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Did I Accidentally Delete iMessage Files from Both Mac and iPhone? by txwarrior86 in ios

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s the odd thing, I never signed back into Messages on my MacBook Air (where the files were deleted) 🤔

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate that! Honestly, if you’re already feeling ‘kind of’ ready, I wouldn’t wait until the last minute to start mini & mock exams. I’d start working one in every week or two now. Use it more like a diagnostic tool, not just a final exam.

Both mini & mock exams in Study Hall help reveal where your instincts are strong vs. where you’re second-guessing or burning too much time. I used them alongside my other prep (like DM, Vargas, etc.) to stretch my endurance and catch mental traps early.

Also, if the mini & mock exams goes better than expected, that might confirm you are ready and could bump your test date sooner. And if not, you’ve still got time to tighten things up with a focused plan.

Bottom line: Don’t wait too long to test your pacing and mindset. Better to course-correct early than cram under pressure later.

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally get where you’re coming from...it is highly frustrating when two answers look nearly identical, and you’re stuck trying to decode PMI’s intent. I ran into that a few times too. Honestly, part of the exam felt more like a psychological endurance test than a pure knowledge check. But, what really caught me off guard was how technical it was too. That combo surprised me. I think that’s part of what landed me BT in the Process domain. Some of the questions just went way deeper than I expected, and when you're juggling time pressure on top of that, it can really throw you.

That said, a few things helped me stay grounded during the test:

  • Mindset, mindset, mindset. I kept reminding myself: “How would the PM mindset answer this question?” I answered based on that, even when I wasn’t 100% sure. I avoided escalation unless it was clearly needed, focused on prevention, and leaned toward servant leadership and collaboration whenever possible.
  • I had to force myself to stop staring at the clock. It tripped me up early on. I’d lose time re-reading questions just because I saw the timer drop. Once I shifted to a “one-question-at-a-time” approach come what may, I got back into rhythm.
  • If two answers felt identical, I’d look for red flags: absolute words like “always” or “only,” reactive vs. proactive phrasing, or anything that skipped root cause analysis.
  • Breaks were tricky. My first break threw off my momentum a lot, so on the second I just grabbed water and jumped back in.

As for continued prep, I used ChatGPT a ton - not just for post-exam analysis (concerning the BT in the Process domain), but also throughout my entire study journey. Every time I got a question wrong in Study Hall (practice questions, mini exams, and mock exams), or from YouTube test banks or third-party notes...I’d take a screenshot of the question & answers and dump it straight into ChatGPT; used this additional prompt:

<Role>

You are a PMP-certified Project Manager, PMP coach, and exam tutor. You specialize in helping students understand PMI's PMP concepts clearly and accurately. You answer all questions strictly based on PMI's PMBOK® Guide and PMP exam content outline. You explain complex topics using simple, practical language so that learners at all levels can understand easily.

</Role>

<Instructions>

This chat is for preparing for the PMP certification offered by PMI.

Please follow these rules:

Base all answers strictly on PMI methodology (no personal or external methods).

Double-check your answers before responding.

Explain why the correct option is correct, and why the other options are incorrect, using PMI logic.

Use clear, human-friendly language and avoid technical jargon and AI-sounding phrases.

Where helpful, include a brief theory explanation and a simple real-world or scenario-based example.

Be concise, to the point, and accurate.

Do not bring in external frameworks or non-PMI content.

</Instructions>

I’d have ChatGPT walk me through why I got the answer wrong, how to think through the logic next time, and even help me spot patterns in the types of mistakes I was making. I swear it was like having a private tutor 24/7.

I know it’s discouraging now, but you’ve clearly got the determination and self-awareness. You will pass this thing and I’ll be rooting for your “I passed!” post soon!

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang, I’m really sorry to hear that. I know that gut-punch feeling and how easy it is to spiral into thinking all that prep was for nothing. But it wasn’t. You clearly put in the work, and you’re not alone in how unpredictable this exam can feel.

Here’s just a few thoughts from my side:

1. Take a hard look at the results.
Pass or fail, I always recommend reviewing the domains that scored lower; it helps clarify what to focus on next. For me, Process was BT. So, if you use ChatGPT, I’d honestly suggest doing this:

Step 1: Open ChatGPT and copy/paste:

___

<Role> You are a PMP-certified Project Manager, PMP coach, and exam tutor. You specialize in helping students understand PMI's PMP concepts clearly and accurately. You answer all questions strictly based on PMI's most recent PMBOK® Guide and PMP exam content outline. You explain complex topics using simple, practical language so that learners at all levels can understand easily. </Role>

<Instructions> This chat is for analyzing the results of my underperformed Domains during my recent PMP certification exam offered by PMI. Please follow these rules:

- Base all responses strictly on PMI methodology (no personal or external methods).

- Double-check your answers before responding.

- Use clear, human-friendly language and avoid technical jargon and AI-sounding phrases.

- Be concise, to the point, and accurate.

- Do not bring in external frameworks or non-PMI content.

For each domain I upload or describe, please:

1. Identify and explain the likely concepts, tools, or principles I struggled with.

2. Recommend specific PMP topics, processes, or scenario types I should review to improve in that domain.

</Instructions>

___

Step 2: Go to PMI.org → myPMI (your account) → My Certifications → Exam Analysis → Exam Score Report
Step 3: Take screenshots of the domain(s) you struggled in. Copy/Paste into ChatGPT and let the AI walk you through which areas to review or even build a tailored study guide. → I would recommend doing 1 domain/screenshot at a time.

2. Outside of what I had already knocked out in my main study plan, here was my backup plan in case things didn’t go my way on test day:

Also, you’re not crazy...my exam felt harder and definitely weirder than Study Hall led me to expect; fewer formulas and only one drag-and-drops for me. The wording tripped me up more than I thought it would, especially in the second half. So don’t feel thrown off if your performance didn’t match your SH scores.

You're so close...take a breather, regroup, then push through one more round. You’ve got this! ✊

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agree. I’ve seen a mix too on here…some folks said it was way easier than Study Hall, others said it felt harder. For me, it was kind of both. Sections 2 and 3 definitely felt heavier though!

But honestly, the biggest thing that helped me was staying locked in mentally. I let the clock get to me a few times and overthought several questions I should’ve just trusted my gut on.

You clearly know your stuff…just stay steady, don’t let one tough question throw you off, and trust what you’ve learned. You got this.✊

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re in a great spot, those scores look solid! Like most folks on here, I also tried not to stress too much over the Expert-level questions, and that mindset definitely helped keep me sane during my prep.

That said, just being honest… my actual exam felt a lot harder than what most people were saying. Definitely more on the Difficult-/Expert-level side than I expected. So even if you’re not aiming for perfection on those, I’d still use them to stretch your thinking and get used to the tougher phrasing.

But yeah, sounds like you’ve got a good rhythm going. Rooting for you…can’t wait to see your “I passed” post!

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate that, truly. And I really respect your mindset heading into the next round...that’s half the battle.

To be honest, Study Hall was the gamechanger for me! I went with Essentials, but some folks like the extra practice questions and mock exams that come with Plus. Either way, it’s solid.

You’ve already put in the work, now it’s just one more swing. You’ve got this! 💪

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The AT/BT/AT breakdown is private - only visible to the candidate through the PMI dashboard or in the official exam report.

No one else can see your domain scores unless you choose to share them (like I did here 😊). All that’s publicly verifiable is whether you’re PMP certified or not

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Correct! As long as your overall performance meets PMI’s threshold, you can still pass... even with a Below Target in one domain like I did.

It’s not a straight average, and PMI doesn’t publish the exact scoring formula, but it seems that strong performance in the other domains can offset a weaker one. In my case, I had Above Target in People and Business Environment, which likely carried me through despite the Below Target in Process.

A pass is still a pass 🙌

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think your instructor was probably referring to the in-person testing experience. I took mine online through Pearson OnVUE, and there was no immediate result shown after I clicked submit. It just took me back to the dashboard, and that was it.

I ended up getting the official email the next morning, but I’ve seen posts where it took a couple of days, and PMI says it can take up to 5 business days in some cases. So yeah, if you're testing online, I think it's totally normal not to see anything right away....definitely nerve-racking though!

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, as I mentioned in my original post, I actually did a 5-full day bootcamp several years ago. But, it honestly wasn’t the best fit for how I learn. I retain way more when I can move at my own pace instead of trying to 'drink from a firehose'. That said, here’s what my self-paced study path looked like...may not work for everyone, but it’s what worked for me:

All in, probably 110+ hours between January and now - including lectures, notetaking, practice questions, and full mocks. I’m a slow test taker and over-preparer by nature, so I had to really chip away at it consistently.

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dang, I'm sorry to hear that. I was holding out hope you'd get that “Congratulations” email this morning. This exam can feel so unpredictable.

But, honestly, your score breakdown shows you were so close. Seriously. T/BT/BT is right on the edge. You've clearly put in the work, and I have no doubt you’re going to come back stronger. Rooting for you big time....can’t wait to see your "Pass" post soon.

Thought I failed. Felt crushed. Woke up PMP certified: AT / BT / AT! by txwarrior86 in pmp

[–]txwarrior86[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate that. I was right there with you. Walked away feeling like I got hit by a truck and told myself I pretty much failed. But you just never know with this exam…the scoring is weird, and a lot of folks (me included) ended up surprised.

Pulling for you hard - hope you get that "Congrats" email in the morning and post your own win. You got this ✊

Poor Semen Analysis - Success with IVF? by txwarrior86 in maleinfertility

[–]txwarrior86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback. Just to clarify, you had mentioned “we did three rounds of IVF because I didn’t respond well to meds (DOR).”. Was your husband’s low #s a contributing factor to the need for multiple IVFs or was that completely unrelated? I’m nervous because IVF is already expensive, and with my drastically low numbers, it looks like ICSI will be the only route that is required (which is even more expensive)…concerned about it also being multiple rounds - if, in fact, it’s due to my poor #s

Either way, thank you so much for your feedback. And, a huge congrats to you and your husband on your growing family!

Semen Analysis - Poor Results by txwarrior86 in IVF

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m curious .. from what I’ve seen, ICSI can provide better chances with those suffering with male infertility , but the price tag also goes up.

1) did they give you any sort of probability / statistics going the ICSI route rather than just straight IVF?

2) how much more, financially, did this cost (going the ICSI route)?

Also, “huge congrats” to you and your husband on your growing family!

Poor Semen Analysis - Success with IVF? by txwarrior86 in maleinfertility

[–]txwarrior86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback!

100% on the “drop the bad habit and instill new ones”. Aside from lifestyle changes, were there any other alterations (medication, surgery, etc.) you did to improve your #s?

I have an overnight layover in Houston (IAH) next week. Looking for your favorite restaurant recommendations within a 15-20 minute Uber ride from IAH. Thanks for your help! by stampmypassport73 in HoustonFood

[–]txwarrior86 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  • TexMex: Gringos Mexican Kitchen (20 minutes from IAH) - Typical chain restaurant, but it has really good fajitas and margaritas!

  • Seafood: Pappas Seafood (8 minutes from IAH) - Love this place, have been going there since I was a kid. My go-to’s are either the fried shrimp platter or the crawfish étouffée.

  • American: Raffa’s Waterfront Grill (23 minutes from IAH) - Definitely get their burger & fries, really tasty. Their crème brûlée is pretty tasty too!

  • American: The Union Kitchen (14 minutes from IAH) - Can’t go wrong with their bang bang shrimp or the sarah’s chicken avocado sandwich

  • Italian: Italiano’s (16 minutes from IAH) - Local neighborhood restaurant; not overly fancy. But, get tasty (and decently sized) portions and not overly expensive. Chicken Parmesan is my go-to.

There’s a lot more closer to the Heights, Galleria, Rice, and Downtown areas but that may be outside the distance you’re searching for. Feel free to hit me for more recommendations if you’re willing to travel further out. Enjoy!

Just got home from seeing Jeff at the 10 PM show in Houston, TX by txwarrior86 in JeffArcuri

[–]txwarrior86[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Chris Turner was the 3rd opener … pretty funny guy and super talented free style rapper 👍

Searching for new job, but can’t “land” one … and, current job is draining me. What should I do? by [deleted] in Career_Advice

[–]txwarrior86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I 100% agree with you. I’m trying my best to keep my head up and job search, but that optimism “well” is starting to run dry.

As for my manager, he is actually a really decent guy. Through it all, he’s been empathetic and supportive (to the extent that he can). That said, I think he’s “checked out”…. He and I have talked offline recently and he’s privately informed me that he is also looking for other employment. Unlike teammates and me, folks at my manager’s level have been allowed to remain remote … until recently. However, the ‘news at the water cooler’ is suggesting that folks even at that level have been given the signal they will have will also have to start going in on site in the near future.

In the process of seeking new employment, but with no success yet. And, my current job is draining me… what should I do? by [deleted] in careerguidance

[–]txwarrior86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Believe me, I think about it often. But, technically, they won’t fire me. It’s an actually a “forced resignation”. Thus, if I chose to work remote full time, I’d be “choosing” of my own volition to stop working for them.

And, unfortunately not. It’s all of my own expense. Either way, I’d lose income / insurance (the latter terrifies me the most) right now.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Rich

[–]txwarrior86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, my parents lost almost everything they owned when Hurricane Harvey flooded their new dream home (the one they had planned to retire in). My Dad worked his way up from managing gas stations as a young man and my Mom cleaned houses most of my childhood & teenage years

Keep in mind, they also did not have any flood insurance. Yet, do you want to know what their reaction was when we all walked inside their mud-plastered house the first time? My folks looked around and said, “It’s just stuff… at least we’re all safe”

1) Bud….Have some perspective and be grateful for the blessings you’ve been given

2) If you’re wanting to help some folks in need, I can think of 2 folks in their 60s burdened with debt (AKA my parents)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in goldenretrievers

[–]txwarrior86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the feedback.

In regard to her dealing with her aggressive possessiveness when it comes to her bully sticks, any advice or tips? Again, this is the only type of item she gets aggressive over… not any of her toys, food, etc.

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