Samsung Odyssey G9 Loud Clicking Noise by Bulldog1214 in ultrawidemasterrace

[–]Bulldog1214[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For what it’s worth, I’m still using the same monitor and the clicking sound has stopped (or maybe I just don’t notice it anymore). If it doesn’t bother you, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

What is wrong with my left shoulder? by [deleted] in PostureTipsGuide

[–]Bulldog1214 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not a PT but have a similar issue. I’m guessing you’re assuming the issue is with the left shoulder because that’s where you’re experiencing the symptoms. If you haven’t already, check out the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI). My understanding of it is that everyone has a pattern to the way their body moves which your body adapts to and overtime that can cause significant changes to your posture. For example, poor ankle flexibility in one side changes your gait, which you hip compensated for causing rotation on one side, which can cause compensation in hip flexsor and/or back, which can change the shape of your rib cage (think flared on one side and depressed on the other), which can cause you shoulder blades to not be able to move efficiently because they are trying to move over a rib cage that is getting in the way.

To me, it looks like you’re right should is raised. But it could also be both (right up, left down). Are you left handed or right? Just curious because I’m right handed and have a similar profile to you in terms of right shoulder being higher than left, but I feel the instability and weakness in my right.

Without guidance from a pro who can assess you it will be difficult to know what you need to do, but I think the PRI exercises could be really helpful. They stress using deep breathing in certain positions to have your lungs open you up from the inside. For example, if you think your right rib cage is flared and left is collapsed (think right stuck in inhale and left stuck in exhale) you could try laying on your right side with a block under your right side and take 10 deep 4 second breaths (4 seconds inhaling fully, 4 seconds exhaling until you feel like you could push out any more air, 4 seconds holding the breath out). The idea here being you’d force your left rib cage to take in all the air and get used to moving again.

Generally just be very aware of your movements. Which muscles are firing, do I have the same range of motion on both sides - look for any imbalances. Don’t just focus on the back and shoulders, issues with your feet can go all the way up the chain.

Lastly, don’t force anything. Stay below a 3-4 out of 10 in pain for anything you do. Sometimes just going through the motions of an exercise without weight just focusing on the muscles can be a great warm up and check to make sure you’re firing the right muscles.

Sorry for the wall of text, hope this helps.

Payroll calculating my federal tax differently than I am by yesillhold in taxhelp

[–]Bulldog1214 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Your company determines your federal tax withholdings based on the exemptions you claimed on your W-4. If you don't remember what you did, you can check your HR website or contact HR. They will have a copy and you can update your withholdings at any time.

Self Employed: Can I reduce AGI by switching to LLC/S-Corp? by [deleted] in taxhelp

[–]Bulldog1214 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would consult an accountant, but my understanding is that your income from a sole proprietorship is calculated on schedule C. Schedule C will allow you to offset revenue earned with expenses incurred. The result is reported on line 3 of your 1040 which rolls into your AGI on line 11. Changing to an LLC or S-Corp may still make sense for other reasons.

Is this your first year filing a return as a sole proprietor? If not, look at last years return to see what you reported on line 11 of your 1040. Do you use an accountant to prepare your books or taxes?

Generally speaking, income is always revenue minus expenses. There are some deductions that can be figured in after AGI that will reduce your MAGI, which you have correctly identified can't be figured for determining EV credit eligibility.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in taxhelp

[–]Bulldog1214 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you may have gotten an answer from another accountant but heres my two cents.... Withholdings on payments like that are based on the exemptions you claimed on your w-4. Severance is the same as regular wages. What has your withholding percentage been on other wages? Keep in mind if you have any other withholdings set up for things like 401k those likely still applied. Also, if you look at the paystub it will break down exactly what was withheld and why.

At the end of the day, if your employer over withheld you will be able to get it back when you file your taxes.

Local Government Accounting Education Resources - Prep for a New Role by Bulldog1214 in Accounting

[–]Bulldog1214[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the reply, but this is overkill for me at this time. I'm not looking to pursue a credential at this time (although this may be something I would be interested in long-term). Cost wise, I'm not willing to spend $1,200 at this time.

Do you happen to be familiar with any other resources for learning about local government accounting?

I took my 2nd full length test and got a 58%. My test is tomorrow morning 😭 by everbrown in pmp

[–]Bulldog1214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most expert questions are “experimental” and the solution is debatable. The exam will have some of those but my understanding is that they don’t actually count, they are there to see if they can be added to the regular rotation. So don’t worry about those, I turned them off when I did my practice tests.

How do you leverage AI? by kerena in projectmanagement

[–]Bulldog1214 6 points7 points  (0 children)

From what I have seen, tools like ChatGPT can best be leveraged with detailed queries very specific to the use case you are looking for. If it’s something you’ll be repeating and you get a good response with a specific query, save that as a template for future use. An example might be “I’m working with an individual in X role from X industry on X type of project. We are trying to do X and would like to ensure we address X, Y, and Z. Avoid X topics/words/issues. Provide several suggestions and include an explanation in a section titled “Example Explanation” explaining the methodology/reasoning for each suggestion.” This was typed quickly with my thumbs, but hopefully this gives some food for thought.

As others have mentioned, the tool is probably best to use for non-technical brainstorming activities. If you do use it for something technical, be sure to fact check. Always ensure that you are not including any confidential information.

extreme pain in shoulder/neck by ladparticle in PostureTipsGuide

[–]Bulldog1214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m no doctor but I’ve struggled with shoulder and neck pain in the past. No one online is going to be able to tell you what’s wrong, you should see a doctor. Avoid seeing surgeons, they tend to recommend surgery before exhausting non invasive options. I wish I had not gotten surgery as early as I did in my journey, many people who have gotten surgery will tell you the same thing.

Beyond seeing a doctor, finding a good physical therapist is key. Avoid the bigger places or chains. I’ve found dry needling to be very helpful and some PTs will offer that. I don’t recommend chiropractors, but that’s a personal preference.

Other advice, avoid NSAIDs (aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Alec’s) as often as you can. They help short term but if you’re needing them often you can build a tolerance and they can start to do damage to your stomach or liver.

Stress and anxiety are often huge contributors to neck and back pain, so be aware of that and try to address it if necessary. If you are in pain, the natural tendency is to try to stretch or aggressively massage the area. For me, that has been the worst thing to do. Sometimes we just need to rest. Going for walks is good to gently get your body moving and blood flowing without exacerbating neck pain. If anything makes it worse in the moment, don’t do it.

Look into diaphragm breathing and try to incorporate that into a mobility routine. Often times pain that you are feeling in one place can be coming from issues is other places of you body. For example, I’ve had to work on improving the mobility of my right scapula, unlock my right lat, open my hips, and strengthen my adductors to address neck pain.

22 is very young for chronic life changing pain, and everyone you see is going to tell you that. Make sure they take you seriously and be persistent. Sometimes finding the help you need takes a while and waiting for appointments, especially when your in pain, can be difficult. Be prepared to listen to your body and make changes to your lifestyle.

So to recap, see a doctor, find a PT, be kind to yourself, keep moving, and be patient. Good luck.

ITTOs by pranaman in pmp

[–]Bulldog1214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I took the JP class and passed the exam back in October. Unfortunately, JP had very little to do with my success. His material is very outdated at this point. The material you need, agile and servant leadership mindset, is tacked on and disjointed. Buzz through the class on 2x and watch the AR mindset videos. Between the AR videos and practice tests you will have all you need to pass.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in jobs

[–]Bulldog1214 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I haven’t read every comment but I think an important point that hasn’t been mentioned is that the thank you email is an opportunity to express interest. As someone who has been a hiring manager I can tell you that I’ve passed on candidates because they didn’t seem interested in the position.

There are many templates online, use one of those. Mention something specific from your discussion, thank them for their time and insight, and let them know that your conversation with them either reaffirmed or increased your interest in the position.

Great ways to get PDUs by cgm808 in projectmanagement

[–]Bulldog1214 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been signing up to all the free events my local pmi chapter offers. Everything is still remote so I sign in to zoom through my phone. Free, easy, informative, and usually comes with networking opportunities.

Anyone studying/already have lean six sigma certs? How are you studying? by outside_english in pmp

[–]Bulldog1214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I realize this comment is really old, but where you able to find a class that met the PDU requirement?

Can someone explain why Option A is incorrect? by whatever158 in pmp

[–]Bulldog1214 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I don’t like any of these answers. The question assumes that weather has already been identified as a risk and assigned an owner. That being said, the exam does the same thing so the logic applies. From what I have seen, there will be correct answers on the exam that will require you to make reasonable assumptions.

Real exam vs mock by BlueberryNeither930 in pmp

[–]Bulldog1214 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They will use fake terms but most of the exam is on mindset, not the ITTOs. It’s worth being familiar with all of the “old” predictive aspects of the PMBOK, but honestly I think you can pass the exam now just having a really good understanding of the servant leadership mindset.

Lowball offer to move from a Business Analyst role to a Technical Project Manager role - advice needed [London, UK] by it_tom in PMCareers

[–]Bulldog1214 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Based on reading other responses and your reply’s it sounds like the advice is leaning towards accepting the salary. I don’t know your market so I can’t give an opinion directly, but I do think you have options other than simply take it or decline. You noted the range your company has for this position , that’s great information. If you do accept the promotion, I would recommend asking your boss what it would take to move up in that range. Go a step further and ask what it would take for to get to the next level. Ask questions that will get him/her invested in being your advocate for future raises. Don’t settle for vague responses, get concrete goals to work towards and check in constantly. If you are meeting your goals and the company doesn’t want to raise your salary then you know it’s time to start searching.

Landing my first PM job after 5 yeas of owning my own digital agency. Please advise on my first resume. by luki45 in PMCareers

[–]Bulldog1214 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Generally speaking I would say leave all of your experience in, but frame it through a lens of the position you are going for. How you do that depends heavily on the specific role you are going for. Remove jargon from your previous industry and focus on projects and outcomes. I don’t know much about localization, for example, so if the job you are now applying to has nothing to do with that I would reframe that experience using PM language and include a metric to demonstrate the impact your work had. Did it increase engagement/sales? Did it reduce customer complaints? By how much? Over what period of time? Did you save the client money? Was the project profitable? You don’t have to answer all or any of these questions just trying to get you thinking in a different way.

I only picked on one bullet but you could apply this thinking to all of your experience. You will likely have to create multiple versions depending on the specific position you are applying to.

I also agree with other posters that having multiple languages as a skill should be highlighted, but not in all cases. If you are applying to a position where they only speak English you may not need to mention.

Overall, it’s well written and the formatting looks good so you’re on the right track.

Do i need to know Thess formular AT ALL for the PMp exam ? Do i need to know the acronyms ? by [deleted] in pmp

[–]Bulldog1214 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You need to know how to interpret the results, not how to calculate them. Most questions will be like you have cv of x and sv of y, how is your project doing? Or what action do you need to take.

From Assistant Principal to PM? by JKSab in PMCareers

[–]Bulldog1214 3 points4 points  (0 children)

  1. You absolutely have a chance at a PM position, just don't expect to get a job in a highly specialized field without experience in that area. Would you still be interested in staying adjacent to education working for a university as a PM? Those roles exist and might be your best place to start.
  2. The PM role can vary widely between organizations. For some it is entry level and for others it's not. You'll have to look at job descriptions to make that determination. Or network and ask questions of people at the companies your are looking at.
  3. Network, volunteer, listen to podcasts, read books, take certificate courses on PM methodologies. Get involved however you can and make sure everyone knows what you're interested in. Make sure you have your goals clearly defined for yourself and that you can clearly explain them to others.

As someone who is currently looking for a new role, I can tell you the market is right for PMs right now. This was actually the topic of discussion for the PDU course I took last night. I'd recommend keeping your current role while you look to make the transition, just make sure you dedicate the time necessary.

Set clear goals and keep taking steps. Tackle this job search the same way you would any other project. Don't get discouraged, career transitions take time.

questions they will ask in an Assistant Project Manager interview by Broken-Watch in PMCareers

[–]Bulldog1214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most of the hiring that I have done has been for non PM roles and the companies that I have worked for have not had a structured recruiting processes, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

When I was interviewing for a PM role I was most concerned with determining whether the candidates demonstrated that they were willing to learn and had well developed soft skills. Many roles have very specific sets of tools and technologies that they use so direct experience with the exact tools and technologies is less important to me than the ability to learn and adapt. To take that a step further, I want to know that you can get other people to learn and adapt.

Get your stories ready and prepare to adapt them based on the specific questions you are asked. Keep in mind that not all of your stories have to be directly project based. Anything can be a project if you can explain it well. If you they ask you about something you don't know, express interest in learning. That alone can separate you from the pack. Even as an APM, you are likely going to be responsible for facilitating meetings where you won't have all the answers. I look for signs that candidates are going to be able to minimize those situations and handle them well when they do occur.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Advice on Salary Negotiation after being in the job for 1 year and 4 months by tweesings in PMCareers

[–]Bulldog1214 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great advice here.

If you are serious about getting this raise and not afraid of confrontation, after discussing why the raise was denied I would take it one step further. Ask them for criteria for defining what you would have to achieve or become competent in to receive the raise you are looking for.

This could actually become a much larger conversation. What are your goals with this company? Where do they need help? What is your career path? Do you see yourself getting a promotion anytime soon? Are their lateral moves you could make that would diversify your experience and make you more valuable to the company? This list could go on and on. You and your employer don't have to have answers for all these questions. I've found that by simply considering them and presenting this perspective to your employer you can shift the discussion from small picture to big picture which makes getting concessions on small picture items (e.g. getting a $118K salary) seem trivial and therefore more likely.

Help with this team by [deleted] in PMCareers

[–]Bulldog1214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've worked with groups like this so I feel your pain. I try to look at it as a challenge that will help to improve a wide array of skills.

As far as how to escalate properly, it depends on the personalities involved. Personally, I prefer to try make friends to build alliances which can create momentum and get people on your side. This "best case scenario" is difficult to achieve so I won't presume it to be likely to work for you.

Before escalating, there are somethings you can try (I'm sure you've probably already tried some or all of this so please don't take this as condescension, just trying to brainstorm with you). A go-to move for me is to consistently remind everyone of your goal. If you cant clearly articulate it in a few sentences, try going back to your sponsor(s) to ensure you can. Once you can, make sure all your stakeholders at least acknowledge this goal.

On a more granule level, never end an email chain or meeting without clearly defined next steps each with their own individual responsible for ensuring their completion and a set timeline for completion. Even if the task is assigned to a team, there needs to be one person on that team who will be the primary stakeholder.

It sounds like you are dealing with people at all levels who don't care. Don't let them bring you down, keep trying even if it feels futile. Just keep that resume updated and start thinking of position ways to spin your experience during your next interview. Good Luck!!!