeline and then the clear ROI, it sounds like your boot camp is an amazing place to network as well with all of the people that you have in there. I mean, that sounds incredible.
Speaker 3:It is when I get emails. I have so many emails where people are getting $30,000 increases, $40,000, $50,000 increases. I have people that have gotten $60,000 increases. It didn't surprise me. But what did surprise me the past year or two is the community. They have gotten referrals from people that are in other communities and other boot camps that I'm a part of, and so that is what I'm just so proud of. It's just the camaraderie with everybody that is in my organization. It really, really warms my heart because we know it's who you know. It's who you know you can be qualified and have the credentials. But when an internal person does that referral or puts you in front of the hiring manager, that's the leg up.
Speaker 2:We all know that you can have the qualifications to not get the job.
Speaker 1:Hint, hint, Tamara, let's talk about. You just mentioned those $30,000, $40,000, $50,000, $60,000 increases. Are most people coming to you because they're already in that program and project management space and they want their paycheck to reflect it by getting the certification? Or are they people who are pivoting in their career and are looking to get the PMP because they are looking for a new role?
Speaker 3:I would say both. I would say it's a good mix of 50-50. At first it started off with just project managers and program managers, but now we have teachers, we have pharmacists, we have doctors, we have event planners every industry. They're doing a pivot. That was the word last year on LinkedIn. I was like if one more person says that word I'm going to cringe, but it really is. And so it helps them realize. As an educator, as a teacher, I've done curriculum. I've done projects Every year. The new school system is a project. Dealing with the PTA, that is a project. Dealing with the new clear backpacks throughout the school district, that is a project and they get to see they've been doing projects forever. So I would say it's a good mix and I love it because they can see where they can go and everybody's getting raises and increases regardless. So it is a really, really good balance.
Speaker 1:I love that. Okay, we're going to ask you the tough question Are you ready?
Speaker 3:Oh, I don't know. Go ahead, though. Let's hit it.
Speaker 1:Well, we all want that 30 to 60 plus thousand dollar increase and we want it in the shortest amount of time possible, right? So we're reducing that six to eight month window to that 30 days or less. What is the bootcamp going to cost me? Because I need to sign up.
Speaker 3:It is a small investment. Let me say this it is an investment, it is not a cost. And so you get the PMP application comes in at where I help you with the PMP application, the two week bootcamp, all the questions, materials. You have the community. We actually go through the question, the live drills. Last night I started to lose the group. It's wintertime in most of the areas and so we stopped the curriculum and went through the questions. We do that. We do that on the weekend After the boot camp. You still have me one-on-one. You have your community. So the small investment is only 4,500. So you're talking 4,500 to get 20, $30,000 increases. That's, that's a steal, that's a steal.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Well, especially because your pass rate is so high and you're taking it down from you know half a year or more to you could be fighting for that raise in 30 days, I mean that's. I haven't heard of anybody else doing anything like it.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, and I will tell you. Recently, you know, companies are still laying off in this environment. I have one client. She has a new job. Her boss has gotten laid off and her boss's boss have gotten laid off. In that time she got a 26% bonus and she's up for a major promotion. That has happened over and over in my community because of the confidence that these ladies get and, like I said, now they're able to quickly equate what they have, you know, contributed to the company. And quick bullets, Because you know that's what leadership talks. They don't want to. It was a bright, sunny day and the birds were chirping. Get to it. What did you do? I reduced this, I increased this and, you know, say it with a little. So absolutely.
Speaker 2:And that's, I mean, that's the point you just pointed out there. That's one of the things that we also tell people when they're just you know, every day through their you know, their job is making sure that you're keeping track of your accomplishments, and quick bullet points like that. So it's easy, when you come up for when you want to raise or whatever that may be, that you can actually articulate what it is, the value that you brought.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. And let me say this in my bootcamp I have words that are prohibited. Even when I have my consults, I don't let women say I only, I just like, oh, I cringe. I just worked on this month $10 million project and now all the hospitals in the Atlanta area girl, what did you do? I'm like I'm gonna need you to say that again, like literally we're on a consultation call and I will coach women to stop saying that I'm like I am hiring, my network is hiring. You never know who's in the room and you have shrunk all the way down and then use the brand names. If you've used SAP, epic, workday, all this software and you will see it nowhere on most people's resume and LinkedIn, you know you want to be the hidden secret, like no, and it's not.
Speaker 2:We need to get away from the idea that it's bragging. It's not bragging, it's simply stating what you have done with confidence.
Speaker 3:Yeah, brandy, you must have been in some of my consults. Yesterday I said forget this humble brag. Like who said the humble brag? That was like the word of last year. No brag, I need you to brag and no offense. I love people with kids because I am able to use their kids against them in a good way. Because kindergarten is expensive, daycare is expensive, all the extracurricular activities, and so when I tell women you can get a $20,000 raise, that's some people's kindergarten, that's my godson's third grade, and so when I can equate it to their why it just helps them get to the finish line. Because a lot of women they just cannot do it for themselves now but they can do it for their kids in their household. So that is another way, that's my some secret sauce. That's how I get a lot of women to the finish line.
Speaker 1:Sauce sold separately. We can give you the recipe, but that sauce is separate.
Speaker 2:Also, when you're quote, unquote, bragging or whatever, like if it's true and you've done it, you know successfully. That's not a negative thing, it's not.
Speaker 1:You have to stand in that power and I think you know I've I've helped several girlfriends of mine negotiate when they're up for either a promotion or a raise or they're, you know, interviewing with a new company and I'm like, all right, if they make this offer, what are you going to say? And it's always too low and I'm like you better add another 10%, you better add another 20%. And I will tell you the job that I have. Now. One offer was made and I came in at $30,000 higher with a large amount of stock as well. That was not even on the table and that makes a difference.
Speaker 1:You know we have pulled from that stock. We pulled from that stock to put our money down for the lot of the house that we are now living in. You know we put. Those are things that matter. I mean, whether you start with 60, 70, 80 thousand dollars of stock, 150 thousand dollars of stock, you don't know if you don't ask. And I even told my hiring manager she was like well, I've gone as far as I can, but that doesn't mean you can't ask for more. Thankfully, I've worked for a lot of amazing women who you know they're like ask for whatever you want and let's see what we can. What can happen. You will never get if you don't ask. Closed mouths do not get fed.
Speaker 3:At all and part of the original story when you asked you know, how did I come about you know having this, this confidence? How did I come about you know having this, this confidence? One of the stories I tell a lot of people. Early in my career, that mediocre guy had the nerve to ask for a $30,000 raise. I got called into the office. My manager, my director and my VP was in there.
Speaker 1:And I'm like, why am?
Speaker 3:I in here, like am I going to get fired? I was early 20s and they were like he asked for a $30,000 raise. And I'm like what does that have to do with me? That's what I'm thinking, because, of course, I'm near tears. I'm 20, thinking I'm going to lose my job. They were like you should have asked. I'm like huh. They were like he had the audacity to ask you should have asked. And you've done this, this, this. And they actually deemed my performance review because I did not speak up. And guess what? They gave me the money he asked for.
Speaker 2:Wow, sounds to me like we need to implement the Swedish way.
Speaker 1:Right, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:That's a lot here.
Speaker 1:But I mean also think about the support that you had and how much you learned in that time, because you could have been in a completely different situation where you didn't learn how to speak up, you didn't learn to ask for what you deserve, you didn't stand in your truth, you didn't say it with your chest. You had a team and mentors behind you that really were helping you become who you are today. I mean that's incredible. Most people don't get that.
Speaker 2:And learning it so early in your career too.
Speaker 1:Right, because those 10, 20, $30,000 raises over time, those are substantial.
Speaker 3:Substantial. And then the next time I got called into office I was taking a one week vacation. And I got called into office and three of the you know, the big wigs are in there. I'm like here we go again. They were like what are you going to do with that little one week of vacation? Big wigs are in there, I'm like here we go again. They were like what are you going to do with that little one week of vacation? He's taking a month, he's taking a month, he's taking a month. I told them what I was doing for that week. They were like stop, stop, stop. They were like we are exhausted. And they were like you're going to come back exhausted, you have to take at least two weeks. And I was like I walked out, just brain, just. But that's where my travel come, because now I take at least two, two week vacations a year when I'm in corporate.
Speaker 3:It non-negotiable. So when you say negotiating stock, I'm negotiating stock. But, more important, I'm coming for the vacation. I'm European, I said in the interview and some people laugh I'm like I'm European. And they, some people laugh and some people like what is she talking about? And they're oh, she's coming for the vacation, like yeah, I am.
Speaker 1:Listen, France doesn't work. For the whole month of August I've worked at international corporations. You over here trying to give us a piddly four weeks. They're over here taking months, you know.
Speaker 3:Exactly, and so, like I said, I am so fortunate to have, you know, been raised in corporate in a non-US company where that culture is just instilled in me.
Speaker 1:That's amazing, tamara. We could talk to you about all of this, I mean, for hours and hours, but we want people to act. We want people to take this information to find you to look up your bootcamp. Tell us one thing that you want to leave our audience with, and then also let them know where they can find you to sign up for your bootcamp. Tell us one thing that you want to leave our audience with, and then also let them know where they can find you to sign up for your bootcamp.
Speaker 3:I want everybody that's listening to this to understand, hear me and hear me loud and clear. Everybody is a project manager, everybody. You do not need the title, you do not need the degree, you don't need somebody telling you you are or are not. Everybody has project management in them. Find me on Iwantmypnpcom. I have a free quiz where you can take a quiz to see how much of a project manager you are. I have a fundamentals course. I have my schedule where you can get a one-on-one with me for free. People think somebody else is going to show up. It's actually me when I have these consults and we can just look at what projects, initiative, other duty as assigned it's really a project and, like I said, all this can be found on Iwantmypnpcom.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you got that website. That's perfect. Iwantmypnpcom we are going to link all of the places to find you. I know you're also a LinkedIn top voice, so we'll add in your LinkedIn so people can connect, because I'm big on LinkedIn too and your network is how you get work, so we're going to add that. It looked like you were going to say something.
Speaker 2:Nope.
Speaker 1:Okay, tamara, this has been an awesome conversation. We are all about women's empowerment, leveling up, getting the coins. This is exactly what we needed. So thank you for being with us and for sharing your wisdom and your laughs and your energy. It's been fantastic and I can't wait to hear all the success stories that come out of our audience reaching out to you. So thank you for being with us today.
Speaker 3:Thank you for having me. I'm super excited. Before this call it's dreary here, my throat was itchy, I had all kind of, but when I say I'm on 10 now, this really, really excites me. Talking about project management and your energy, I'm just super excited.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. That means a lot, Don't forget. Benjamin Franklin said an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. You just got paid, Until next time.
Speaker 2:Thanks for listening to today's episode.
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Speaker 2:Our content is intended to be used, and must be used, for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based upon your own personal circumstances. You should take independent financial advice from a licensed professional in connection with, or independently research and verify any information you find in our podcast and wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment decision or otherwise.
